Jacqueline T Vaughn

Dr. Vaughn is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington School of Nursing. She is a simulation educational specialist and was awarded her CHSE-A in 2023. Her program of simulation educational research advances the science of simulation using innovative technologies and teaching strategies. Her current simulation research interests focus on enhancing psychological safety and using AI to optimize simulation. She is dedicated to scholarship with more than 25 publications and numerous presentations at international, national and regional conferences. As an active member of INACSL, she serves on the Facilitation Standards Committee, and she chairs the Sim-IPE Cornerstone committee.

Education

PhD in Nursing Science, Duke University School of Nursing, Durham NC
BSN in Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Specialization in Teaching

Dr Vaughn Simulation educational specialist. As an Advanced Certified Simulation Educator and active member of the INACSL Facilitation Standard Committee, she has expertise in simulation-based teaching. She incorporates the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™ (HSSOCP) into her curricula to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, learner-centered experiences. Her methodology emphasizes evidence-based facilitation strategies that foster clinical judgment and reflective practice. In addition, Dr. Vaughn mentors faculty across the College of Health and Human Sciences, supporting faculty development and implementation of effective simulation pedagogy.

Research Interests

Dr Vaughn's program of research focuses on advancing the science of simulation through research and innovation. Her current simulation educational research interests are on enhancing psychological safety for learners in simulation, the use of artificial intelligence to optimize simulation design and practice, interprofessional education, and championing the use of virtual simulation for prelicensure nursing students

Professional Service

Dr. Vaughn is an active member with the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), She serves on the INACSL Facilitation Standards Committee, chairs of the Sim-IPE Cornerstone committee, and teaches in the (ISEP) program. She is an active with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) and is currently involved with creating a psychological safety interest group. At the State level, she was recently a member of the North Carolina Interprofessional Education Consortium. At the University and School of Nursing level, she serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for Research and Innovation and Interprofessional Education, serves as the committee chair for the Simulation Learning Committee, and is active on the Simulation Accreditation Committee.

Community Engagement

Dr. Vaughn fosters interprofessional collaboration through simulation-based education. She collaborates with faculty colleagues across healthcare colleges to design and host interprofessional education (IPE) simulation activities. Currently, her work is expanding these offerings into the broader community by partnering with local high schools and community colleges. Her initiatives aim to integrate certified nursing assistants into simulation experiences alongside prelicensure nursing students and other healthcare learners, promoting early exposure to interprofessional collaboration, teamwork, and enhancing collaborative practice across the healthcare continuum.

Honors & Awards

Dr. Vaughn earned the Research Article of the Year 2025 awarded by the Clinical Simulation in Nursing Journal.
She received the Bayada Award for Innovation in teaching in 2015.