Nursing Education · Bend, OR

Simulation education that sticks

I'm Dana Whitfield. With 12 years of experience in nursing education, I build simulation programs from the ground up and raise licensure pass rates through structured remediation and curriculum design.

See my achievements Get in touch
94%NCLEX pass rate, up from 71%
−80%Lab scheduling conflicts
35Adjunct faculty trained
12Years in Nursing Education
About

Bridging the gap between classroom and clinical practice.

I am a nursing education leader known for building simulation programs that prepare compassionate nurses for rural communities. My approach combines high-fidelity technology with evidence-based debriefing frameworks to ensure students are ready for the complexities of modern healthcare.

I have successfully led initiatives ranging from international public health education in Malawi to directing simulation for regional nursing colleges. I specialize in creating structured remediation pathways that measurably improve student outcomes and licensure success.

Simulation Design

High-fidelity scenarios for medical-surgical, pediatric, and obstetric courses.

Faculty Development

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

Program Leadership

Managing simulation centers, high-fidelity manikins, and standardized patient rooms.

Relevant Career Achievements

Strategic impact in nursing education.

Key initiatives where I applied simulation design and curriculum strategy to solve institutional challenges.

NCLEX Success Initiative

Raising first-time NCLEX pass rates to 94%

Solution
Designed and implemented a structured remediation pathway to support students throughout the curriculum.
Impact+23 ptsIncrease in first-time pass rates over four years
Before 71%After 94%
Operations Improvement

Optimizing simulation lab scheduling

Solution
Introduced a shared booking system and standardized scheduling protocols for the simulation center.
Impact−80%Reduction in scheduling conflicts per semester
Was 45Now 9
Curriculum Innovation

Designing immersive simulation initiatives

Solution
Launched Night Shift Lab, Code Blue Drills, Bedside Handoff Studio, and a Pharmacology Escape Room.
Impact5+New simulation modalities launched
QualityRubric Implemented
Professional Experience

Career 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.

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.

  • 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
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
Skills & credentials

Expertise & Education

Technical Skills

Laerdal SimManCAE ApolloSimCaptureCanvasATIKaplanExcelPowerPointTeamsZoom

Languages

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

Committees

Curriculum CommitteeSimulation Advisory BoardFaculty Senate

Education & Certs

  • Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE)
    Society for Simulation in Healthcare2020
  • Trauma Nursing Core Course
    Emergency Nurses Association2016
  • Teaching with Simulation Certificate
    National League for Nursing2019
  • 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 University
    McMinnville, ORMay 2011

"Debriefing depth and clinical judgment in prelicensure nursing students."

Dissertation, Oregon Health & Science University (ScholarArchive at OHSU)
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; 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
Volunteer Work

Community Involvement

2019 – Present

Deschutes County Medical Reserve Corps

disaster response nurse
Contact

Let's discuss nursing education.

Looking for a simulation director or faculty development leader? I'm available for inquiries regarding nursing education and program design.

inlinkedin.com/in/dana-whitfield-sample/
ORBend, Oregon
@dana.whitfield.sample@example.com
Built with Folio