The University of Texas at Tyler’s School of Nursing has been awarded a $874,617 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to fuel innovation in nursing education. This major grant — part of the state’s Nursing Innovation Grant Program — will support the development of a simulation curriculum for nursing faculty across the state.
“THOT members are known for blending care and education in ways that drive the entire field forward,” said Maureen Milligan, PhD, president and CEO of the Teaching Hospitals of Texas. “This grant highlights the innovation happening every day at our institutions and reflects our shared commitment to building a skilled, confident nursing workforce for Texas today and into the future.”
Led by Dr. Julie George, clinical assistant professor, and Hillary Oliver, simulation hospital and skills lab director, at the School of Nursing, the project will focus on strengthening faculty expertise in simulation planning, pre-briefing, facilitation strategies, debriefing, assessment, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement. Once the program is developed at UT Tyler, it will be offered to nursing schools statewide.
The need for nurses continues to outpace supply. Simulations are one of the most effective ways to prepare future nurses for real-world settings, which could ultimately reduce the likelihood of burnout and improve patient outcomes. Having nursing faculty trained to run effective, increasingly advanced simulations is critical.
“Being awarded the Nursing Innovation Grant allows us to develop our own faculty training ToolKit for simulation-based education, ensuring a standardized, high-quality approach,” Oliver said. “This grant also funds CloudCME software, making the training accessible to other programs looking to enhance their own faculty development in simulation.”
The Nursing Innovation Grant Program was established by the 88th Texas Legislature with the initial goal to support innovation in nursing education programs to increase the state’s nursing workforce pipeline.
“High-quality simulation education is a vital part of training the next generation of nurses,” said Oliver. “But up until now, many faculty lacked the resources and formal training for an effective simulation. With more students entering nursing programs to meet workforce demands, we need to ensure that faculty are equipped with the necessary skills to provide the best quality learning experience.”
This grant is a clear example of how THOT members continuously innovate and advance. Teaching hospitals and their affiliated schools are uniquely positioned to drive forward-thinking projects that directly improve how healthcare professionals are trained. Whether it’s using AI to close gaps in diagnostic care or building scalable training models for nursing simulation, THOT members are building the future of care by investing in education today.
Congratulations to Dr. George, Hillary Oliver, and the UT Tyler team for securing this competitive grant—and for helping ensure that the next generation of Texas nurses enters the field with better preparation and stronger clinical confidence.
