Delivering a baby, even as a professional, requires snap decisions as life hangs in the balance. Nurses at Luther Midelfort worked on a very life-like special mannequin from CVTC to sharpen their labor and delivery training.

In groups of five, the nurses worked through difficult birth scenarios such as a breech delivery, dealing with an umbilical cord around the baby's neck, and too much bleeding right after childbirth. The simulation mannequin actually pushes the baby out. The nurse educator says hands-on training gives nurses safe practice for high risk situations.

"But in a controlled environment which decreases the risk, then when it happens, say in the night, on a weekend, whatever, the nurse would remember the techniques practiced and be able to use them in the real situation" says Vicki Vogler.

Nurses going through the training said they were extremely surprised at how realistic the situations were.