New Ways to Learn, New Paths to Care
How one nurse educator connects technology, teaching, and the next generation of caregivers
For School of Nursing faculty member Gretchen Wiersma, summer break has been anything but quiet.
The associate professor and RN-to-BSN specialty lead spent the past several months sharing innovative educational approaches with national audiences while also introducing the next generation of students to nursing and healthcare careers. Her activities ranged from conference presentations on game-based learning to a week-long program for high school students at UVA's Northern Virginia campus.
In June, Wiersma presented with colleagues from George Mason University at the annual International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The collaboration grew out of a 4VA grant partnership that brought together nursing educators and technology experts to explore new approaches to healthcare education.
That work will continue this August when Wiersma presents at the Serious Games Conference at Duke University. As part of the broader 4VA initiative, she collaborated with the Virginia Serious Game Institute, where students developed an educational video game under faculty guidance. Wiersma served as the subject matter expert, helping ensure that the nursing and healthcare content reflected real-world practice.
The project reflects her interest in meeting learners where they are and exploring emerging technologies that can enhance education and engagement.
While contributing to national conversations about innovative learning, Wiersma continues to mentor future healthcare professionals closer to home. In July, she co-taught a week-long course at UVA's Northern Virginia campus titled From Curiosity to Care: Inside Nursing and Healthcare Professions.
The program introduced 21 high school students to nursing and a wide range of healthcare careers. Working alongside a colleague from Inova, Wiersma taught foundational skills such as hand hygiene and patient assessment while helping students better understand the many roles that contribute to patient care.
The week concluded with a visit to the George Washington University School of Nursing simulation lab, where students practiced wound assessment and participated in simulation-based learning activities.
For Wiersma, who comes from a family of nurses and has built a career spanning clinical practice, military service, and nursing education, the opportunity to help students discover healthcare careers is especially meaningful.
“This summer reinforced what I value most as an educator: meaningful learning begins by meeting learners where they are,” Wiersma says. “Whether engaging nursing students through innovative educational gaming or helping high school students explore healthcare careers, I strive to create experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire future healthcare professionals.”
Whether presenting scholarship to professional audiences, helping develop innovative educational technologies, or introducing teenagers to healthcare professions, Wiersma's summer work reflects a consistent commitment to expanding opportunities for learners at every stage of their journey.