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High-Tech, Hands-On: How GP Tech Instructors are Embracing Innovation
Bringing Healthcare Training to Life with Simulation and 3D Anatomy
By M. Churchwell
It's a really cool thing and helps us understand how everything connects.
- GRACIELA ALVARADO, NURSING SERVICES STUDENT
At Great Plains Tech, preparing students for real-world careers isn't just about textbooks and lectures--it's about experience. In the Nursing Services program, instructors Helen Henry and Travis Clift are taking hands-on learning to the next level with cutting-edge technology. From life-like simulation manikins to the Anatomage Table's digital cadavers, students gain critical skills that prepare them for the fast-paced world of healthcare.
These tools do more than enhance learning—they give students a realistic, immersive experience before they ever step foot in a hospital or clinic. By combining state-of-the-art technology with expert instruction, Henry and Clift ensure students graduate with the knowledge, confidence, and skills they need to succeed in the medical field.
Making the Connection Between Classroom and Clinic with Simulation Manikins
In Helen Henry’s nursing skills classes, students don’t just learn about patient care—they practice it. The MegaCode Kelly simulation manikin allows students to experience real-world medical scenarios in a safe, controlled environment.
“It gives them the opportunity to feel, hear, and see what they will experience with real patients,” says Henry. “Before we take them out to clinicals, they actually get to feel what it’s like on a simulated patient.”
The manikin breathes, has a heartbeat, and even allows students to practice checking blood pressure, feeling for pulses, and listening to lung sounds. These experiences provide a crucial foundation, helping students refine their skills before interacting with actual patients.
Students see the value in this hands-on approach. “The manikin helps you with real-life experience,” says Nursing Services student Destiny Threat. “It lets you practice things like taking a pulse and hearing a heartbeat, so you actually know what to expect when working with patients.”
The simulation training also fosters peer learning. “The manikins help us be able to test our classmates and see if they are listening and getting the right counts,” says student Maria Batty. “We can help each other and learn from each other.
It lets you practice so you actually know what to expect when working with patients.
- DESTINY THREAT, NURSING SERVICES STUDENT
Exploring the Human Body with the Anatomage Table
While Henry’s students gain hands-on patient care experience, Travis Clift’s Anatomy and Physiology classes take a deep dive into human anatomy using the Anatomage Table—one of the most advanced medical visualization tools available.
“The table gives students another avenue to view tissues and organs that they normally wouldn’t see unless they were in a hospital setting or an anatomy class in college,” explains Clift.
The Anatomage Table features fully interactive, life-sized digital cadavers, allowing students to explore different layers of the body, zoom in on organs, and even analyze real patient cases through CT scans and X-ray imaging.
“The more I dive into it to learn more, the more I can give my students,” says Clift. “They can study everything from broken bones to abnormal tissues and even cancer diagnoses, just like they would in a clinical setting.”
For students, this technology transforms their understanding of human anatomy. “The table is a blown-up version of what we would see under a microscope, but with more descriptions and detail,” says student Evangee Jones. “We can view all the different sides and angles.”
Graciela Alvarado agrees. “It’s a really cool thing and works better than just using microscopes alone,” she says. “We can see all the different layers in the body, which helps us understand how everything connects.”
Preparing Students for the Future of Healthcare
The combination of simulation training and digital anatomy visualization gives Nursing Services students a significant advantage. By the time they enter clinical settings, they already have experience handling medical equipment, performing skills, and understanding human anatomy on a deeper level.
Beyond technical skills, these tools help develop critical thinking, teamwork, and decision-making abilities—all essential for healthcare professionals. The immersive training environment allows students to make mistakes, learn from them, and build confidence before they care for real patients.
At GP Tech, we’re committed to providing students with the best possible preparation for their future careers. By integrating state-of-the-art technology into our programs, we ensure that our graduates are not just ready for the workforce—they’re ahead of the curve.
And with innovative instructors like Helen Henry and Travis Clift leading the way, our Nursing Services students aren’t just learning about healthcare. They’re experiencing it.
