Meet SimMan, the WNCC nursing program's newest patient

On the second floor of the Cedar Building at Western Nevada Community College resides a unique nursing patient.

He breathes, his heart beats, and he can evacuate fluids on command. He's also died numerous times at the hands of the college's nursing students.

His name is SimMan, a new lifelike mannequin designed as a teaching tool for students learning medicine.

"It makes it easier to teach, in that the more realistic it is for the student the better the concept comes across to them," said Michael Malay, a registered nurse and WNCC nursing instructor.

Nursing student Don Evans agrees.

"I want to be challenged, and you can't really be challenged with a regular mannequin," he said. "This forces you to think and get the patient to stabilize. You can see the effects of what you are doing on the patient."

The simulator, which is controlled by a laptop computer, allows students to take blood pressure readings, heart rates, listen to breath sounds, administer medications, start an IV, and evacuate fluids from body cavities.

"This allows us to practice without worrying about hurting the patients," Malay said. "Plus, with this we can stop and discuss what is happening and start it up again. You can't do that with real patients."

The lab also has a SimBaby, allowing students to work with scenarios involving infants. The instructors even have a recipe book of nonbiological alternatives for body fluids, including blood and urine.

SimMan's price tag is approximately $30,000. Both teaching aides were purchased over the summer thanks to a donation by Betty Ray and Locke Lesch.

The couple donated $60,000 to the school's foundation after reading a newspaper article about the nursing program. The nursing laboratory that houses the mannequins is being named after them.

An open house is planned for the Betty Ray and Locke Lesch Nursing and Allied Health Simulation Lab from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, with a dedication ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be provided, and the public is invited.

Featured speakers will be donors Betty Ray and Locke Lesch; Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Ron Knecht; WNCC President Carol Lucey; and WNCC Nursing & Allied Health Director Judy Cordia.

WNCC used older, more rudimentary mannequins before purchasing the SimMan, which can also be used by several other allied health fields, including paramedic training.

"I'd like to get to the point where if I have a problem student at the hospital, I can give them the practice time here to build their knowledge and confidence," Malay said.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.