PELVIC Mentor at Ashland University’s Dwight Schar College of Nursing
THE CHALLENGE

Ashland University’s Dwight Schar College of Nursing award winning simulation center is utilized in the Doctorate of Nursing program.  Simulators help prepare students prior to entering the clinical setting and to enhance the learners’ education with realistic hands-on experience.

The Women’s Health curriculum of the Family Nurse Practitioner program had a need for additional simulation to demonstrate the complex pelvic anatomy and experience the pelvic exam procedure.  Standardized patients were difficult to locate.  The Simbionix PELVIC Mentor simulator filled the gap and provides an opportunity for hands-on preparation throughout the program.

THE SOLUTION

A team evaluated various women’s health simulators and selected the Simbionix PELVIC Mentor from 3D Systems for its many advanced capabilities.  These include the realistic feel, advanced graphics that reveal internal bones, musculature and other pelvic anatomy, as well as normal and abnormal uteri and ovaries.

Additionally, the simulator is straightforward for students to operate on their own with video tutorials. Educators can monitor learners’ results and can assign additional simulator usage and test as needed.

“We conducted demos with the PELVIC Mentor and competitive simulators,” said Lisa M. Young, DNP, APRN, the Director of the DNP Program and Assistant Professor.  “Nothing came close to the PELVIC Mentor for accurate anatomy identification and pelvic exam experience and testing.”

THE ADVANTAGE

The advanced nursing simulation center draws students to study at Ashland University, helps prepare graduates for the state exam and makes them highly desirable in the workforce.

“Other systems and standardized patients show normal anatomy, but the PELVIC Mentor shows normal anatomy and pathologies,” said Valerie F. Burris, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, Director DNP HSL and Assistant Professor.  “In a clinical setting, some conditions are not experienced every day and can be life threatening.  Comprehensive hands-on learning can save a life.”