In recognition of this week being Healthcare Simulation Week 2025, we are showcasing some of the OEI family of users who have integrated Operative Experience (OEI) simulation technology into their learning programs.
Shelly J. Reed, PhD, DNP, APRN, CNM, CNE is an Associate Teaching Professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) College of Nursing which provides a baccalaureate nursing program. The baccalaureate nursing program prepares general practitioners with the knowledge, skills, leadership abilities, values, and competencies commensurate with roles of professional nursing practice.
BYU’s Philosophy: Bringing Learning to Life
BYU’s Nursing School believes strongly that their graduates develop the ability to be sensitive to the welfare of others, communicate effectively, evaluate research findings, think critically, solve problems, and utilize appropriate technology as they provide quality nursing care to people of all ages.
Learning comes alive at BYU School of Nursing as students move from the classroom to actual patient care through a clinical simulation laboratory.
The Goal: Preparing Students for Unpredictable Scenarios
Simulation experiences include both preparatory experiences to help prepare students for clinical instruction as well as simulation experiences that students are less likely to have the opportunity to care for in a live clinical setting. In this way, BYU prepares students for a variety of contingencies that can present themselves, particularly seen in the area of maternal and newborn health.
The Challenge: Finding a Realistic and Cost-Effective Simulator
Which brings us back to Shelly. One of Shelly’s areas of responsibility is course coordinator of the Clinical Areas of Women and Newborns clinical course.
Shelly had used manikins in their simulation labs before, but she was having trouble finding a simulator that was both realistic and at a price the college could afford. Additionally, manikin upkeep and replacement costs in the past had been an issue.
The Solution: Adopting the OEI RealMom Simulator
Shelly recently incorporated the Operative Experience, Inc.’s RealMom simulator into BYU’s lab. RealMom 2.0 is the latest generation of the world’s most lifelike vaginal birthing simulator and features:
- Life-identical soft tissue and skin,
- An natural active birth canal with automated dilation and fetal station
- Accurate internal anatomy.
This simulator allowed Shelly to provide students with not only a lifelike look and feel, but also the ability to practice alternative birthing positions and a range of delivery options. The simulator also allows students to monitor maternal and fetal physiology. Via a tablet, instructors are able to control dilation and delivery progression and assess and control maternal and fetal heart rate, fetal heart tones and contractions , pulses, blood pressure and SPO2.
Key Benefits: Multicultural Options and Durability
Shelly also valued the simulator being a multicultural simulator, providing a range of realistic skin tones including African American, Asian, Hispanic and Caucasian.
The simulator is rugged and easily set up for the next simulation, minimizing instructor time and effort.
A Win-Win for Realistic, Affordable Training
Overall, Shelly is impressed with RealMom. Nothing beats real world presentation and options for students that allow for learning in a safe environment. The bottom line? Operative Experience Inc.’s RealMom provides realistic simulation experiences at a better cost with less upkeep. It’s a win-win.
Happy Healthcare Simulation Week!
Hosted by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), Healthcare Simulation Week is a global event celebrating the professionals who use simulation to improve healthcare safety and patient outcomes. The innovative work being done at Brigham Young University is a powerful example of this week’s spirit, showing how realistic, hands-on practice prepares the next generation of nurses for critical, real-world scenarios.
Ready to see how high-fidelity labor and delivery simulation can transform your own nursing program? Discover the lifelike features and cost-effective benefits of RealMom 2.0 for yourself. Schedule your personalized demo today!
From all of us at Operative Experience, we wish you a happy and insightful Healthcare Simulation Week. Join the global conversation and share your own simulation stories using the hashtag #HcSimWeek2025.
