BSZ puts new care unit into operation
Vocational school centre for health and social services now has state-of-the-art learning conditions
A new care unit has been completed at the Vocational School Centre for Health and Social Services at the Markthalle, which is run by the City of Chemnitz. The so-called care unit extends over several rooms and, in addition to mannequins with all kinds of sensors and modern medical equipment, also offers two care beds, as the students encounter them in practice.
Among other things, there are two deceptively real-looking dummies on which many nursing activities can be practised. These include applying bandages, measuring pulse and blood pressure, inserting catheters, taking blood and administering infusions. The reactions that the life-size mannequins can imitate even include the urge to cough and vomit.
"This technology is absolutely up-to-date and is currently one of the most modern in vocational schools," says headmaster Mario Friedrich. Since the previous training courses in geriatric, nursing and paediatric nursing were merged two years ago to form the generalist nursing training course, there is also a paediatric area in the adjacent room. There, students can practise nappy changing, feeding and dressing the little ones. They can also practise lifting patients out of bed using a patient lift.
Equipping the rooms cost a total of 120,000 euros, financed by the City of Chemnitz. In addition, around 100,000 euros were required to remodel the caretaker's flat on the top floor, which had been vacant since the beginning of 2018. First and foremost, a rescue platform had to be installed on the roof from the outside so that up to 16 people can now be in these rooms at the same time. Classes will start there after the February holidays and a grand opening is planned for a later date.
The Vocational School Centre for Health and Social Services at the Markthalle currently has 870 students studying in eight training courses and four specialist areas. They are taught by around 60 teachers.