Finger On The Pulse Of Nurse Training

There's been a lot of talk in nursing circles recently about the use of computer-assisted learning in nurse education centres.

A lot of talk but, as is usual in any thing that might mean change to the nursing profession, very little action.

Given this, it was nice to come across a series of programs that, although designed with schoolkids in mind, is good enough to use in training the Florence Nightingales of the '80s.

Garland Software has published a suite of educational programs with the emphasis on basic human anatomy and physiology. They cover areas such as the heart, the function of the kidneys and the female reproductive cycle.

Each program is produced to a high standard, with a full set of printed notes as teacher aids and a fairly realistic attitude to how they are going to be used.

Taking the "Action of the Heart" as an example, what we get for our money is a well thought out introduction to the structure and functions of the heart, along with a series of questions to test our understanding.

It then goes on to the actual dynamics of the organ, and the whole thing is rounded off with a schematic model of the heart in action.

The graphics are excellent and the whole package is an example of what well structured, useful educational soft ware should be. Nurse educators and secondary school teachers should look at these closely.

Pete Bibby