The Simulation Program in the College of Nursing received full accreditation in Teaching/Education from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Full accreditation is granted for five years at which point the college will apply for reaccreditation.
Accreditation is a peer-reviewed process that examines a program’s processes and outcomes for hallmarks of quality healthcare simulation. According to Meghan Jones, associate clinical professor and director of clinical simulation and skills at AUCON, the goal of simulation accreditation is ultimately about creating a quality program, which begins by establishing a solid foundation. “To become an accredited simulation program, we applied for two standards—Core and Teaching/Education. All accredited programs must meet the Core Standard, which focuses on programmatic infrastructure, including our mission, vision, and strategic plan. The Teaching/Education Standard focuses on the educational activities we develop for learners and the educators who deliver those activities.” A committee of faculty and staff put together a self-study to apply for accreditation, a process that started in 2017 when AUCON moved into the new building.
The Engaging Active Group Learning Environments in Simulation (EAGLES) Center occupies over 20,000 square feet of dedicated laboratory space in the second and third floors of the new College of Nursing building. The state-of-the-art simulation suite includes rooms that mimic actual hospital, clinic, and community settings. The environment is made real by the availability of functioning patient monitors, hospital beds, and a variety of equipment and disposable supplies. Each room is outfitted with audio-visual technology that allows sessions to be recorded and reviewed by participants to reflect on their performance. Simulation is influenced by emerging technologies. “We are paying attention to the changing landscape and assessing whether there are new technologies that better meet our needs,” said Jones. “We are currently working to develop and implement technology-enhanced simulation experiences in the undergraduate nursing program and will pilot a virtual reality (VR) experience this fall.” https://cws.auburn.edu/nursing/Home/Simulation#About
“Simulation is going to play a big role in competency-based education, which includes a focus on students demonstrating their knowledge and skill attainment” Jones said. “Although simulation accreditation is not currently required for nursing programs, that may change in the future with the increased uptake of simulation in response to lost clinical opportunities for students related to COVID-19 and the new focus on competency-based education. Achieving accreditation is a testament to AUCON’s commitment to delivering excellent experiences for our students with the goal of preparing nurse graduates who provide safe, quality nursing care to the community.
“This external validation is a great achievement for our program, college, and university, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff across AUCON,” Jones added.
“Congratulations to AUCON the EAGLES faculty and staff for implementing and role modeling best simulation practices,” said Dr. Caralise Hunt, associate dean for academic affairs. “It was a tremendous effort put forward by the simulation committee for compiling data and writing the self-study. I’m thankful to work with a team who pulls together for each other and our students.”
“The full accreditation is a great acknowledgement of the hard work put in by so many people,” said Dean Gregg Newschwander. “I say it often, it wasn’t an isolated effort, but one the recognizes what our faculty and staff do every day.”
