News Releases

National Study to Examine Debriefing Practices in Nurse Education Programs

October 30, 2013

Research will address state of the science in simulation-based nursing education.

Baltimore, Md. – Armed with a new grant from the National League for Nursing (NLN), Mary Fey, MS, RN, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and director of  UMSON’s clinical simulation laboratories, will examine debriefing practices in nurse education programs in the U.S.

In implementing her study, Fey will survey every accredited prelicensure nursing program in the U.S., gathering data about each program and its debriefing practices. This research will help provide baseline information about the state of science in simulation-based nursing education nationally. 

Fey was the first recipient of the Mary Anne Rizzolo NLN Dissertation/DNP Project Award at the NLN’s annual education summit, held recently in Washington, DC. She was one of five research grant recipients.

“It is such a privilege to receive this award, especially in the first year it was given,” Fey said. “This award was created to honor Dr. Rizzolo for her pioneering work in simulation. Receiving this award is truly an honor because Dr. Rizzolo’s work has been so important to the field of simulation-based health care education.”

The NLN research grant program supports rigorous, high-quality studies that contribute to the development of the science of nursing education. Qualifying projects must meet at least one of NLN’s current nursing priorities approved by the NLN Board of Governors. Additionally, projects that meet criteria for NLN funding emphasize transforming nursing education for the contemporary health care environment.

# # #

The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.