Pamela R. Jeffries

Pamela Jeffries headshot

Pamela R. Jeffries

Ph.D., RN, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH

Dean Emerita

Professor (Emerita)


Pamela Jeffries is internationally known for her research and work in nursing, simulation, and health care. Throughout the academic community, she is well regarded for her scholarly contributions to executive leadership, the development of innovative teaching strategies, experiential learning techniques, new pedagogies, and the delivery of content using technology.

As Principal Investigator on grants funded by federal and state agencies and numerous national organizations, including the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Dr. Jeffries has provided leadership and mentorship on ground-breaking projects impacting both nursing practice and education. With the NLN, Dr. Jeffries developed the major contribution to simulation scholarship, the framework and monograph now known as the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory.

Dr. Jeffries is a sought-after keynote speaker and delivers presentations on nursing leadership and her research nationally and internationally. Her numerous publications, including the recently released third edition of Simulation in Nursing Education: From Conceptualization to Evaluation, cover a wide range of topics pertinent to nursing education, clinical simulations, and health care policy.

Dr. Jeffries is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy (FSSH), fellow of the Academy of Nurse Educators (ANEF), inductee into the Sigma Theta Tau International Research Hall of Fame, and recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Excellence Award. She is also a Robert Wood Johns Foundation Nurse Executive Fellow. She is active in a variety of professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of the Global Network of Simulations in Healthcare (GNSH).

Dr. Jeffries received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Ball State University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Nursing from Indiana University.


  • Indiana University, Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (formerly DNSc) (1996)
  • Indiana University, Master of Science in Nursing (1982)
  • Ball State University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1976)
  • May 2021 - DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award - George Washington University 
  • November 2020 - Bicentennial Medal Award - Indiana University 
  • September 2020 - University of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences Honorary Visiting Professor 
  • September 2019 - Virginia Nurses Association Foundation Leadership Excellence Award for Nursing School Dean 
  • October 2017 - Sigma Theta Tau International, Inc. (STTI) Edith Moore Copeland Award for Excellence in Creativity 
  • January 2017 - Fellow, Society for Simulation in Healthcare 
  • September 2016 - National League for Nursing (NLN) Mary Adelaide Nutting Award for Outstanding Leadership in Nursing Education
  • May 2016 - VALOR Excellence Award - George Washington University 
  • October 2014 - Indiana Women's Achievement Award - Ball State University 
  • June 2014 - Top 100 Alumni Legacy Leaders Award - Indiana University School of Nursing
  • August 2013 - AACN Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Excellence Award 
  • August 2012 - Sigma Theta Tau International, Inc.  (STTI) Nurse Research Hall of Fame 
  • September 2011 - Robert Wood Johns Foundation (RWJF) Nurse Executive Fellow (ENF) 
  • January 2011 - Society in Simulation and Healthcare 
  • September 2007 - Inductee, Academy of Nurse Educators Fellowship (ANEF) 

Journals

  • Jeffries, P.R., Cox, C., Dawn, K., Drenkard, K., Slaven-Lee, P., Tanner, J., & Wiersma, G. (2021). Obtaining clinical hours for students during the pandemic: Creative solutions. Virginia Nurses Today, 29(1), 1, 20-21. 
  • Jeffries, P.R. (2020). Pandemic journey: Is it a good time to be a dean? [Guest Editorial]. Journal of Professional Nursing36(6), 451-453.   
  • Jeffries, P.R. (2020).  Academic Nursing Dean's Role During COVID-19: Lessons from the Frontlines of Higher Education.  Nurse Educator, 45(5), 229-230. 
  • Jeffries, P.R., Bigley, M.B., McNelis, A.M, Cartier, J.M., Pintz, C., Slaven-Lee, P. & Zychowicz, M.E. (2019). A call to action: Building evidence for use of simulation in nurse practitioner education, Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 31(11), 627-632.
  • Huston, C., Phillips, B., Jeffries, P., Todero, C. Rich, J., Knecht, P., Sommer, S., and Lewis, M.P. (2018). The academic practice gap:  Strategies for an enduring problem. Nursing Forum, 53(1), 27-34. 
  • Connors, H. B., Skiba, D. J., Jeffries, P. R., Rizzolo, M. A., & Billings, D. M. (2017). Health information technology scholars program: from implementation to outcomes. Nursing Education Perspectives38(1), 3-8.

Book Chapters

  • Jeffries, P.R., Dreifuerst, K., & Haerling, K. (In Press). Simulations in Nursing Education: Overview, Essentials, and the Evidence in Teaching in Nursing: The Complete Guide. (ed., M. Oermann) NY: NY, Springer Publication. 
  • Jeffries, P., Bauman, E., Farina, C., & Slaven-Lee, P. (2020). The future of simulation in healthcare. In J. Palaganas, B. Ulrich, & B. Mancini (Eds.), Mastering simulation: A handbook for success (2nd ed., pp. 297-308). Sigma Theta Tau. 
  • Jeffries, P., Bauman, E., Farina, C., & Slaven-Lee, P. (2019).  Potential Curriculum and Programmatic Changes in The Future of Simulation in Healthcare, Mastering Simulation, (editors, B. Mancini and J. Palaganus).   
  • Jeffries, P.R., Dreifuerst, K., and Haerling Adamson, K. (2017).  Clinical Simulations in Nursing Education:  Overview, Essentials, and the Evidence (chapter 7), in Teaching in Nursing, (2nd ed), editor M. Oermann, NY: NY, Springer Publishing. 

Books

  • Jeffries, P.R. (In Press).  The NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory:  a Monograph. (2nd edition) Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer. 
  • Jeffries, P.R. (2020).  Simulation in Nursing Education: From Conceptualization to Evaluation. (3rd edition), Philadelphia: PA, Wolters Kluwer. 
  • Jeffries, P.R. (Ed.). (2013). Clinical simulations in nursing education: Advanced concepts, trends, andopportunities. New York, NY: The National League for Nursing. 
  • Jeffries, P.R. (Ed.). (2012). Simulations in nursing education:  From conceptualization toevaluation (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The National League for Nursing. (AJN Book of the Year award - 2013)
  • Jeffries, P.R., (2011).  Developing successful health care education simulation centers: Theconsortium model. New York, NY: Springer Publishing. 
  • Jeffries, P.R. (Ed.). (2007). Simulations in nursing education:  From conceptualization to evaluation. New York, NY: The National League for Nursing.
  • Health Care Simulation
  • Responsibility
  • Activator
  • Communication
  • Woo
  • Strategic