Joanna Popovits’ journey to becoming a nurse began with her grandmother, Teresita Alicia Pineiro. Growing up, Teresita’s drive and determination to help others served as inspiration for Joanna, who inherited her grandmother’s work ethic and giving heart. But as Teresita’s health declined, Joanna noticed she had trouble at the doctor’s office.
“My grandmother is so full of life, but medical appointments can be challenging for her because she doesn’t speak much English,” Joanna says. “In translating for her, I realized the kind of impact I could have in helping people navigate health care.”
This desire to help others led Joanna to pursue a nursing degree at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth, where the newly renovated Simulation and Clinical Performance Laboratory (Sim Lab) helped her develop important clinical skills by working through real patient scenarios on lifelike manikins.
“当我开始在SIM实验室工作时，我有点紧张，”现任高级护理专业学生乔安娜（Joanna）说。“但是，在学习更多并对自己的技能充满信心之后，我可以进行模拟，以确保患者的最佳结果。”
In the newly renovated 27,000-square-foot Sim Lab, newer students can practice basic skills like administering medications and taking vital signs, while advanced students are able to hone more specialized techniques. Because students practice on manikins, they can perfect their clinical skills before working with patients.
乔安娜说：“我们通过现实生活中的患者场景进行工作，这需要团队合作和思考。”“我喜欢那个，因为这是护士每天在医院和临床环境中所做的事情。”
Although the COVID-19 pandemic closed many clinic doors, Joanna and her peers were able to substitute simulation experiences for up to half of their traditional clinical hour requirements. Joanna has already taken advantage of Sim Lab opportunities to brush up on her clinical skills during the pandemic.
“I am so grateful for the faculty and staff at the Sim Lab,” she says. “They have offered extraordinary support during COVID-19 and really helped me prepare for my clinical rotations.”
After losing her father unexpectedly in a car accident in 2019, Joanna struggled in one of her classes. Finding inspiration in her grandmother’s strength, Joanna has persevered and will soon graduate from nursing school. In the end, she believes her heartbreak will make her a stronger nurse.
“I take my father’s memory with me every day as a reminder of what my patients and their families might be going through,” Joanna says. “Keeping him close helps me give patients the best
possible care no matter the circumstances.”
乔安娜（Joanna）看着护理学校的最后一个学期时，她说她准备在毕业后完成第一份工作。她认为SIM实验室和临床机会为她的未来带来了准备。
“每次我走进实验室,就像我犯下的king into the hospital to care for real patients,” she says. “I become the professional nurse I was meant to be.”
AGING HEALTHY, AGING SMART
From landing on the moon to the rise of personal computers, older adults have witnessed profound technological advancements during their lifetimes. In recent years, these advancements have taken the form of smart devices, many of which can help aging adults stay at home longer. But how do you determine what technology is dependable and easy to use?
To help seniors navigate this wave of age-friendly products, the Smart Apartment at Cizik School of Nursing serves as a living laboratory to pilot test services and devices. The one-bedroom apartment contains all the usual amenities of a home—from a fully furnished living space to a full kitchen and bathroom.
“Many older adults want to remain in their homes rather than transition to an assisted living facility,” says Constance M. Johnson, PhD, RN. “We created a space to determine what technology is useful and can help people stay at home for as long as possible.”
在2020年初，约翰逊（Johnson）授予了前三种物联网和老化的种子赠款，并以她的捐赠任命为玛丽亚·C（Maria C.）和克里斯托弗·J·帕帕斯（Christopher J.与莱斯大学合作，这些赠款支持来自两个机构的跨学科团队，以在智能公寓中测试想法。
每个项目都侧重于一项不同的技术，包括旨在改善患有常见年龄相关条件的老年人独立性的产品。从运动探测器来确定中风幸存者的困扰，再到帮助痴呆症患者的辅助设备，再到可以回答药物问题的语音激活的人工智能，每项研究都会收集重要的飞行员数据，这些数据将刺激技术的进步，以帮助老年人的年龄实现老年人的年龄。
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for technological support and monitoring for older adults,” Johnson says. “Thanks to the generosity of the Pappas family, we are able to work toward helping them thrive at home for years to come.”