Warner Robins-Air Logistics Complex Commander Brig. Gen. Jennifer Hammerstedt recently visited Central Georgia Technical College’s (CGTC) Warner Robins campus to learn about the programs CGTC has available to her present and future industrial workforce.
While there Brig. Gen. Hammerstedt had an opportunity to see some of the advanced technologies CGTC embeds in their programs. In the Registered Nursing (RN) lab, for example, an upcoming graduate walked her through patient care for one of the clinic’s most notorious patients.
His name is Sim Man, and he’s a little rigid when you first meet him, but that’s how all mannequins can be.
Students in their clinical rotation, running hospital simulations within the RN program, hone their skills using state-of-the-art mannequins. Those like Sim Man respond to treatment, make natural body sounds, bleed artificially, and can even give birth.
Senior student and LPN at Houston Healthcare Michel Pickard handed over the stethoscope and gave Brig. Gen. Hammerstedt a first-hand listen.
“I introduced her to the patient and we were listening to lung sounds,” said Pickard. “Our mannequins are interesting. They actually have sounds and I just wanted to give her the opportunity to listen to those lung sounds.”
Pickard shared Brig. Gen. Hammerstedt’s reaction to hearing the sounds, indicating she was impressed with the life-likeness of the mannequins.
“It’s really impressive to see the technology used to educate our future professionals,” Hammerstedt said. “I appreciate the opportunity to meet with students and learn about what they are doing here in the Middle Georgia community.”
It just so happened, Pickard was there fulfilling leadership hours mentoring junior students, which is a requirement within the RN program.
Her leadership as a student stood out to her instructor Ashley Rivers.
“I think teaching is exactly what Michel did,” Rivers said. “She stepped up and showed Brig. Gen. Hammerstedt that these mannequins are our patients, and we are actually treating them as we would anyone. Right in front of one of Warner Robins’ most respected leaders, Michel showed she can break down what we do and make it make sense for someone who isn’t in the healthcare world every day.”