Tampa, FL (August 12, 2010) – The University of South Florida College of Nursing has received a five-year, $1.3-million federal grant to train nursing faculty throughout the state in the use of simulation learning, informatics and telehealth. USF was one of only two institutions in the nation recently awarded such a grant by the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

USF will develop and implement a training program designed to integrate emerging technologies into nursing education and practice, said Dianne Morrison-Beedy PhD, RN, dean of the USF College of Nursing and senior associate vice president of USF Health. “This really is national recognition of USF Nursing as a leader in cutting-edge health education technology, and will allow us to share our successes with our colleagues throughout the state and to impact nursing education across a broad spectrum of schools.”

This study will examine the use of these technologies to supplement nursing students’ clinical experiences, to reduce the pressure on over-stressed hospitals that serve as settings for hands-on learning, and to create nurses better prepared to enter today’s high-tech healthcare field.

Laura Gonzalez, PhD, assistant professor and director of the Center for Virtual Simulation at the USF College of Nursing, is the project’s principal investigator. The University of South Florida will provide project leadership and resources with additional expertise provided through collaboration with the University of Florida.

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