Meet Renown Regional Med. Center's Bobby Jean!

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Bobby Jean is at the risk of having a heart attack, passing a kidney stone, giving birth or even just feeling a little dizzy at any given time and it’s all at the touch of a button.

Renown Regional Medical Center’s Bobby Jean, the first patient simulator of its kind to be offered at a hospital in northern Nevada, was introduced Wednesday at a nurses’ conference at the Atlantis Hotel/Casino.

Made for training nurses, Bobby Jean features state-of-the-art technology to simulate practically any ailment or condition, said Jan Johnson, the healing arts coordinator for Renown.

“There is nothing that they (training nurses) can’t do (with Bobby Jean),” Johnson said. “It emulates patients perfectly.”

Named in honor of Dr. Bob Myles, a doctor at Renown hospital since 1958 who is now retired and his wife, Jean, Bobby Jean passed testing and has met nurse teaching standards and is now available to all nurses in training.

Able to talk and respond to students, Bobby Jean is operated by a computer and is attached to a compressor to simulate all vital signs.

Jennifer Richards, director of nursing education and research at Renown, said the patient displays all human traits and signs of life and will help students learn to interact with patients.

“Students can check heart rate, blood pressure and we even have fake blood that can be used,” Richards said. “We’ll also have a simulation lab for students (to take care of Bobby Jean in).”

Bobby Jean can either be a male or female, Richards added, allowing for a variety of teaching situations.

“This can help you be more accurate,” said Stacie Ferrante, a first semester nursing student at Truckee Meadows Community College. “A big part of nursing is being able to use your hands. This will help you learn in a safe way because everybody needs to learn medical skills and it’s good to be able to practice on something else.”

Typically offered in a university setting, Bobby Jean will allow for training nurses to receive on-site instruction at the hospital, a benefit Johnson said she thinks is invaluable.

“We don’t have anything like this that allows nurses to keep their training up without having to leave campus,” Johnson said. “I know Dr. Bob feels that he wouldn’t be anywhere in his profession if it wasn’t for quality nurses.”

Dr. Myles was unable to attend Wednesday, but his wife was there and marveled at the machine’s workings.

“I think this will be very good,” Jean said, taking a closer look at Bobby Jean’s hands and listening to the mannequin talk.