Q & A with a moulage artist
Moulage adds realism to mock disaster drill
Moulage—the art of applying mock injuries for the specific purpose of training emergency response teams, such as nurses—is often used for mock disaster drills. Megan Dohm, the academic coordinator for the Maverick Family Nursing Simulation Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato, tells us a bit more about moulage.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO DOING MOULAGE?
Moulage is part of simulation. It helps with increasing the fidelity (realism) in the simulated environment. I had one in person training session during my Certificate in Healthcare Simulation program, otherwise books, videos and trial and error is how I learned.
HOW IS MOULAGE DIFFERENT THAN STAGE MAKEUP FOR THEATRE?
I think of moulage as more similar to special effects makeup used in TV and movies. Stage makeup needs to look good from far away, moulage needs to look real from close up. Moulage is also more than wounds and injuries. It includes other fluids and odors that may add to the realism of the situation.
WHAT DO STUDENTS LEARN THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SIMULATION AND MOULAGE?
Nurses use all of their senses to assess patients and make clinical judgments. Adding realistic injuries, fluids or smells allows the nursing student to practice the skills we talk about in books and class to really assess the whole situation and make better informed decisions about care.
IS THERE AN “ART” TO THE MOULAGE?
I think so! It comes from trial and error. Some of it is also about making it last through multiple iterations of the same scenario.
ANY FAVORITE “INJURIES” YOU’VE CREATED?
Yes! I created a toe ulcer (pictured). I also really enjoy creating second and third degree burns on a patient.
Maverick Family Simulation Center
School of Nursing
