The anatomy lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp: what can it teach us today?

We report on the use of a high fidelity patient simulator (SimMan) within a clinical lab setting to teach learning disability nursing students about epilepsy management. We had previously prepped the students with verbal discussions on epilepsy management and, when the simulator began to undergo a seizure, small groups of students managed the unfolding scenario. We received written feedback from the students on the experience, and with reference to this and to the wider literature we consider the benefits of this approach to patient care. We surmise that lessons learned here will be applicable to trainee professionals from other parts of the register and in other fields allied to healthcare. We anticipate that this will improve care for people with intellectual disability in line with recommendations in Health Care for All (2008).