By Pareasa Rahimi
Members of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Office of Technology and Innovation have received the Frontline Simulation Champion Excellence Award from the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning. The award acknowledges an individual or team that demonstrates exceptional dedication in the day-to-day implementation of simulation, going beyond the ordinary dedication to excellence in the delivery of simulation-based learning in academic, health care institution or community settings.
The team includes Assistant Professor and Coordinator, RN First Assist Subspecialty Tracie White, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, CNOR, CRNFA (MSN 2010, DNP 2017); Instructor Rebekah Day, MSN, CRNP, AGACNP-BC (MSN 2015); Manager of Clinical Simulation Operations Joey Hall; and Instructors and Simulation Coordinators Sherrie Hafley, MSN, RN, CHSOS (MSN 2022), and Jennifer Ledlow, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNL, CNE (BSN 2014, MSN 2016, PhD 2024).
"The simulation team consistently goes above and beyond to optimize simulation-based activities and produce positive outcomes," said Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Technology and Innovation Penni Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, FNAP, ANEF, FSSH, FAAN (PhD 2015). "They have consistently displayed their problem-solving skills, ensuring that simulation activities are realistic, engaging and aligned with the learning objectives. Their attention to detail and dependability have fostered an environment of trust and professionalism, where students feel supported and empowered to learn and grow."
The team's commitment to staying at the forefront of educational technology has allowed them to create realistic and immersive scenarios using multiple modalities that closely mirror real-life clinical situations. Simulations include dynamic pre-briefing experiences through multiple methods to ensure student readiness to learn, as well as the design of simulation experiences within an environment of psychological safety and a robust debriefing program based on simulation best practices.
"As early adopters of simulation in nursing education, the simulation team has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of their work," said University Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Linda Moneyham, PhD, RN, FAAN. "Their dedication to optimizing simulation-based activities has resulted in remarkable outcomes for nursing education and patient care, with the design of experiences founded in INACSL's Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice."
The team received the award in June at the INACSL Annual Conference.
