When students meet Lori Byrd, DNP, assistant professor in the Catherine W. Wood School of Nursing, they immediately notice that she is passionate about nursing and she is passionate about education. That is why it is no surprise that Byrd is rearranging a few things on her calendar to participate in an innovative simulation education fellowship program in 2016.
The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL) and CAE Healthcare fellowship program for healthcare faculties is a collaborative effort to increase the availability of immersive high quality, simulation-based education. Byrd secured one of the thirty seats available in this fellowship in the upcoming year. Over the course of ten months, she will participate in interactive webinars, two two-day intensive workshops on an affiliated simulation campus at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing, and a six-month mentoring program.
“One of the things that drew me to doing this is that we [Campbell University] are committed to a standard of excellence. We want the Campbell Nurse to be an exceptional nurse,” shared Byrd during an informal interview. “Everything that we are doing is outside of the box for that reason. We want to make sure we have a program that is different and a program that will meet the needs of the future of health care, not just what is happening now.
The fellowship will enhance Byrd’s background in programming simulation encounters. Simulation is a vital component in the training of health care professionals because it provides a safe and structured environment for students to learn and train in. Students are able to experience hands-on medical situations that ultimately build a foundation of knowledge, confidence, and medical expertise before going out on clinical rotations.
“The concept of life long learner is what distinguishes the BSN nurse from others with that title,” shared Nancy Duffy, DNP, director of the Catherine W. Wood School of Nursing. “Educators like Dr. Byrd, role model life-long learning and never rely on the adage, ‘Do as I say, not as I do’.”
Byrd earned a doctor of nursing practice with a focus on executive administration from Union University and a master of science in nursing from Walden University. She began her career in the nursing field at age nineteen as a licensed practical nurse, gained experience as a clinical research associate at Quintiles, and served in WakeMed’s emergency department pediatric call center. She has been a formal nursing educator since 2005 and joined Campbell University in July 2015.