Deborah Rojas

PhD, University of Nevada: Las Vegas, 2023
Area of Study: Nursing education

PhD, University of Nevada: Las Vegas, 2023
Area of Study: Nursing Education

MSN, University of Northern Colorado, 2008
Area of Study: Nursing

MSN, University of Northern Colorado, 2008
Area of Study: Nursing Education

BS, University of Northern Colorado, 1996
Area of Study: Nursing

BSN, University of Northern Colorado, 1996
Area of Study: Nursing

Assistant Professor, University of Northern Colorado
School of Nursing (2009- present)

Adjunct Faculty, University of Northern Colorado
(2007-2009)

Graduate Assistant, University of Northern Colorado
(2006-2008)

Clinical Scholar, Columbine Health Systems
(2006)

Associate Dean, CollegeAmerica
School of Healthcare (2001-2006)

Float Staff Registered Nurse, Poudre Valley Hospital
(2000-2001)

Registered Nurse, Columbine Home Care
(1999-2000)

Health Care Instructor, Red Rocks Community College
(1998-1999)

Registered Nurse, Spalding Rehabilitation Hospitals
(1996-1999)

Licensed Practical Nurse, Spring Creek Health Care Center
(1995-1996)

Certified Nursing Assistant, North Colorado Medical Center and Lutheran Health Services
(1993-1995)

Certified Nursing Assistant, Columbine Health System
(1988-1993)

Collaborative Learning: Interprofessional Emergent Care Simulation Learning Experience

This nursing program developed a simulation education experience that collaborated senior Bachelor in Science (BSN) nursing students, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) graduate students, and Emergency Medical Technician students. The purpose of this educational event is to increase interprofessional collaboration skills among generalist and advanced practice nursing students and EMT students with attention to: awareness of interprofessional roles, communication, leadership and increased patient safety. A survey will be in place to measure the student’s self-perceived skill level and comfort before and after their collaborative activity as well as a survey measuring role perception six-months following the activity. The student will also be contacted, upon consent, for an interview six- months following the activity.

Exploring student nurse communication related to patient safety

This qualitative simulation study is in progress with volunteer undergraduate nursing students. The purpose is to explore decision making in urgent acute care settings. The guiding research question is: When confronted with an unsafe order from a physician, how does the student nurse act?

Impact of Civic Engagement Integration across a Nursing Curriculum

This research received IRB approval in summer 2019 – we collected our first qualitative data in summer/fall 2019. Quantitative data (pre-test) was collected in summer 2019 and fall 2019.

Leveraging Simulation to Understand Nursing Student Learning in Technologically Complex Environments

This research was done as part of my PhD program at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Areas of Interest

Innovative teaching strategies particularly use of high fidelity simulation

Teaching cultural sensitivity in nursing

• Rojas, D., Serafica, R Dingley, C., Holt, K., Morgan, J., Poster presentation at the 2023 Western Institute of Nursing conference. Poster entitled; Technological complexity and learning outcomes in prelicensure nursing students.
• Rojas, D., Einhellig, K., Schams, K., McNeil, J. Skill building session at Nurse Educators Conference in the Rockies (2022). Presentation entitled, Lessons from the pandemic: Embracing technology and creating opportunities.
• Rojas, D., Dingley, C., Holt, K., Morgan, J., Serafica, R. Poster presentation at the 2022 Western Institute of Nursing conference. Poster entitled;  echnological complexity in simulation and learning outcomes in nursing students.
• Rojas, D., Einhellig, K., Garrity, B. Poster presentation at the 2021 Western Institute of Nursing conference. Poster entitled; Successful integration of civic engagement across the undergraduate nursing curriculum: Creating a profession committed to others.
• Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative 2019; Monfort College of Business internal grant award for development of teaching material entitled Nursing Ethics.
• Schams, K., Rojas,D., Bowler, F., Pre-conference workshop at the Nurse Educator’s Conference in the Rockies (2019). Workshop entitled Envisioning the future of excellence in nursing education
• Garrity, B., Einhellig, K., Rojas, D., Podium presentation at the Nurse Educator’s Conference in the Rockies (2019). Presentation entitled, Successful Integration of Civic Engagement across the Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum: Creating a Professional Committed to Other
• Rojas, D., Podium presentation at the Laerdal local Simulation Users Network conference at UCHealth simulation and innovation center (2017). Presentation entitled, A toolbox for simulation educators.
• Schams, K., Rojas, D., Podium presentation at the Laerdal local Simulation Users Network conference at UCHealth simulation and innovation center (2017). Presentation entitled Simulation: Ideas to execution.
• Parker, C., Rojas,D. Podium presentation at the Nurse Educator’s conference in the Rockies (2017). Presentation entitled New registered nurses’ perception on the effectiveness of pre-licensure simulation training on readiness to care for patients in cardiac arrest
• Rojas, D., Parker, C., Schams, K., McNeill J., May/June 2017. Implementation of best practices in simulation debriefing. Nursing Education Perspectives, 38 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000111
• Manning, S., Gamblian, V., Kellgren, M., Sievers, L., Rojas, D., Thomas, C. Podium Presentation at the 14th Annual International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning Conference (2015). Presentation entitled Educating SimEducators: Tools for Faculty Development.
• Thomas, C.M., Sievers, L.D., Kellgren, M., Manning, S.J., Rojas, D.E., Gamblian, V.C. (2015). Developing a theory-based simulation educator resource. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36, (5) 340-342. http://dx.doi.org/10.5480/15 1673
• Rojas, D., Podium presentation at the 2015 Nurse Educaotrs Conference in the Rockies. Presentation entitled, An Example of Collaboration in Simulation Education.
• Manning, S., Gamblian, V., Kellgren, M., Sievers, L., Rojas, D., Thomas, C., Podium presentation at the National League for Nursing Summit, Fall 2015. Presentation entitled, Faculty Development: A Tool kit for Simulation Educators.
• Parker,C., Rojas, D., Schams, K., McNeill, J., Poster presentation at the 2015 Western Institute of Nursing conference. Poster entitled; Implimentation of Best Practices in Simulation Debriefing
• Manning, S., Gamblian, V., Kellgren, M., Sievers, L., Rojas, D., Thomas, C., Poster presentation at the 2014 NLN technology conference. Poster entitled, Faculty Development: A Tool Kit for Simulation Educators.
• NLN Simulation Innovation Resource Center. (2016). Faculty development toolkit of simulation resources. http://www.nln.org/sirc/sirc-resources/sirc-tools and-tips
• Stanley, M.J., Rojas, D. (2014). Teaching undergraduate nursing students about environmental health: Addressing public health issues through simulation. Journal of Nursing Education, 53, (1) 48-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/01484834 20131218-04
• Rojas, D., Poster presentation at the 2012 Nurse Educators Conference in the Rockies. Poster entitled, Implementation of a high fidelity simulation experience to replace one clinical day for undergraduate BSN students.
• Hessler, K., Rojas, D., Podium presentation at the 2012 Nurse Educators Conference in the Rockies. Presentation entitled, Service learning- helping our students help others
• Hummel, F., Merrill, A., Rojas, D., Stalker, E., Poster presentation at the 42nd annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference, Western Institute of Nursing, Session entitled, Improving practice; educational strategies.
• Spring 2009; National Institute for Nursing Education and Scholarship faculty development workshop; Simulation Pedagogy to Best Practice. Helped organize and facilitate this event, did not present.