Collaborative Nursing Research Day focuses on simulations in nursing education

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —   East Carolina University’s School of Nursing will host its 16th Annual Collaborative Nursing Research Day beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Room 1120 in the Health Sciences Building.

The purpose of the conference is to explore research opportunities related to the use of clinical simulations in nursing education. This method allows students to safely practice skills on simulated patients in a controlled learning environment prior to working with real people.

Keynote speaker will be Janis Childs, associate professor of nursing and director of the Learning Resource and Simulation Center at the University of South Maine College of Nursing and Health Professions. Childs’ research and teaching is focused on the integration of simulation into nursing curriculum, nursing resource centers in nursing and service learning. Childs has published in all these areas and presented at numerous schools, conferences and symposia. She has been awarded several teaching and research awards and is one of eight project coordinators in a national, multi-site, three-year study on simulation in nursing education. She is a founding member of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulations and received the 2005 INACLS Research Award. Childs will speak at 8:40 a.m.

The winners of the Collaborative Research Award, which supports a project between a nurse faculty member and a Pitt County Memorial Hospital clinician, will be announced at 11:55 a.m.

Eighteen research posters will be presented by nurse faculty, graduate nursing students and clinical nurses. The posters explore topics from diabetes, bariatric care and mental health nursing to simulations, nurse retention, heart disease and more.

The event is sponsored by the School of Nursing, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, Beta Nu chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Eastern Area Health Education Center.

Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Department for Disability Support Services at (252) 328-6799 (V) or (252) 328-0899 (TTY).