It’s a girl!

A high fidelity mannequin is programmed to simulate birth

By Nicole Donner

She was 6 pounds, 8 oz. and was welcomed into the world by camera crews and applause.

“Baby Holly” arrived Thursday at the MHCC Bruning Center for Allied Health Education as nursing students assisted pregnant mannequin Noelle with her delivery as part of their clinical observation.

The mannequin is programmed separately in another room and conceives a baby. The simulation includes various realistic parts of the birthing process, including the mannequin interacting with the students assisting the birth, placenta, blood and other related emergencies. It can also simulate complications, such a breech baby or the patient experiencing other types of pain. A microphone is attached to Noelle so she can speak to the nurse and participate in the roleplay.

Situations and scenarios are created for the students depending on their year in the program. Along with teachers, the students roleplay through the course of the birth that can last anywhere from five minutes to a few hours depending on the sitauation and the student.

Students act out various roles during the birth. Students play the nurse, mid-wife, nursery nurse and family member. Through this experience, the students are tested on their reaction to the patients and midwife needs. From calming the patient to assisting the midwife, students can experience every angle of the birthing process with the use of Noelle.

The mannequin was bought not to test the student’s knowledge on the birthing process but practice teamwork in an emergency situation. Their performance is videotaped and broadcast to other students, some in a separate room in the building and others across the state. They are judged how they handle the situation especially when complications arise.

Noelle is a fixture at many nursing schools and teaching hospitals across the state and is used to test students on their way to becoming nurses, midwives and OBGYNs. The Bruning Center has used her six times since her arrival in July.

Nicole Donner/ The Advocate		A high fidelity mannequin gave birth at the Bruning Center, Thursday, for the sixth time since July. Assisted by student nurses, the session was videotaped and viewed by fellow nursing students across the state.
Nicole Donner/ The Advocate		Roleplaying as the nursery nurse and a family member, Jean Anderson (left) and Doris Orik pose with “mother and child” after the simulated birth. Anderson is a first-year nursing student and Orik is part of the nursing faculty at Portland Community College.
Nicole Donner/ The Advocate		Faculty and students assist with the birth that is controlled by faculty in a separate room. Sceneraios are created and can make the birth last from five minutes to a few hours.