Nursing students play casualties in simulated terrorist incident

Training event allowed them ‘to develop their acute patient assessment skills’

Nursing students have taken part in a simulated mass casualty incident designed to give them and clinicians experience of such an event.

A group of 30 students from Northumbria University’s adult, child and learning disabilities nursing programmes volunteered to play the casualties in the training day.

Simulated wounds were treated by clinicians

The students had been ‘injured’ in the simulated terrorist incident and were given realistic, bleeding wounds that required treatment.

Six paramedics and six doctors treated casualties displaying signs of blast and gunshot injuries at Northumbria Police’s Operational Tactical Training Centre in Gateshead.

Third-year adult nursing student Rachel Wright said the session was unlike anything she had experienced before and would help her to become a better nurse.

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‘It’s high intensity and a really difficult and emotional subject,’ she said.

‘It was great to see and feel it from the other side, and see what people were going through, so you can help people and communicate with them.’

• RELATED: How a simulation exercise improved my communication skills

Senior lecturer in Northumbria University’s department of nursing, midwifery and health Daniel Monk said: ‘Our involvement in this event provided students with the unique opportunity to participate in the real-time simulation of a mass casualty incident. 

‘This immersive experience allows them to develop their acute patient assessment knowledge and skills.’

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