Students and faculty can now access hands-on, real-life simulations used in hospitals today through Siemens Healthcare Clinical IT (CIT) for Academics, a web-based educational tool.

The CIT program leverages portal technology to meet demands among nursing schools while enabling clinical study minus the high cost of equipment and specialized instructors. With CIT, users can go online anytime to access seven interactive courses that may be used in a standalone e-learning environment or customized to established curricula.

Villanova University's College of Nursing in Villanova, Pennsylvania has successfully tested the CIT tool. Results of the testing showed that of the 35 students who participated in the trial, nearly 90 percent had poor knowledge of nursing documentation systems. Consequently, participants said after completing the courses they felt increased confidence about using computerized nursing documentation systems.
Results also showed most participants accessed the course through home computers, but some indicated they accessed the course via an on-campus learning lab. CIT is adaptable to learning labs, simulated labs or offsite locations.

Siemens supplies schools with an Organization Transcript Report from CIT up to four times per year. The report gives statistics on which learners accessed which courses and whether they were successful in completing the assessments. With this information, schools can better track student success rates and tailor their CIT curriculum path for each academic year.

"As healthcare relies more and more on integrated information management systems to provide safe and effective care, it is critical that nursing students develop the knowledge and skills needed to use clinical information systems," says Lesley Perry, PhD, RN, Associate Dean, Villanova University College of Nursing. "Our graduates will be expected to be competent in incorporating information technology systems into their practice and need the opportunity to experience such systems during their academic programs."

"As the use of technology in healthcare continues to increase, it is extremely important that our academic programs incorporate this type of education into their curriculums," says Gail E. Latimer, RN, MSN, FACHE, Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer, Siemens Healthcare.

Siemens Healthcare is an integrated healthcare company. The company provides healthcare solutions across the entire continuum. Solutions include imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services.

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