High-tech ‘Lucina’ simulator prepares KCC nursing students for real-life labor and delivery
New state-of-the-art mannequin provides hands-on training for complex childbirth scenarios at Klamath Community College
KCC nursing instructor Richard Webb checks the pupils on “Lucina” the newly acquired labor and delivery simulator at the college. (KCC)
KLAMATH FALLS — Giving birth is one of life’s most joyful — and unpredictable — events. At Klamath Community College, nursing students are now getting hands-on experience with the full range of challenges that can arise during labor and delivery, thanks to a new, state-of-the-art simulator mannequin named Lucina.
KCC’s Sciences and Health Services department just recently acquired Lucina, a life-like simulator designed to replicate everything from routine deliveries to complex medical emergencies. The $114,000 mannequin, purchased from Elevate Health of Sarasota, Fla., was funded through a federal Perkins Grant for career and technical education. In December, KCC instructors received two days of intensive training from Elevate’s Trisha Copeland, who traveled to Oregon to ensure faculty could make the most of the technology.
Lucina does more than just simulate childbirth. She can mimic a wide range of medical scenarios: her eyes open and move, she responds to touch, and she can even cry out in pain during contractions. The software behind Lucina allows instructors to create real-time, high-pressure situations — such as seizures, heart attacks, sudden drops in blood pressure, or a breech birth — challenging students to think on their feet and make critical decisions without putting a real patient at risk.
“The scenarios are really endless,” said Copeland. “We could design a scenario where the mother has to be moved from labor and delivery to the emergency room or even an operating room across campus.”
Both Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing students will use Lucina during the winter term. “Practical nurses will get an overview of what they need to know while working in the maternity ward, where the RNs will do a much deeper dive necessary for their licensing,” explained Dr. Dorothy Neufeld, KCC’s Director of Nursing.
This high-tech simulator will assist KCC as it prepares to offer its four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree this year, a first for the college. The degree was accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities last year.
In December, Klamath Community College nursing instructors received two days of intensive training from Elevate’s Trisha Copeland on the college’s newest labor and delivery simulator that mimics many of the medical issues surrounding giving birth. (KCC)
During orientation, instructors put Lucina through a series of drills, including a simulated heart attack, jaundice indicating liver disease, and the delivery of an infant. The flexibility of the simulator software and physical adaptability of the device itself means each student can face a unique set of challenges, building their skills before they step into a real maternity ward.
“It’s a very sophisticated machine,” Dr. Neufeld said. “It will help us better prepare our nurses while building their confidence and competence.”
Article and photos by Klamath Community College
Cover image: KCC nursing instructors check for a fetal heartbeat using the newly acquired labor and delivery mannequin simulator at the college.
