Faculty Receive International Credential in Simulation Education

Two University of Rochester nursing faculty members and alumni are now among just 103 individuals across the world to hold advanced certifications as healthcare simulation educators, or CHSE-A.

Erin Baylor, DNP, RN, PCPNP-BC, ONP, FNAP, CHSE, and Kimberly Buholtz, EdD, RN, PED-BC, CHSE, who serve as the director and assistant director of simulation at the School of Nursing, were awarded the credential from the International Society for Simulation in Healthcare in Fall 2024.

Under Baylor and Buholtz’s leadership, the School of Nursing’s simulation team facilitates more than 6,000 activities each year. Twelve-month bachelor’s students typically participate in an average of 50 simulations during their time at the School.

Their recent designations build on the School’s longtime leadership in the field of healthcare simulation. In 2023, UR Nursing became the first New York nursing school to earn a Healthcare Simulation Standards endorsement from the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). Over the past two years, the school has also hosted conferences and summits focused on simulation and experiential learning, welcoming fellow healthcare educators from across New York and the U.S.

“I am proud to say we are leaders on the forefront of best practices, and it’s a privilege to know other schools around the country are reaching out to us for mentorship and guidance as we help to create evidence-based best practices for teaching and learning,” Baylor said.

Baylor has incorporated best practices in interprofessional education through several innovative experiential learning opportunities. Among her proudest recent accomplishments is the implementation of the Community Action Poverty Simulation as part of the curriculum for bachelor’s and NP students, as well as simulations focused on telehealth, pediatric trauma, delivering difficult news, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). She is also the director of UR Nursing’s pediatric nurse practitioner master’s program.

Buholtz has been part of the School of Nursing faculty since 2011, bringing several years of experience as a pediatric care coordinator, nurse leader, and ICU nurse. She previously served as director of simulation at the School of Medicine & Dentistry. In addition to her role as a simulation educator in several accelerated bachelor’s courses, she developed and continues to teach the interactive course Foundations of Simulation-Based Education for healthcare professionals across several disciplines, and has served as a preceptor for Master’s in Nursing Education students.

“When I consider the impact of simulation on a nurse’s career, I think about it being a safe container to practice, make mistakes in a judgment-free way, and learn how to advocate for yourself, speak up, and communicate well,” Buholtz said. “We hope to give students a sense of empowerment that will sustain them for years to come.”

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