Case Study: Transforming IV Pump Training with SimVS-IV

Overview

SimVS-IV is redefining how nursing schools teach IV medication administration. By replacing outdated refurbished pumps with a flexible, software-based simulator, schools are reducing costs, expanding practice opportunities, and helping students gain confidence in one of the most anxiety-producing areas of nursing education.

The Challenge

For years, schools faced the same set of problems when teaching IV pump skills:

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Unreliable equipment: Refurbished pumps often failed in class or required costly repairs

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Limited exposure: Students only learned one interface, while clinical practice demanded familiarity with many

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Inflexible content: No way to add new drugs limited realism and adaptability

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High costs: Impossible to purchase every brand of pump students would encounter

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Limited access: Too few pumps for too many students created inconsistent training

Implementation Across the Curriculum

With SimVS-IV, faculty now have a flexible tool that supports every stage of learning:

Pharmacology Classes

Instructors project SimVS-IV to demonstrate medication administration concepts, linking theory to practice.

Skills Labs

Students work in small groups with the simulator, learning to manage primary, secondary, and bolus infusions.

Simulation Scenarios

In manikin-based exercises, one learner is assigned to medications and uses SimVS-IV to administer IV drugs realistically.

Online Practice

Students log in from anywhere to complete faculty-assigned infusion exercises.

Two nursing students collaborating with SimVS-IV tablets in educational setting

The app covers a wide range of infusion methods—volume-, weight-, and dose-based infusions—and includes safety guardrails to mirror modern clinical practice. Faculty also emphasize error management: students must troubleshoot simulated occlusions and air-in-line alarms before pumps can be restarted.

Outcomes and Impact

Schools report several benefits after adopting SimVS-IV:

Increased student confidence

IV medication administration is often one of the highest-anxiety skills for learners. Repeated safe practice reduces stress and builds readiness.

Consistency of training

Every student has access to the same scenarios and pump types, ensuring uniform competency.

Lower costs

Instead of maintaining multiple refurbished devices, schools gain access to five different pump interfaces in one app.

Ease of integration

Faculty can introduce the simulator in minutes, without the need for complex setup or ongoing maintenance.

"We love our SimVS-IV"

— Stacia Donaldson, Mount St. Mary College

Online Expansion: Practice Anytime, Anywhere

The launch of SimVS-IV Online has extended these benefits beyond the lab. Faculty can now create and assign custom medication orders to students for asynchronous practice. Learners log in from home, practice on realistic pump interfaces, and build confidence through repetition.

Accessibility

Students can practice anywhere, on their own schedules.

Faculty Oversight

Instructors assign work, track completion, and review performance.

Error-Based Learning

Online scenarios include pump errors, reinforcing troubleshooting skills essential for safe practice.

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Conclusion

By replacing outdated pumps with a software-driven, multi-interface simulator, schools are modernizing their IV infusion training. SimVS-IV provides a safe, consistent, and cost-effective way to teach medication administration, while the new online platform ensures students can practice anytime, anywhere.

SimVS-IV is more than a simulator—it's a bridge between classroom, lab, simulation, and clinical readiness.