VCU School of Nursing hosts 2009 VASSA conference

By Amy Ridolphi
VCU School of Nursing

Nurse educators and health care professionals from across the state recently gathered for the fourth annual Virginia State Simulation Alliance (VASSA) Conference.

Hosted by the VCU School of Nursing, the event focused on a variety of issues related to incorporating simulation into nursing education and clinical practice. 

Reba Moyer Childress, VASSA’s founder and director and faculty member at the UVA School of Nursing, says the organization and conference were created to offer a resource for nursing programs throughout the state. 

“When we started VASSA, Virginia had the highest number of Sim-Man simulators of any state, not counting other high-fidelity simulators used to create simulations in nursing education. Through this conference, we’re teaching our own educators how to effectively integrate simulation in nursing education to ensure better outcomes for our students and patients,” Childress says.

Simulation is also playing an increasingly important role in training for nurses and other health care professionals. 

“Hospitals have a strong focus on patient safety issues,” she says. “Simulation is a good way to integrate patient safety strategies into continuing education programs.”

Sandy Voll, director of the VCU School of Nursing’s Clinical Learning Center, was one of eight VCU faculty members in attendance. She’s seen first-hand the importance of simulation in nursing education.

“Simulation allows our students to utilize knowledge from readings and lecture courses in a clinical setting. Critical thinking and priority setting lead to developing clinical judgment," Voll says. “Our faculty have fully embraced simulation and have integrated it throughout our curriculum.”