VHA SimLEARN
VA Collaboration Takes Place at Annual Association for Nurses in Professional Development Convention
By Mary E. Holtschneider, RN-BC, BSN, MEd, MPA, NREMT-P, CPLP
Simulation Education Coordinator
And Chan W. Park, MD, FAAEM
Director, Simulation Education
Co-Directors, Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation
Durham, North Carolina VA Health Care System
ORLANDO, Fla. - National conferences related to simulation, training and clinical topics can provide a forum for VA staff from all over the country to meet, exchange ideas and, perhaps, collaborate on a deeper level to enhance local practices. The Association for Nurses in Professional Development (ANPD), which focuses on educational and professional learning for Nursing Professional Development (NPD) practitioners, held its annual convention here in July.
VA staff were on the agenda to provide a podium presentation on “Interprofessional Simulation from the Patient’s Point of View” and realized that conference would provide an excellent opportunity for VA Nursing Professional Development practitioners to informally meet. The ANPD staff graciously provided a room at the conference for the VA group to gather.
During the informal meeting, VA staff from SimLEARN and several other VA medical centers engaged in discussions about ways to incorporate interprofessionalism into simulation scenarios, national VA simulation initiatives, as well as ways VA staff can all share their expertise in the future.
This VA staff gathering is scheduled to be held during the next ANPD national convention in April in Phoenix. For more information about the convention program and location, click here. If you plan on attending the conference, please email Mary Holtschneider, simulation education coordinator, or Dr. Chan Park, director, simulation education.
