Whether you’re a University nursing school looking to expand your teaching or an NHS ICU looking to develop ward-based simulation training, selecting the right patient simulator is crucial.
Having the right manikin means you can achieve your learning outcomes, improve the confidence of your trainees and increase patient safety.
But with so much choice, how do you select the right patient simulator?
This guide will help you understand the key considerations when choosing your next manikin.
What are your training needs?
Before you start the search for your next patient simulator, you need to carefully consider your specific training needs, as these will determine the level of fidelity and functionality you require.
Are you teaching nursing skills? Are you focusing on emergency prehospital care? Do you need a manikin that is ventilator compliant?
What are your simulation learning objectives?
The learning objectives of your course will determine the level of fidelity and the modality you need to deliver the most effective training.
Clinical task trainers may be more suitable for introducing hands-on psychomotor skills, where a specific skill such as catheterisation needs to be taught.
High-fidelity patient simulators are more suitable for critical care training and emergency response simulations which involve more complex medical interventions and require realistic responses from the manikin.
What level of fidelity does your manikin need?
So you have decided you need a manikin, but are confused by the different levels of fidelity patient simulators offer.
Fidelity focuses on the level of realism in your simulation or medical training scenario.
The latest edition of the Healthcare Simulation Dictionary describes fidelity as,
'The degree to which the simulation replicates the real event and/or workplace; this includes physical, psychological and environmental elements.'*
The fidelity of the learning experience is based on these different factors:
Environment- how close to a real hospital setting or patient’s home is the learning space? How realistic are the procedures and protocols?
Physical- is the equipment reflective of a real healthcare setting?
Psychological- do the trainees experience the emotional realism that would be experienced with real patient care?
The level of fidelity you require will need to align with your learning goals and the skills or procedures you want to simulate.
How realistic should a manikin be?
To increase learner engagement and the fidelity of the scenario, you will need to consider the manikin’s realism. Does it mimic human physiology? Does the patient simulator respond to interventions?
Some manikins look very life-like and are more representative of people from different cultures. Arthur is one of the most realistic patient simulators available.
If you only have the budget and need for a lower fidelity manikin, you can increase the realism by purchasing a facemask. These highly detailed overlays feature wrinkles, pores and subtle facial expressions whilst allowing you to carry out skills training such as airway management.
What functionality does your manikin need?
Different areas of healthcare require different skills. Will you be teaching nurses, F1 doctors or paramedics?
Perhaps you need an ‘all-rounder’ manikin like Leonardo that can meet the training needs of different learners from ventilation compliance to CPR.
Or maybe your requirements are more specific like midwifery and you require a birthing simulator that can replicate different delivery complications, like Lucina.
You can find our recommended patient simulators matched to specialisms below 👇.
How long should a healthcare simulation manikin last?
It is difficult to predict how long a manikin will last. Different factors will impact the patient simulator's longevity: how frequently it is used, how well it is maintained and the technical functionality will impact the lifespan.
Durability is an important factor when considering which patient simulator to purchase. Think about how easy it is to maintain the manikin and how simple it is to clean.
Are spare parts readily available and does the manikin come with warranty to cover you when things go wrong? Is service support readily available from the manufacturer?
Will your patient simulator be used for in-situ ward-based simulation or outside?
Manikins for healthcare simulation often feature the realistic height and weight of real patients. If you plan to use your manikin for ward-based training, consider purchasing a trolley that will allow you to easily move the simulator where it's needed.
If your scenarios will be in different locations, you will need to think about investing in a tetherless simulator that can be charged up and has a battery life that will last the length of the simulation.
How much does a manikin cost?
There are a range of options available to suit all budgets. As a general rule, the more functionality and technology a patient simulator has, the more expensive it will be.
Strict budgets will dictate how much you can spend. However investing in a durable, reliable manikin that meets a wide range of training needs and skills will offer much better value for money in the long run.
What training and after-sales support is available?
If you are purchasing a high-fidelity manikin with lots of functionality and technical components, ask what training packages are available.
At Sim & Skills we offer education with all of our high-fidelity patient simulators to ensure you get off to a great start.
Check what warranty and service plans are available. Modern manikins are pretty robust and are designed to deliver many hours of simulation. However, if something goes wrong, you want to make sure you have the support of an engineering team.
Our partnership with Elevate Healthcare means you can access the UK-based service team who are on hand to support you with your Elevate patient simulator.
Find your ideal patient simulator
There are lots of factors to consider when purchasing a new patient simulator. Once you have assessed your training needs and requirements and have a budget to work with, it’s time to find the right manikin for you.
Here are our recommended patient simulators ranked from high-fidelity to low-fidelity and matched to the specialisms they best support.
For more information or to arrange a demonstration, contact our experienced team sales@simandskills.com
