Approximately 15 to 18 percent of students drop out of a standard four-year medical school program. While the dropout rate is lower for five-year programs, helping students succeed is a priority for many universities.
Did you know that the right practice suture kit can help foster student success?
In this article, we discuss the benefits of learning sutures with a suture practice kit. We also cover how to choose among the various practice kit options. Read on to promote better learning and make a savvy investment.
1. Learning Sutures
Arguably the most obvious benefit of a practice suture kit is practicing sutures. Medical students can't wait to start learning sutures until they're in their internship or residency, and it's not just because it's unethical.
Many patients wouldn't want to be used for first-time suture practice. The various practice kit options allow students to learn in a no-pressure environment and help eliminate performance anxiety.
2. High-Quality Practice Kit
Learning sutures has never been easier than it is today due to a high-quality practice kit. These kits used to lack quality, which affected their realism. This means it was difficult for students to get a realistic experience.
A practice kit like ours is made of high-quality silicone, which accurately simulates human skin in both texture and elasticity. The attention to texture and elasticity also helps improve their durability.
3. Reusable Practice Suture Kit
One of the benefits of using a high-quality practice kit when learning sutures is that they last longer. Increased durability translates to reusability, so students can practice sutures multiple times before needing a replacement.
This is good news for medical programs needing practice kit options for their students. They get peace of mind knowing their investment in high-quality kits stretches much further than those of lesser quality.
4. Able to Learn At Own Pace
While many medical and nursing students are advanced learners, everyone deserves the opportunity to learn at their own pace. A quality practice kit allows for practicing sutures at various speeds.
This also means that slower learners won't hold up the class since each student has their own kit. Dedicated students are likely to practice at home as well.
5. Able to Make Mistakes
The fear of making a mistake on a patient can be overwhelming, especially if a patient is particularly difficult or critical. This fear can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy of mistakes that can label students as unskilled.
A practice suture kit removes the fear of mistakes because a student can make as many as they need to until they improve. This is good for the student's well-being, good for patients, and creates confident professionals.
6. Master Skills
The combination of reusable practice kits, learning at their own pace and learning from their own mistakes results in students becoming quicker, more consistent, and all-around better with their suturing skills.
They become masters of suturing basics before moving on to real patients. However, being able to practice your skills while also learning on patients is a part of mastering them.
7. Maintain Skills
Suturing kits aren't just for medical students and students shouldn't stop using them once they graduate. A suture practice kit is an important tool in not only mastering suturing practice but maintaining those skills as well.
Unless medical professionals are regularly using all suturing types and techniques, their skills can become rusty. If they want to maintain skill and dexterity, having easily accessible practice kit options is essential.
Choosing Among the Best Practice Kit Options
With so many practice kit options available, you have to be sure to invest in the right one if you want it to last. This is especially important for bulk orders that rely on these kits for hundreds of students or more.
Most suturing kits come with everything you need to get started, but not all kits are the same. We recommend considering three factors including the quality of materials, learning resources, and customer satisfaction.
Quality Materials
The best suture practice kit comes with durable tools and other materials. These should closely resemble the types of tools students will use on the job. A list of necessary equipment is listed below.
- Durable silicone suturing pad
- Protective case
- Scalpel blades
- Scalpel handle
- Iris scissors
- Adson forceps
- Hegar needle holders
- Curved mosquito forceps
- Suture thread
These tools come standard in many practice kit options. However, the best kits also include multiple types of suture material since students are likely to need experience with more than one type.
Additional Learning Resources
Another important factor to consider when choosing a practice kit is whether it includes additional learning resources. If one of the benefits of learning sutures with a kit is self-pacing, students need more access to instruction.
Our suture kits include a how-to suturing book as well as suturing videos from a well-respected general and trauma surgeon, Dr. Buck Parker. These videos supplement learning and simulate mentorship 24/7.
Customer Satisfaction
Reading online reviews is important because verifying quality online can be difficult, especially because you can't feel the tools and materials yourself. Being able to see customer feedback can alleviate any concerns.
Reviewers tend to be other medical professionals such as students, professors, doctors, nurses, and more. Their feedback is the most valuable for your final decision.
Ask for Samples
Even with the best tools and reviews, some customers can still be hesitant to invest in a practice suture kit, especially when buying in bulk. In these cases, it's best to ask for a sample of the suture kit.
A sample takes all of the guesswork out of purchasing because you get to see and feel the materials. You don't have to rely on the feedback of others or take a gamble on an unfamiliar product; it can speak for itself.
Invest in the Best Practice Suture Kit
The best practice suture kit is a great investment for students, universities, and medical professionals. It allows them to develop skills, maintain skills, and build confidence, which is the best for fostering skilled professionals.
If the students at your university can benefit from practicing sutures with a high-quality kit, request a quote.
