Fidelity Is a Tool
by: rod
For years, like most centres, we used expired prescription-only medicines (POMs) in training: old adrenaline minijets, leftover ampoules, out-of-date stock. It felt realistic.
But when we built ResusPro, we paused.
There are real issues. POMs are tightly regulated in supply, storage and disposal. Some drugs damage manikins. Using expired medicines subtly normalises unsafe practice. And simplified setups distort drug preparation time and cognitive load.
So we invested in dedicated simulated medicines from Wallcur (via the team at 3B Scientific UK – www.3bscientific.com/gb). The fidelity is exceptional, accurate labelling, realistic handling, proper preparation.
And then we discovered something interesting.
We created fidelity overload!
Drawing up RSI drugs correctly, especially in a critically unwell child, adds real time pressure and cognitive demand. That’s authentic. But sometimes it competes with the learning objective of the scenario.
So now we’re deliberate.
Sometimes drug preparation is the lesson.
Sometimes it’s the distraction.
Fidelity isn’t an end in itself. It’s a tool.
Because realism matters.
But purposeful realism matters more.
