Advanced Nursing Research

Biography

Sharon Decker is the Associate Dean for Simulation, a Professor in the School of Nursing, the Executive Director of The F. Marie Hall SimLife Center, and Covenant Health System Endowed Chair in Simulation and Nursing Education at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She was the past Director of the Health Sciences Center’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP): Interprofessional Teamwork. Dr Decker has been engaged in simulation-based activities since the mid 1900’s to include using simulation for both learning and assessment and education of educators related to integrating simulation into curricula, and techniques related to the debriefing process.She currently serves as the Chair of the Certification Committee for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. As a past member of the Standards Committee for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, Dr. Decker was the lead author for two evidence-based standards. Dr. Decker has been the recipient of the Texas Tech’s Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award and the TTUHSC President’s award for Academic Achievement, Excellence in Teaching, and Outstanding Professor. Dr. Decker is a fellow in the Academy of Nursing Education and American Academy of Nursing.

Research Interest

Dr. Decker’s research, supported by multiple grants, is related to how simulation can be used to improve learning and promote professional and interprofessional competencies.