Objective
To provide students with a safe, simulated, clinical environment to learn, practice, and increase proficiency of nursing skills.
- Nursing skills include, but are not limited to, physical assessment, psychomotor skills, and activities that promote clinical judgment.
Nursing Skills Lab Hours, Scheduling & Reservations
● To reserve the Nursing Skills Lab, please contact the Undergraduate Nursing Administrative Assistant.
- The Nursing Skills Lab may not always be available for student use. ○ Students should not use the space unless it has been reserved for use.
● Nursing Skills Lab hours are 0730-1600, Monday through Friday.
- Requests for access outside of these hours should be made in advance with the Undergraduate Nursing Administrative Assistant.
Nursing Skills Lab Guidelines for Students:
General Care and Maintenance
- Students and faculty are responsible for leaving the Nursing Skills Lab neat and clean.
- Dispose of all used supplies, materials, and trash when finished.
- Straighten linen on the beds or replace with clean if stained.
- Remove shoes when lying on the beds.
- Return chairs to the tables, over-bed tables to the foot of the bed, and all equipment or supplies to where you found them.
- Any equipment or supplies from the Nursing Skills Lab is to be used for educational purposes only.
- Supplies from the Nursing Skills Lab or any Nursing Skills Lab Kits are not to be used on any human.
- Notify the Undergraduate Nursing Administrative Assistant if any equipment is broken, missing, or in need of replacement.
- No eating in the skills lab.
Manikin Care and Maintenance
● Treat the manikins with respect.
● Leave manikins in the manner that you found them.
● Remove any dressings, tape, IV’s, catheters, or tubings when finished.
● Position the manikins comfortably and cover neatly with bedding when finished.
● Do not move manikins unless directed to do so.
● Do not use betadine, markers, or lubricant on the manikins. Use only ‘manikin lubricant’ if needed.
● Students should not post photos on social media while in the Nursing Skills Lab.
Nursing Skills Lab Kits
- Students who receive Skills Lab Kits at the beginning of their course should use the supplies within those kits to practice.
- If additional supplies are needed or something breaks in the Nursing Skills Lab Kit, students are to contact course faculty
Sharps Safety
- Sharps (including needles and syringes) will be locked at all times.
- Sharps will be available for practice only when faculty are present for assistance.
- Students are to practice injections only on the manikins provided.
- Do not inject fluid into the manikins.
- Dispose of used needles in the sharps container.
- Needles and syringes may not be removed from the Nursing Skills Lab.
Lab Supplies and Equipment
- Equipment and supplies may be set up in advance for a lab or class. Do not use supplies from or rearrange these areas.
- Students are encouraged to use the equipment while in the Skills Lab. If equipment needs to be used outside of the lab, it must be checked out.
Nursing Skills Lab Supplies and Equipment
● Students are encouraged to use the equipment while in the Nursing Skills Lab, however if equipment and supplies are set up in advance for a lab or class these items are not available for use.
○ Do not rearrange equipment and supplies that are already set up for a class or lab.
● If equipment needs to be used outside of the Nursing Skills Lab, it must be checked out.
● No equipment is to be removed from the Nursing Skills Lab without prior approval from course faculty.
Checking Out Skills Lab Equipment
● Nursing Skills lab equipment may be checked out to students by the Undergraduate Nursing Administrative Assistant or by course faculty.
● Equipment is due back to the Undergraduate Nursing Administrative Assistant or course faculty by 0800 the next scheduled school day. Updated Summer 2024
● Equipment may be checked out for a maximum of 24 hours unless prior arrangements have been made.
● Students may be financially responsible for equipment checked out to them that is lost, broken, or not returned.
Nursing Skills Lab Peer Tutors
● Peer Tutors may be available to assist or guide students utilizing the Nursing Skills Lab for learning purposes.
○ Peer tutors are required to have successfully completed the course in which they are assisting with.
● When working with Peer Tutors, students are to bring their Nursing Skills Lab Kit for supplies.
○ If students need additional supplies, Peer Tutors will have access to some supplies, however this is limited.