The National League for Nursing (NLN) Simulation Innovation Resource Center (SIRC) is a go-to destination for all nurses to meet their simulation needs. Nurse educators seeking professional development and resources in simulation education have found a home at SIRC. This HealthySimulation.com article will explore the simulation resources available that build upon nearly 20 years of developing best practices in simulation education for faculty.
The Beginning of SIRC at the NLN
The NLN first teamed up with Laerdal Medical from 2003-2006 to produce their groundbreaking project,Designing and Implementing Models for the Innovative Use of Simulation to Teach Nursing Care of Ill Adults and Children: A Multi-Site, Multi-Method Study. Just two years later, SIRC officially launched with eight online courses.
Today, following almost two decades of research and collaboration among experts across scholarly disciplines and international borders, SIRC, a part of the Institute for Simulation and Technology in the NLN Center for Innovation in Education Excellence, is a thriving online community. Nurse educators tapping into SIRC may learn from leading simulation scholars and from each other about the effective use of simulation to promote learning and advance simulation in nursing education.
SIRC provides a wealth of resources for nurse educators at all levels of experience who teach throughout the spectrum of higher education and in affiliated clinical health care settings to become proficient in simulation education.
Development of HomeGrown Solutions for Nursing Educators
A unique addition to SIRC in 2015 is calledHomeGrown Solutions. Reflecting the trademark SIRC ethos of teamwork, this is a co-created initiative between the NLN and the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). Here, simulation educators submit their self-constructed, creative adaptations to existing pedagogical strategies, simulation recipes, and other ideas for teaching and evaluation. An INACSL committee reviews all submissions and selects those deemed worth posting to share with the entire network of simulation educators. Items selected throughout each year are recognized at a special presentation during the annual INACSL conference, typically held in June.
SIRC Reimagined Post Covid
In 2022, in the first major update to the professional development curricula since the debut of the inaugural courses in 2008, SIRC presentedSIRC Reimagined, a series of new online courses. Offered on two levels, Foundation and Deeper Dive, SIRC Reimagined takes a scaffolded approach, empowering nurse educators to achieve professional development and curate the skills that enhance their learning experience. The structure encourages initially enrolling only in the course or courses that suit their needs and study schedule before progressing to the next level.
The Foundation series consists of seven distinct courses for the novice simulation nurse educator to build a strong portfolio in best practices. Designed as asynchronous, self-paced, virtual experiences, the content may be accessed for an entire year following enrollment in each course:
- Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Teaching with Simulation—Understanding the basic pedagogy supporting simulation in nursing education
- Modalities: Exploring Simulation Features—Examining simulation modalities and methods for increasing fidelity and realism
- Curriculum: Understanding the Curriculum Map for Thoughtful Simulation Integration—Utilizing a systematic approach for integrating simulation into the curriculum
- Evaluation and Assessment: Examining Learner, Facilitator, and Program Outcomes—Describing methods for evaluating and assessing students, faulty, and programs
- Prebriefing and Debriefing: Facilitating the Learning Experience—Exploring theoretical, philosophical, and essential elements of pre- and de-briefing to help learners achieve outcomes that can translate into future practice
- Facilitator: Exploring Roles in Simulation Delivery—Uncovering the knowledge, skills, and abilities that support a simulation facilitator in delivering a successful learning experience
- Interprofessional Education: Leveraging Simulation Strategies for Team Development—Building a foundation for understanding interprofessional simulation-based education
View the HealthySimulation.com LEARN Platform CE Course Nursing Simulation for Instructors to learn more!
Deeper Dive Courses Into Simulated Nursing Instruction
Those ready for a more advanced level of study may select one or all four Deeper Dive courses. These synchronous, virtual experiences are offered either quarterly or monthly, depending on the course, and require an hour of preparatory work prior to each session. All Foundation and Deeper Dive courses offer CEU credit. Content is accessible for the duration of the calendar year of enrollment:
- Curriculum Deeper Dive: Creating a Comprehensive Map for Thoughtful Simulation Integration—Analysis of participants’ institutional programs and/or course curriculum map to integrate simulation teaching activities that align with program and course learning outcomes
- Evaluation and Assessment Deeper Dive: Creating a Systematic Plan for Success—Identifying an appropriate evaluation method to apply to faculty, simulation-based experiences, learners/participants, and/or a simulation program
- Facilitator Deeper Dive: Advancing Facilitation Roles in Simulation Delivery—Immersion in real-world situations that challenge and expand application of strategic simulation instruction
- Prebriefing and Debriefing Deeper Dive: Navigating Challenges and Leveraging Opportunities—Expand and refine techniques through evaluation, coaching, and feedback on skills essential to theory-based debriefing methodologies
For interested and qualified participants, enrollment is now open for Deeper Dive courses and continues through the spring semester, with the following registration deadlines one week prior to synchronous session dates:
February 28: Prebriefing and Debriefing Deeper Dive – Navigating Challenges & Leveraging Opportunities synchronous session on Wednesday, March 6, from 12 – 4:30 p.m. ET
March 5: Curriculum Deeper Dive – Creating a Comprehensive Map for Thoughtful Simulation Integration synchronous session on Tuesday, March 12, from 12 – 4:30 p.m. ET
March 7: Evaluation Deeper Dive – Creating a Systematic Plan for Success synchronous session on Thursday, March 14, from 4 – 8:30 p.m. ET
March 13: Facilitator Deeper Dive – Advancing Facilitation Roles in Simulation Delivery synchronous session on Wednesday, March 20, from 12 – 4:30 p.m. ET
More About NLN
The National League for Nursing (NLN) has been involved in nursing simulation and clinical simulation research for decades. HealthySimulation.com signed a media partnership to support the NLN in May of 2023. In 2003 the NLN, through a grant from the Laerdal Medical Corporation, began a three-year, multisite study to explore how to design and implement simulations as a teaching strategy and evaluate selected learning outcomes using simulations. As a result of this research, the Jeffries Simulation Framework was developed. The NLN/Jeffries Simulation Theory evolved from the simulation framework in 2015. This HealthySimulation.com page will explore the contributions of NLN to clinical simulation.
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the NLN as the nation’s first nursing association serves as the leading voice for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, assessment services, nursing research grants, and public policy advocacy for nearly 45,000 individuals and over 1,000 institutional members. NLN members represent nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education, healthcare organizations, and agencies.
