The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing celebrated faculty innovation this fall during its inaugural UAB SON Innovation Challenge.
The challenge encouraged faculty to share innovative teaching practices and create brief videos explaining their idea. There were 25 total submissions across categories, which included BSN, AMNP, RN-BSN, MSN, DNP and PhD.
“We were blown away by the response from our faculty,” said Associate Dean for Technology and Innovation Jacqueline Moss, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We know that they implement innovative practices in the classroom, but it was fantastic to see so many teams come together to document and explain their innovative ideas. We look forward to continuing, and possibly expanding, the Innovation Challenge in the future.”
Videos were submitted throughout the semester, and all faculty members were invited to vote on their favorite innovations. Faculty votes were used to narrow the field to one winning group per category, with a tie in the MSN category, and a panel of four judges from outside of the School of Nursing selected a grand prize winner. At a closing ceremony on Dec. 4, category winners were presented with certificates and notebooks for future innovative ideas, and the grand prize-winning group received $4,000 in professional development.
The grand prize went to “Blazer Breakout: The Case of the Missing SBAR,” which brings the popular “breakout room” activity into a learning experience. By interacting with and caring for their patient, a manikin in a simulated experience, Accelerated Masters of Nursing Pathway (AMNP) students will discover clues that build a primary care provider’s phone number. By calling the number and giving a full SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) Report, the patient room is “unlocked.”
“We plan to continue to have the videos accessible to our faculty so that they can continue to collaborate and communicate about innovative possibilities in the classroom and through online courses,” said Assistant Professor and Director of Instructional Innovation Nancy Wingo, PhD, MA.
Category winners included:- BSN
- DRIVE! Prevention: Because we aren’t there yet…
- Group members: Deb Bowers, Emily Patton, and Whitney Pollio
- AMNP
- Blazer Breakout: The Case of the Missing SBAR
- Group members: April Love, Taryn Temples, Victoria Bolus, Carrie Beth Littleton, Allyson Sanders and Shanna Smith
- RN-BSN
- Engaging Orientation
- Group members: Nanci Claus and Laura Steadman
- MSN (tie)
- Video-based interactive simulated clinical experience
- Group members: Tedra Smith and Jeremy Jordan
- Blazing to the Golden Ticket
- Group members: Tara Wood and Curry Bordelon
- DNP
- DNP Student Rounds – On-boarding and engagement for new students
- Group members: Curry Bordelon, Aimee Holland, Bryan Combs and Marisa Wilson
- PhD
- The Candy Man Can Explain Item Response Theory versus Classical Test Theory
- Group member: Rita Jablonski
