Nursing Skills Laboratory
Students:
As the Director of the Learning Laboratory, I would like to welcome you and give you a brief introduction to the lab.
The Learning Lab has been designed to provide a supportive and caring environment for students to demonstrate and practice nursing skills. You will learn psychomotor, critical thinking and physical assessment skills necessary for clinical nursing. This simulated patient laboratory will offer an opportunity to practice with equipment and techniques in a non-threatening environment that simulates the clinical nursing environment.
The Learning Lab is an extension of the classroom lecture for Basic Assessment & Therapeutic Interventions (NURS 331) and provides a clinical arena where students can put into practice principles and techniques essential for good nursing care. You are expected to come fully prepared to participate in each laboratory period. Being prepared means that you have completed all assignments.
You will be working closely with all of the lab staff. April Roche, Assistant Director, is an invaluable source of information and is instrumental in the organization and running of the Learning Laboratory. She is primarily responsible for your schedule. Several Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA’s) are available daily to help you master the clinical nursing skills presented in this course. The GTAs are also responsible for your Laboratory evaluation (skill competency check-offs).
After your lab experience you should have a basic understanding of the principles associated with each nursing skill. You are expected to demonstrate a high level of commitment to learning and demonstrating competence with each skill. Please remember, we do not expect perfection - that can only be accomplished by repetitive practice of an individual technique. We want you to leave this course with the knowledge and resources necessary to help reduce anxiety in your upcoming clinical assignments.
Please feel free to call me or any other member of our wonderful staff for any questions you might have. We are cheering for you to have a very successful semester!
Mary N. Meyer, RN, MS, APRN
Director, Learning Laboratory
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The University of Kansas Medical Center