The annual AACN Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Excellence award recognizes a faculty member whose program of research focuses on the science of teaching and learning, disseminates findings and provides leadership in this area. For over 20 years, Associate Dean for Scholarship, Innovation and Clinical Science Angie McNelis, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, CNE, has provided leadership on a series of grants focused on exploring and developing models to improve clinical and didactic education in undergraduate and graduate programs. Most recently, her studies examined the state of nurse practitioner clinical education to identify what is and is not occurring (gaps), which informed her current intervention study testing virtual simulation to provide experiences identified as gaps.
Using rigorous methodology, McNelis has devoted her research career to implementing and evaluating innovative, pedagogically-based approaches to improving didactic and clinical nursing education and making significant contributions to the evidentiary base of evidence-based teaching practices. "Receiving this award was humbling, exciting and affirming that the hard work by me and my research teams is recognized by others as important and is making an impact," said McNelis.