Nursing Education · Bend, OR

I design clinical simulation programs that elevate nursing practice.

I'm Dana Whitfield. For 12 years I've led nursing education initiatives, building simulation programs from the ground up and raising licensure pass rates through structured remediation and faculty development.

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94%NCLEX pass rate, up from 71%
−80%Lab scheduling conflicts
35Faculty trained in debriefing
12Years in nursing education
About

Clinical excellence is built through deliberate practice.

Nursing education leader with 12 years of experience in clinical simulation, curriculum design, and faculty development. Known for building simulation programs from the ground up and for raising licensure pass rates through structured remediation.

I specialize in writing and running high-fidelity scenarios for medical-surgical, pediatric, and obstetric courses, ensuring that prelicensure students develop the clinical judgment necessary for rural health environments.

Recipient of the Golden Lamp Teaching Award and the Rural Health Champion Award for my commitment to preparing compassionate nurses for Central Oregon.

Simulation Design

High-fidelity scenarios and innovative labs like Night Shift Lab and Pharmacology Escape Rooms.

Faculty Development

Training adjunct faculty in the PEARLS debriefing framework and quality rubrics.

Curriculum Impact

Structured remediation pathways that measurably improve first-time licensure pass rates.

Selected achievements

Strategic educational outcomes.

Key initiatives that improved student performance, operational efficiency, and clinical readiness.

Cascade College of Nursing

NCLEX Pass Rate Improvement

Impact94%First-time pass rate achieved over four years
Before 71%After 94%
Cascade College of Nursing

Simulation Lab Optimization

Impact−80%Reduction in scheduling conflicts per semester
Was 45Now 9
Cascade College of Nursing

Simulation Innovation Portfolio

Solution
Designed and launched Night Shift Lab, Code Blue Drills, Bedside Handoff Studio, and a Pharmacology Escape Room.
Impact5+New simulation initiatives launched
InitiativesLaunched
Experience

Professional History.

2022 – Present

DIRECTOR OF SIMULATION EDUCATION

CASCADE COLLEGE OF NURSING · Central Oregon

Cascade College of Nursing exists to prepare compassionate nurses for rural communities in Central Oregon.

  • Write and run high-fidelity scenarios for medical-surgical, pediatric, and obstetric courses
  • Train 35 adjunct faculty in the PEARLS debriefing framework
  • Manage a simulation center with 6 high-fidelity manikins and 2 standardized patient rooms
  • Recipient of the Golden Lamp Teaching Award and the Rural Health Champion Award
2018 – 2021

SIMULATION NURSE EDUCATOR

CASCADE COLLEGE OF NURSING · Central Oregon

Cascade College of Nursing exists to prepare compassionate nurses for rural communities in Central Oregon.

2014 – 2017

CLINICAL NURSE EDUCATOR, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

HIGH DESERT MEDICAL CENTER · Deschutes County

A 220-bed regional hospital serving Deschutes County.

  • Coordinated orientation for 60 new graduate nurses
  • Built a triage competency checklist adopted by three hospital units
2011 – 2013

COMMUNITY HEALTH VOLUNTEER

PEACE CORPS · Malawi

Volunteer health educator placement with the Ministry of Health.

  • Taught maternal health classes in Chichewa in Zomba District
  • Organized a malaria prevention week for four villages
Professional Development

Certifications & Training.

Society for Simulation in Healthcare

  • Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE)2020

Emergency Nurses Association

  • Trauma Nursing Core Course2016

National League for Nursing

  • Teaching with Simulation Certificate2019
Academic History

Research & Publications.

Dissertation: Debriefing depth and clinical judgment in prelicensure nursing students

ScholarArchive at OHSU

Publication: Night Shift Simulation as a Bridge to Practice

Published in Clinical Simulation in Nursing

International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning

Presented at the INACSL Conference
  • Presented at the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning Conference
Conference Presentations

Speaking Engagements.

INACSL Annual Conference Oregon Nurses Association Spring Summit Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference
Current Committees

Service & Leadership.

Curriculum Committee

Simulation Advisory Board

Faculty Senate

Skills & credentials

Expertise & Education.

Simulation & Tech

Laerdal SimManCAE ApolloSimCaptureCanvasATIKaplanExcelPowerPointTeamsZoom

Languages

English (native)Chichewa (conversational)Spanish (basic)

Education & Certifications

  • Doctor of Education in Nursing Education, Oregon Health & Science UniversityJune 2021
  • Master of Science in Nursing, University of PortlandMay 2014
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Linfield UniversityMcMinnville, ORMay 2011
  • Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE)2020
  • Teaching with Simulation Certificate (NLN)2019

"Dissertation: Debriefing depth and clinical judgment in prelicensure nursing students — ScholarArchive at OHSU."

Dana Whitfield, Ed.D.
Volunteer Work

Community Service.

2019 – Present

Deschutes County Medical Reserve Corps

  • disaster response nurse
Contact

Let's discuss nursing education.

inlinkedin.com/in/dana-whitfield-sample/
ORBend, OR
@dana.whitfield.sample@example.com