Jeffries selected as Fellow in American Nursing Academy of Nursing

INDIANAPOLIS - In July 2005, the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) announced the selection of Pamela R. Jeffries, DNS, RN, as one of its 60 new Fellows for her outstanding contributions to nursing and health care. On November 12, 2005, Jeffries was formally inducted into the AAN during its 32nd Annual Meeting and Conference at an awards ceremony dinner in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Jeffries, the associate dean for undergraduate programs and an associate professor, Department of Adult Health at the Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSON), has over 20 years of teaching experience in the classroom, learning laboratory, and clinical setting with undergraduate and graduate nursing students. Well-known for her use of simulation in nursing education, Jeffries is currently leading the National League for Nursing/Laerdal sponsored national multi-site, multi-method study on the use of simulations. This project uses high-fidelity mannequins to help learners develop clinical problem-solving skills in the safety of a simulated healthcare environment. In addition, Jeffries developed a "hyper-learning" design model to guide teachers in creating online courseware-a model that is being used in a collaborative effort with Clarian Health Partners, Inc., American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and IUSON to design online courses to prepare nurses and nursing students across the U.S. in critical care.

"In the midst of a nursing faculty shortage, both nationally and on the state level, schools of nursing throughout the country need to implement changes to their curricula that will help to address this crisis. Innovative and cutting-edge programs are the order of the day and true leaders in this arena such as Pamela Jeffries are the major drivers of these curricula changes. Jeffries is an excellent teacher, author, and researcher, and a trend setter as well, who continues to explore the most effective uses of information technology in facilitating teaching and learning, evidenced by her learning model and simulation initiatives. As a fellow in the Academy, I am so very pleased that Pam was selected for her leadership and innovative thinking; she will be a great addition to the Academy," said Marion E. Broome, university dean and professor at IUSON.

Throughout her career, Jeffries has served in leadership positions in professional organizations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, American Nursing Association, Midwest Nursing Research Society, National League for Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau International, Inc., nursing's honor society, from which Jeffries received several international and national awards related to information technology and teaching excellence. Jeffries earned a BSN degree from Ball State University (recipient of the 2005 Outstanding Nursing Alumni Award) and both MSN and DNS degrees from Indiana University.

AAN was established in 1973 under the auspices of the American Nurses Association to provide visionary leadership to the nursing profession and to the public in shaping future health care policy and practice. Now comprised of approximately 1,500 nursing leaders in education, management, practice and research, the mission is to serve both the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through knowledge generation, synthesis, and dissemination. For more information about the American Academy of Nursing, please visit wwet.org.

To learn more about the IU School of Nursing, visit http://nursing.iupui.edu/.