Simulation: where academics and workforce meet

Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership

Training for new jobs/retraining existing employees

Through the Partnership and the state of Minnesota, the simulation center team is helping develop customized training programs for healthcare employees. One example, shown here, was a partnership designed to enhance long-term care nursing skills and to remove discharge barriers from Mayo Clinic Health System to a skilled nursing or longterm care facility such as Ecumen Pathstone.

Next Generation Certified Nursing Assistant Training

Addressing the shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs)

This program offered tuition-free training through funding from the American Recovery Act. Minnesota State Mankato offered courses and trained approximately 300 future health care employees through the Center. Once certified, participants were able to apply for positions in long-term care facilities, hospitals or veteran’s homes in southwest Minnesota Of those trained, many advanced directly into the profession, some enrolled in courses to receive additional credentials, others went into the nursing program with enhanced skills, and others chose to pursue a doctor or physician assistant path.

Allied Health Professions

Improving effectiveness and efficiency of core competencies

Although training programs for future and existing nurses remain popular, the Maverick Family Nursing Simulation Center is also responding to demand for simulation in other allied health professions such as athletic training (left) and speech-language pathology (right). Both programs have incorporated simulation into their curriculum and are continuing to develop scenarios through Megan Dohm, the simulation center’s Academic Simulation Director.