Equipping a nursing school: Which purchases are actually worthwhile at the end of the year?

When there are still unallocated funds for equipment available at the end of the year, nursing schools are faced less with the question of how to spend the budget, but rather which purchase will genuinely improve instruction in the coming year. Durable training systems that allow practical skills to be practiced repeatedly in a controlled learning environment can be particularly interesting. [1]

1. Which product matches which learning objective?

A good investment starts with an inventory assessment:
Which practical competencies are taught frequently?
Where are there gaps in practice opportunities?
Which stations are regularly overcrowded?
Answering these questions can help decide whether a full-body nursing manikin, a specialized trainer, or several smaller training stations would provide the greatest benefit. For common basic competencies, a versatile nursing simulator may make more sense than several highly specialized individual models. For skills labs that are already well-equipped, however, a targeted catheter, stoma, or airway trainer might be the better addition. [1]

2. Full-body nursing simulators for a wide range of competencies

For schools looking for a central training platform, full-body models are particularly interesting. In the DocMed range, the "Yaye" nursing simulator is currently priced at €8,635*. The "Cherry" patient care manikin is offered for €5,099, and the Clinical Chloe for €2,495*. If such models are used regularly across several training years, the purchase price is distributed over a larger number of instructional units and learners. [2][3][4]

3. Specialized trainers close specific gaps

Not every school needs a new nursing manikin immediately. Often, a skills lab can be expanded more strategically. DocMed carries, for example, a tracheostomy management simulator for €939* and pressure ulcer (decubitus) models for €1,029*. For pediatric training, a pediatric nursing manikin is also listed for €7,899.99*. Before purchasing, check whether the model covers a learning objective that can currently only be practiced to a limited extent with the existing equipment. [5][6][7]

4. How to justify the investment internally

A solid justification for procurement should describe the pedagogical benefit: Which competency is being trained? How many learners will use the model? How often per year will it be used? Can it be used in multiple modules or training courses? A €5,000 simulator used in numerous courses over several years can therefore be more sensible than many smaller purchases without a clear application in instruction.

5. Which equipment fits which budget?

As a rough guide, for budgets up to about €1,500, specialized single trainers or smaller practice stations should be considered. In the range of about €2,000 to €5,000, more comprehensive nursing manikins and training systems are viable options. With budgets above €5,000, it is worth examining a high-quality central simulation solution. Rather than exhausting the budget exactly, the selection should be based on intensity of use, learning objectives, and existing equipment.

Checklist before ordering

• Which specific problem or learning objective does the purchase solve?
• How often is the product expected to be used in the coming year?
• How many people or locations will benefit from it?
• Is comparable equipment already available?
• What follow-up costs, consumables, or storage requirements arise?
• Have internal approvals, procurement guidelines, framework agreements, and order deadlines been clarified?

Conclusion

For nursing schools, end-of-year budgets can be used effectively if they result in training capacity that can be utilized long-term. Before placing an order, the curriculum, existing models, group sizes, and planned use in the coming year should be considered together. For larger procurements, a customized quote with several coordinated training models may make more sense than individual purchases.

Product overview: Suitable products in the DocMed range

*Price and link note

Product price and data status: 28.09.2026. Product prices and availability can change at short notice. Before publishing or sending a quote, the respective linked DocMed product page should be checked again. For products with a "from" price, the final price depends on the chosen variant or size.

Sources