Auscultation is listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually through a stethoscope. An important part of medical examinations, auscultation is all about identifying normal from abnormal sounds. Like any skill, this takes practice. That’s why we made sure to include realistic auscultation sounds in our new auscultation trainers. After all, more realistic practice sessions mean better prepared students — our future health care professionals.
Meet two new tools for practicing auscultation
We’re excited to offer two auscultation training options: Our Auscultation Trainer, which includes a life-size torso with skin overlay, and our Wearable Auscultation Trainer, which includes a wearable training vest.
Both trainers come with a Realityscope and tablet with app, as well as lesson plans and slides. The RealityScope connects to any stethoscope to let students hear sounds specifically engineered to sound correct through a stethoscope, and only when placed over a corresponding auscultation site. The tablet and app include 21 sounds and over 40 scenarios, allowing instructors to create practice sessions that address specific conditions.
The Realityscope and tablet bring the same realistic sounds and scenario opportunities to practice sessions with either tool. The wearable trainer provides an appropriate protective barrier between a student “patient” and health care worker-in-training. Anatomical landmarks can still be palpated to find correct auscultation sites without anyone actually being touched.
Realistic auscultation sounds for realistic practice
For added realism, each auscultation sound is an actual recording from a real patient. These sounds help relate to the sounds to actual patients, and thus help students learn better. Auscultation sounds play only when students move the RealityScope over a precise auscultation site and apply the correct pressure.
For instance, students can practice assessing:
- Heart conditions, such as cardiac friction rub, bradycardia and tachycardia
- Lung conditions like bradypnea, wheezes and crackles
- Hyperactive and Hypoactive bowel sounds
Practice with peers, manikins or standardized patients
The more comfortable students are with stethoscope placement, patient positioning and sound recognition, the better they will be at performing auscultation properly. Although simulators are no substitute for hands-on training with real patients, using tools like these on peers, manikins or standardized patients can go a long way toward improving students’ abilities.
And of course, practicing with peers also lets students practice soft skills like communication, critical thinking and collaboration — practical job skills for any health-related field.
Learn more:
If you’re looking for more information on auscultation training and other health science skill development, consider these resources:
- Our recent blog, “The Buzz About Work-Based Learning“
- Explore our health science program implementation resources, including free lesson plans, guides and packages
- Find out why our Auscultation Trainer was named EdTech Breakthrough Awards 2021 Career Readiness Solution of the Year
