Chattanooga State becomes only Tennessee community college to receive INACSL endorsement
Left to right: Marie Loisy, simulation coordinator; Lindsey O’Hagan, nursing program director; Dr. Martina Harris, dean of Nursing and Allied Health; and Dr. Rebecca Ashford, ChattState president. (Photo Credit: Chattanooga State Community College)
A plaque honors Chattanoga State’s 2024 Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement. (Photo Credit: Chattanooga State Community College)
Press Release from the Chattanooga State Community College
CHATTANOOGA, TN — Chattanooga State Community College gathered Monday, Sept. 16, during National Healthcare Simulation Week to celebrate the College’s achievement of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™.
ChattState is the only community college in Tennessee to receive an INACSL International Endorsement, which recognizes healthcare institutions and practices that have demonstrated excellence.
Dr. Martina Harris, dean of Nursing and Allied Health, said the endorsement confirms ChattState’s position as an elite nursing program.
“This recognition of our simulation lab is a testament to the amazing work and dedication that was put into it,” she said. “This endorsement places us in an elite group. We are only one of three community colleges in the U.S. to receive it.”
Dr. Desiree Diaz, former president of INACSL, said simulation labs play an important role in ensuring not only student success, but also in improving patient outcomes.
“This plaque recognizes the rigor and excellence you have gone through to demonstrate your commitment to learning and your ability to achieve global endorsement in your academic setting,” she said. “You have succeeded in showing the world your ability to navigate best practices, putting a learner-centered approach at the heart of all that you do with efforts to improve patient safety.”
Marie Loisy, simulation coordinator, said the impact of ChattState’s nursing labs can be seen in student success and feedback.
“This endorsement reaffirms our commitment to delivering top-notch simulation education to our nursing students,” she said. “What’s even more meaningful to us is the feedback we get from our students. They clearly see and appreciate the value of simulation in enhancing awareness for real-world nursing.”
Caroline O’Neal, a second-year registered nursing student at ChattState, said simulation labs allow students the chance to learn by trial and error without risking a patient’s safety.
“The simulation lab is such a great experience and opportunity for all the nursing students here,” she said. “You get to practice what you will be doing in a real hospital without real consequences. I’ve made mistakes, and I’m so happy that I got to make those mistakes with supervision and with the opportunity to receive specific feedback.”
Lindsey O’Hagan, nursing program director, said the INACSL endorsement is exemplified by the program’s statewide and national rankings.
“I’m thrilled to announce that ChattState’s nursing program ranks the number one amongst associate degree nursing programs in the entire state of Tennessee. But it’s not just against other associate degree programs that we rank top-notch. Out of 52 total nursing programs in our state—including bachelors and graduate programs—we’re still fifth overall. To take things further, out of 1700 nursing programs nationwide, we rank in the top 100,” she said. “Together, we are shaping the future of nursing and setting new standards of excellence.”
Chattanooga State’s Registered Nursing program boasts an impressive NCLEX-RN pass rate of 96.2% among first-time test-takers, which places it as the number one associate degree in nursing (ADN) program in Tennessee.
