IV Kits vs. Health Assessment Kits vs. Tracheostomy Kits: Which Training Tools Do Your Students Need Most?

This article compares IV Kits, Health Assessment Kits, and Tracheostomy Kits, explaining the skills they teach, their level of difficulty, and when students should use them in their training.

What you’ll learn:

• Key differences between IV, health assessment, and tracheostomy kits

• Skills students develop with each kit

• Recommended year of study for each training tool

• Cost and urgency levels to consider

• How to decide which kits best support your curriculum

Numerous simulated medical tools are available for students in medical and nursing schools. Some of the tools are sold individually, while others are available in kits that include multiple tools.

Most simulated medical kits contain a variety of practice tools designed for performing specific types of procedures or treatments. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the various kits and the tools they contain. Then, you will get a better idea of which kits your students need for success.

The three primary simulation kits include:

• IV Kits

• Health Assessment Kits

• Tracheostomy Kits

Do you know which kits your students need? First, you must understand the differences between these three types of kits, including the skills taught, difficulty level, cost, and the recommended year for use. By understanding this information, you and simulation directors can decide which kits and tools to prioritize to meet your budget.

IV Kits

IV kits contain tools for quickly treating a variety of health issues intravenously, such as blood loss, nutrient deficiency, severe dehydration, heart attacks, strokes, and allergic reactions. The nurse or medical professional will insert an IV line (catheter) into a patient’s vein to deliver blood, fluids, and medication directly into it. That will immediately treat or mitigate whatever emergency health problem they face.

A typical simulated IV kit will contain the following essential tools for students:

• Alcohol swab

• Gauze

• Primary IV line

• Secondary IV line

• IV Bag

• Needle

• Syringe

• Glass vial

• Surgical tape

• Simulated medication

Students can utilize these tools to learn about all aspects of IV use in clinical settings, including vein location, IV catheter insertion, and securing the IV catheter. Students will also learn how to flush, maintain, and remove IV lines without causing harm to the patient. All this requires repeated practice to perfect, which is easy when using simulated IV kits on manikins or simulated patients.

First-year students will begin learning the basics of venipuncture in the classroom. They will get to practice their newfound knowledge on pads. The next year, they will start practicing more on live simulation arms and manikins. As students progress into their final years, they will practice administering IV treatments on manikins and simulated patients in high-stress environments.

Health Assessment Kits

Virtually every healthcare professional who examines patients will use specific tools for conducting health assessments. That is why all your nursing and medical students need the best health assessment kits, complete with the proper tools, to practice their physical examination skills.

Physical examinations and health assessments focus on aspects such as breathing sounds, heart rhythm, neurological function, and blood pressure. Analyzing these aspects of a patient’s physical health can help determine whether they have high blood pressure, an abnormal heart rate, or respiratory conditions. Once a medical professional detects these problems, they will conduct further testing to identify a potentially more significant issue.

Some of the items you may find in a health assessment kit include the following:

• Stethoscope

• Otoscope

• Reflex hammer

• Tuning fork

• Penlight

• Blood pressure cuff

• Thermometer

All nursing and medical students will learn to assess vital signs during their first and second years of study. In the subsequent years, the focus will be on detecting more abnormal and unusual findings, especially those that could lead to more serious health conditions.

The overall purpose of using health assessment kits is to learn to prevent diseases and future emergencies in patients.

Tracheostomy Kits

When someone experiences an infection or blockage in their windpipe, they will need a tracheostomy to remove the obstruction. The infection or blockage is typically the result of a tumor, infection, trauma, or respiratory health condition. A person cannot breathe well or at all when they suffer from this problem. A doctor will perform the tracheostomy by making an incision in the windpipe to create the relief needed. That will allow the patient to breathe again.

Tracheostomies are necessary to save lives and provide relief to patients. Students studying to become emergency physicians must repeatedly practice performing tracheostomies to ensure they are familiar with the correct procedure. One small mistake in a real-life clinical setting could cost a patient their life.

A tracheostomy kit contains the primary tools needed for a student to practice their tracheostomy techniques:

• Suction catheter

• Cannula

• Tray

• Ties

• Gauze

• Brushes

Medical students in their third and fourth years will learn to master tracheostomies. It involves practice making incisions, inserting tubes, extracting obstructive material, replacing tubes, changing dressing, and more. Students will also learn how to handle emergency scenarios, such as mucus plugging, bleeding, and tube dislodgement.

Mastering tracheostomies is a matter of life and death, as it becomes a critical skill once students graduate and begin performing them in real-world settings. They cannot afford to make any mistakes in administering them to patients because there is very little room for error.

Side-by-Side Table Overview

Here is a table summary of the differences between these simulation kits:

Get Your Essential Simulated Kits Today

Do you need an IV kit, health assessment kit, or tracheostomy kit for your students? Perhaps you need all three of them for teaching different lessons and educational programs at your school?

In any case, Pristine Medical is the best-equipped supplier of simulated medical accessories and kits. Not only does it include all three kits, but it also allows you to create your own custom simulated kits.