When getting started using simulation, educators and administrators may be overwhelmed by the different types of simulation products available. Our position has always been that simulation is not about the simulator. Simulation is about enhancing the learning experience, and there are times that an incorrect level of fidelity (or degree of realism) can actually detract from it.

When learners are exploring a potential career path in healthcare, the right simulation training solution can help to spark a lifelong passion. So, how do you know what the correct solution is for your organization? A great place to start is to ask: what is my learning objective and what skills do my learners need to be able to master to achieve it? Then, explore specific products that enable learners to practice those skills.

The required effort involved and the capabilities of these different types of solutions will vary. Be sure you have set a realistic expectation for how much time, space, and other resources you can dedicate to your simulation program. Then, make your final decision based on these factors.

Often times, a health sciences CTE or STEM/STEAM program has connections with local businesses, hospitals,  community colleges, or other post-secondary credential programs. These connections may already give presentations to your students in order to inspire a vocation in them or they may have a hand in recruiting upperclassmen, but it’s worth considering a deeper partnership.

Think of the impact that both organizations can have if you share resources, including funding, equipment, and space. By pooling funding, you can invest in solutions that would be best suited for your program but that might otherwise be unattainable. Colleges and hospitals may even be able to accomodate a dedicated space to running your simulations, preventing the need to completely set up and breakdown equipment for each scenario. In addition to convenience, there is an opportunity to shape a more realistic experience with a dedicated «patient room».

In terms of enrollment, health sciences is one of the top three career clusters in US high schools.⁵ And, 78% of graduates enroll in post-secondary education full-time.⁶ By teaming up with local organizations, your Health Sciences program can boost its marketability to students, parents, and the administration. And, the organizations you partner with will benefit by getting early and frequent exposure to future admission or employment candidates.