Research and Resources

Unfortunately, as you will read, our nation’s health is not improving. We continue to fall short of our potential and we fare poorly in comparison to many other nations. The consequences are tragic — for individuals, for communities and for our children. We have a fundamental responsibility to work together to help people live healthier lives. An urgent need exists for overall solutions and innovative actions to help individuals, communities, and our nation to become healthier.

Clinical simulation appears to be the newest technological innovation to enter the clinical education environment. Far past the days of Resusci® Anne, clinical simulation embodies advanced technology, and a new way of thinking about education. Simulations of real clinical events generally employ learning tools which can range from practicing injections on oranges to very sophisticated high technology computers. In the postsecondary and continuing education of health care professionals, clinical simulation is increasingly recognized as a teaching resource to possibly reduce pressure on limited access to live clinical exposures, increase confidence of trainees, possibly improve patient safety and add rigor to the credentialing and precepting process.

As nurses rise through the public health ranks, they are bringing the knowledge and experience they have acquired in the field back to the policy table with tangible results. Across the country, they are crafting and implementing innovative strategies to advance the health of the public.

Nursing staff form the largest single component of the health care workforce. They are responsible for managing, organizing, and providing most of the daily care for patients in many health care settings. The shortage of these essential providers is crippling the delivery of health services in hospitals, clinics and other facilities throughout the world. We face a similar crisis in the United States and here in Alaska.