A SPECIAL simulation baby has been bought for the Intensive Care Unit at Cairns Hospital to enable regular training.
ICU Nurse Educator Kathryn Charlesworth said the training mannequin would allow them to conduct real-life clinical simulations on babies, on a regular basis.
r “We had an adult mannequin and had to borrow a baby simulator from another section of the hospital for training, which wasn’t always convenient for them or us,” Ms Charlesworth said.
Training will be delivered to all staff who work in the ICU, from clinicians, to nurses and allied health professionals.
Staff at the Cairns Hospital ICU manage any age baby from newborn to 16 and the new simulator also will enable training up to the age of a four-year-old child.
“It will primarily enable us to recognise the signs of deterioration in a patient, with the goal of early recognition and better patient outcomes. The SIM baby also will enable us to train staff in more serious situations like cardiac arrest. This doesn’t happen often in children in ICU but when it does, it’s important to have the skills on tap so you can respond immediately and appropriately.”
The SIM baby mannequin was provided by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation at a cost of almost $54,577.
Foundation chairman Dr Ken Chapman said almost $25, 000 came from regular donors Anne and Leslie Mills, a $23, 000 bequest, and the rest was topped up by Foundation general funds.
The Mills Foundation donation, brings their total contributions to the FNQHF to more than $513,221.
“The Mills Family have been incredibly generous to patients in FNQ, through us – dating back as far as 2008 so being able to show them the equipment they have supplied, here today, is really important to us,” Dr Chapman said.
Mrs Mills said while they had supported areas from Mareeba, to Forsayth, Cooktown, Georgetown, Croydon and Cairns Hospital, care of babies had always been close to their hearts.
“One of our grandchildren spent some time in the Special Care Nursery when he was born, so helping provide this equipment is important to us,” Mrs Mills said.
Photos: Kathryn Charlesworth with Anne and Leslie Mills. Foundaiton chairman Dr Ken Chapman with Kathryn Charlesworth.
