Jennifer Thornberry poses with her badge in front of wall art that says "IMSH: Society for Simulations in Healthcare. Unbound"

Dr. Jennifer Thornberry, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC and assistant professor in the Ascension Via Christi – Wichita State University School of Nursing, presented “Informing FNP Competency Assessment through Experiences with High-Stakes Simulation” at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 12, 2026.

Jennifer Thornberry, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, assistant professor in the Ascension Via Christi – Wichita State University School of Nursing, presented “Development of a Standardized Patient Education Program” at Kansas Nurse Educator Conference at Newman University July 17.

Description: In this presentation, the experiences of utilizing the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Standards of Best Practice (SOBP) in the development of a standardized patient education program were described so that other nursing education programs can develop or evaluate their own standardized patient simulation programs. Results from a qualitative study about high stakes standardized patient exams for FNP students were presented with a goal of understanding the student nurse experience in high stakes SP exams.

Jennifer Thornberry, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Assistant Professor and Aunna Escalante, MSN, RN, Assistant Nursing Educator, in the Ascension Via Christi – Wichita State University School of Nursing, was featured in “WSU Nursing Standardized Patient Program” in KSN Good Day Kansas.

The School of Nursing is hiring standardized patients to portray patients in various medical scenarios. This is an independent contractor position and requires a minimum of one hour of paid training prior to events.

Events are scheduled throughout each semester and can last up to four hours. All are open to apply. Positions will be filled based on availability and the needs of the scenario. Friends and family can also apply.