MOORESVILLE, Ind. - A mom-to-be wants everything to go right in the delivery room, but when it doesn't, nurses at St. Francis in Mooresville have a new tool to hone how they'll respond.

The Community Outreach Simulation uses lifelike mannequins of newborns to mimic a variety of realistic scenarios.

During training Thursday, nurses had to react quickly to resuscitate and stabilize a newborn that was unresponsive.

While the patient may be computerized, the mechanics and the emotions are real.

"In a hurried situation when it's high intensity, it always seems like its drug out, like when you've got a bad baby and you're trying to make it better," nurse Lisa Simmons said.

Dr. Bobbi Byrne, a neonatologist at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, developed the training program.

Since putting Mooresville nurses through a similar test last year, she said she's seen a tremendous improvement in teamwork.

"They probably would have gotten a C last year," she said. "This year, probably an A-, maybe an A. I'm a tough grader."

Byrne said the key for nurses responding to an emergency situation is having the experience not to second-guess quick decisions.

"They knew what to do for this baby last year, too, they just didn't do it," she said. "This year they knew what to do and they did it. It was a big difference."

Nurses said the training helps them polish their skills, and should reassure any woman delivering her baby at the hospital.

"Because of what we're doing and the people who are committed in here today to learning and being prepared, we can give your baby the best start we know how," said nurse Lisa Spangler.

Byrne travels the state teaching attending staff members who to respond when a baby is born in crisis.