Valerie Howard, vice dean, Academic Affairs, presented at the International Healthcare Education and Simulation Workshop 2021 sponsored by the University of Hong Kong LKS Faculty of Medicine School of Nursing on June 3. The title of the presentation was "The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Simulation in Nursing Education."

The SARS COVID-19 pandemic caused schools of nursing to pause in-person learning opportunities for their students in order to maintain health and safety. During this pause, many schools of nursing implemented virtual simulation activities as a replacement for face-to-face lab activities and clinical experiences in order to support the academic progression of their students. Even as students re-entered the clinical setting, there were new restrictions and procedures in place to ensure the safety of the healthcare personnel, patients, and the students. This necessitated the use of additional simulation activities in order to promote student competence in the clinical setting and meet graduation standards.

The purpose of this session was to describe the important role that simulation activities provided in order to ensure nurse educators were preparing our future nurses at all levels in the highest quality possible during the pandemic.