CQUniversity Noosa Nursing academic Dr Melanie Birks recently visited Trinitas School of Nursing in the city of Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey.

She was travelling with Dr Jane Mills from James Cook University as both are interested in creating simulation-based learning programs.

Dr Melanie Birks (left) with Dr Jane Mills (right), meeting John Cresswell and Sharlene Hesse-Biber, both renown authors in the area of research at the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry

The Aussie duo met with an Assistant Dean and the Learning/Simulation Centre Coordinator. They toured the Learning/Simulation Centre and gathered information and materials related to simulation-based learning and its integration into the curriculum.

They also expressed interest in collaborating with Trinitas on a simulation research project in the future.

Birks and Mills are accomplished nurse researchers who recently co-authored a book Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide published by Sage Publications.

Dr Birks is an Associate Professor and Director of Learning and Teaching for CQUniversity's School of Nursing and Midwifery.

While in America, Dr Birks presented two papers and chaired a session of the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. She also visited the Schools of Nursing at Columbia University in New York and San Francisco.

"We explored their work on the use of simulation in nursing and approach to nursing education generally.  What was valuable is that not only did we learn from them, but they were also interested in learning from us."

Dr Birks pictured during her visit to Trinitas School of Nursing  
Dr Birks pictured during her visit to Trinitas School of Nursing