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June 15, 2022 | XXVI, Issue Number 9
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Colleagues, have you had a chance to look at the SIRC courses lately? SIRC, the NLN Simulation Innovation Resource Center, is the result of a collaborative alliance between the NLN and Laerdal Medical that dates back to 2008. From the earliest days, the SIRC mission was to develop a community of nurse educators who effectively use simulation to promote and evaluate student learning and who dialogue with one another in efforts to advance simulation in nursing education. The SIRC has been enormously successful in meeting its goals over the years, with simulation pedagogy having earned acceptability in the academy but always evolving and always on the cutting edge of change.
Now, in our first major update to the SIRC curricula, we are excited to introduce SIRC Reimagined, a series of truly outstanding online course offered on two levels: Foundation and Deeper Dive. The Foundation series consists of seven distinct courses for the novice simulation educator that are designed as asynchronous, self-paced, virtual experiences. You can enroll in one or all of these courses, from “Laying the Groundwork for Teaching with Simulation” to “Leveraging Strategies for Team Development,” earning CEUs as you go. With the four Deeper Dive courses, you’ll learn to create a comprehensive map for simulation integration, create a systematic plan for assessment, advance your role as facilitator, and refine techniques for pre-briefing and debriefing.
These superb courses are the result of the work of NLN members, staff, and graduates of the NLN Leadership Development for Simulation Educators program. Several simulation experts were invited as authors—Drs. Rachel Onello, Kyle Johnson, Chris Thomas, Heiddy DiGregorio, Melody Bethards, Fara Bowler, Barbara Aronson, and Sabrina Beroz—and Drs. Michelle Moulton and Jenny O’Rourke served as editors. Michelle is senior manager of the NLN Division for Innovation in Education Excellence, and Jenny, an NLN simulation leader, is associate professor at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University.
Let me congratulate and extend my appreciation to all these expert educators and simulation experts on the superb job they did. SIRC Reimagined is an exciting development and a prime example of the NLN core value of excellence—co-creating and implementing transformative strategies with daring ingenuity! As you review the courses, I recommend that you spend some time scrolling through the SIRC section of NLN.org. It has been redesigned and is now positively gorgeous. You can view Debra L. Spunt lectures from past years, learn about SIRC Tools & Tips, and even study some HomeGrown Simulation Solutions. This area of the SIRC, an initiative of INACSL and powered by SIRC, captures and houses incredible demonstrations of talent, ingenuity, and sharing spirit. Your submissions are welcome. |
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Year of the Nurse Educator
Colleagues, I don’t need to remind you that all eyes are on nursing education during this Year of the Nurse Educator. You did an amazing job in responding to the challenges of the pandemic, enabling your students to graduate on time and progress in their studies. Many of you taught exclusively online for the first time and used virtual simulation as a substitute for clinical hours—something you had never done before. |
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That is why I am so excited about the response to our Year of the Nurse Educator campaign. In great numbers, you have taken the pledge to recommit to nursing education and downloaded the online badge for display on your organization’s website, social media, and email signatures. And many of you have shared your stories, submitting brief videos about your experiences in nursing education. Some of your videos are already on display on our #BeyondNurseEducator Story Wall.
But there is something else I must ask of you right now. To keep the NLN vibrant and relevant, we need member involvement and participation in our elections. As a member, you are the ultimate stakeholder in the NLN, and it is important that you lend your voice and cast your vote to determine who will serve on the 2023 NLN Board of Governors, Nominations Committee, and Certification Commission.
If you have not received your login email yet, please contact us. And if you have a question about your membership, contact Membership. The deadline to cast your ballot is August 8.
Attend the Summit
As always, the new NLN Board of Governors will assume office at the NLN Education Summit, this year at the spectacular Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. As a reminder, the Summit theme is “Healthy Planet, Healthy People: Leading the Way Through Education, Practice, and Policy.” This theme could not be more timely, but this year in particular there is so much on my mind, and so much I want to discuss with colleagues—and I suspect that is true for most nurse educators and all of us who care strongly about the well-being of our nurses and the health of our nation and the global community.
Think about it… Isn’t the NLN Education Summit the perfect place to meet with members of our profession, explore the many issues we face today, and discover innovative strategies to address the challenges we face? Stay up-to-date on all things at the NLN Education Summit and make sure to register now. |
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Join Us for NERC
By the way, we extended the application period to submit an abstract for NERC, our Nursing Education Research Conference, to June 22. As you know, the challenges brought about by the pandemic uncovered numerous gaps in our knowledge about how we teach. It is apparent that robust research designs, along with the development of a diverse body of nurse scientists, are essential to preparing the next generation of nurses, making this conference particularly important. NERC will take place March 30 to April 1, 2023, in Washington, DC. |
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Resources for You
With so much going on in public health and all eyes on the nursing workforce, I am often asked for my comments. You may be interested in this HealthTech article about hospital staffing shortages by Donna Marbury, where I share my views, as well as an interview with Bronwen Hughes in the Ask A Nurse video series from the National Academy of Medicine on the leadership role of nurses.
In addition, if you have not seen the statement by the NLN on gun safety, let me bring it to your attention. The NLN is calling for common sense gun safety legislation that provides for adequate and enforceable background checks. This could limit the sale of any arms to individuals with a history of mental illness or criminal behavior. Why is it easier to legally buy a gun than to drive a car? And to save lives now and support the long-term national public health, we support measures that promote social justice reform, equitable access to health care for marginalized individuals and underserved communities, and increased funding for mental health and other social services to address the social determinants of health that may lead to acts of violence. Let us hope and support the bipartisan group of senators now engaged in writing gun safety legislation in being successful in their efforts.
Wishing you good times and a happy Father’s Day, colleagues, and see you at the Summit. |
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