Lab Teaching Resources

Lab Positive Teaching & Learning Environment Guidelines

The Learning Resources and Simulation Center (LRSC) consists of multiple lab spaces including:

    • Portland Campus — Masterton Hall

      • Rooms 303, 305, 204, 207

      • First-floor Simulation Center with its supply/support room.

    • Lewiston Campus

      • Rooms 226 and 228.

  • These learning spaces are designed to teach the environmental and service delivery concepts that all nursing students at any level will be expected to adhere to in any health care environment. As such all of the lab areas should be considered patient care areas with users responsible to maintain the integrity for the next users.

  • As faculty, we role model appropriate hand hygiene and medical asepsis at all times and we expect student compliance as well. We believe that behaviors practiced in the labs will begin to embed those habits in our students when they practice in clinical situations.

  • Students will wear uniforms and name tags in all lab settings. This is an additional culture transition for students and faculty to increase the fidelity of the learning environment. We ask that faculty wear professional work attire and a lab coat or uniform that will be in harmony with the students as well as identify the faculty as the leader in the lab.

  • Students and faculty should not consume food during lab sessions. Covered liquids in appropriate areas (not on beds or bedside tables) are allowed. Liquids and food spills are especially problematic to electronic equipment and carpets, as well as to some of the manikins whose skin stains easily. There is a designated area where beverages may be stored for use during breaks. Food should be consumed outside the lab.

  • All supplies, equipment and manikins should be returned to set up condition during the last few minutes of the lab session. Faculty are asked to set aside this 10 minutes to engage students in the practice of restocking, returning, replacing or reassembling items including manikins that have been used, moved around or taken apart during the lab session.

  • The School of Nursing Civility Code is practiced in the labs and classes. Students are asked to modulate voices outside the labs as there are offices and activities taking place in the surrounding areas especially out in the hallways where they congregate. Please refrain from conversation/critique about other classes, professors or fellow students while you are in lab. Lab time is limited and should be used to focus on your performance and achievement of lab objectives.

  • Students and faculty are expected to return the lab to the condition they found it. This checklist should be used as a guide:

      • Chairs and tables returned to original order.

      • Manikins returned to locations and parts re-attached if removed. Leave them looking dignified.

      • Supplies reset up in starting condition or returned to carts and restocked from supply room.

      • Used items discarded. A list of disposable items will be posted in the labs to guide users in what to discard at the conclusion of their lab.

      • Equipment moved or taken out is put back in place.

      • Beds are returned to low position and linen neatened.

      • Do not change linen unless visibly stained. Use protective pads whenever possible.

      • IV pumps are turned off, volume cleared and pump plugged in.

      • Oxygen regulators are turned off in room.

      • Suction regulars are turned off and the suction wall switch turned off.

      • All Walkie talkies turned off and returned to charger (Sim Center)

      • Maniken and both computers turned off (Sim Center)

      • Faculty may wish to leave a note for Lab Manager regarding repairs, issues or questions.​​​​​​​

Recycling Plan:

    • NO--DO NOT THROW AWAY the following items: IV bags, IV tubing, sterile ends from the IV tubing, blue clave connectors, saline flush syringes, foley catheters, NG tubes, blue IV bag plugs, oxygen equipment, and med vials. When in doubt ask.

    • YES -DO THROW AWAY plastic wrappers, paper wrappers, soiled gauze, gloves, other obvious trash items.

    • NEEDLES and other SHARPS (not the syringes) are the only items that go into the sharps containers.


Manikin Care:

  • NEVER write on anything taped/attached to the manikin because the ink bleeds through and creates a permanent tattoo. INK IS TOXIC TO MANIKINS.

  • Do not put any fluids or pills into a manikin unless instructed to do so by faculty.

  • Do not use povidone-iodine on manikin.

  • Do not use food coloring – check with the Lab Manager for acceptable coloring for mulage.

  • Use only paper tape on the manikin skin.

Lab Policy Handbook