After becoming certified CNAs and starting their first clinical rounds at Baylor Scott & White, Health Science 2 students are going to McKinney’s Collin College to participate in a nursing simulation lab. 

“[The lab] gives me an opportunity to understand how the CNA skills we learned are used in healthcare and the importance of these skills,” junior Harini Thiyagarajan said via text. “It will also give me the opportunity to learn about the technologies used [in hospitals].”

As CNAs, the class will perform a variety of tasks, usually sorted into four categories: personal hygiene and PPE; positioning, transferring, and moving patients; assisting with personal care; and collecting vital signs and measurements.

“It will be beneficial in improving my CNA skills,” junior Angel Mugambi said. “I can practice providing proper care to a patient in any given situation, which is the most important [CNA] skill. And on top of patient care, the simulation lab will test my performance, which will allow me to see my strengths and weaknesses so I can continue to grow and improve as a CNA and healthcare worker.”