Source: http://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/” target=”_blank”>St. Lawrence College
St. Lawrence College’s Brockville campus has a newly improved Home Simulation Lab for Personal Support Worker (PSW) students thanks to funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). The funds were allocated by SIM-one—Ontario Simulation Network and was part of SIM-one’s http://www.sim-one.ca/content/seniors-care-project”>Seniors Care Project.
St. Lawrence College’s Brockville campus was granted $35,899.60 by the MOHLTC as part of a PSW simulation equipment funding opportunity, which aimed to expand and enhance simulation-based training for PSW training to support seniors aging at home. The funding allowed the PSW program in Brockville to purchase numerous items to improve the Home Simulation Lab on campus. Among the equipment purchased was: household furniture to simulate the home environment, including bedroom, living room and dining room furniture; replica food; commode chairs; a pedal bicycle; home oxygen; TV and computer equipment; a geri-chair; and hemiplegic, aging and bariatric simulation suits.
“The Home Simulation Lab allows PSW students to receive hands-on training in a learning environment that reflects the home environment in which they will interact with clients. The equipment we were able to purchase will provide invaluable learning opportunities for our students for years to come,” said Angie Dukelow, professor and coordinator, Personal Support Worker program at St. Lawrence College. For example, the bariatric simulation suit, which is able to be filled with water to reach a weight of up to 450lbs, will allow PSW students to practice providing care to clients.
The newly improved Home Simulation Lab and equipment purchases will not only benefit PSW students, but students in other programs at St. Lawrence College as well, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Practical Nursing students, who will also use the Lab. Pre-Service Firefighter Education & Training students may also benefit from the equipment, such as the bariatric simulation suit, which can be used by students to train in emergency medical response situations.
The MOHLTC funding was granted following their review of proposals that met requirements to deliver learning outcomes and simulation-based PSW training to support seniors aging at home.