Ayumi Fielden, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, CPAN, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, has been awarded a scholarship from the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).
Fielden is a professional practice leader at Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center and an accredited provider program director for the entire Houston Methodist Hospital system. Fielden has cultivated her expertise through her work in various intensive care settings, including general ICU, cardiovascular recovery, surgical ICU, neurosurgical ICU, and PACU. One of her most notable achievements was establishing the PACU Nursing Residency Transition to Practice Program in 2018. This program supported new nurses in their transition into the post-anesthesia care unit, preparing them for the complexities of perianesthesia nursing. She led the program through 2023, alongside numerous perioperative and critical care initiatives.
She has held multiple roles on national committees within the ASPAN and has received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding New Graduate Nurse, Good Samaritan Awards, and was recognized as one of the Top 150 Houston Nurses by the Houston Chronicle Salute to Nurses.
Her DNP quality improvement project titled “Quality Improvement in Malignant Hyperthermia Response: A Pilot Intervention Utilizing Simulation” is about improving staff preparedness by enhancing treatment times and increasing staff confidence in responding to malignant hyperthermia crises through iterative rapid cycle improvement. This pilot intervention utilizes the National League for Nursing (NLN) Jeffries simulation theory as the overarching framework to guide structured interprofessional simulation sessions.
The NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory is a widely recognized framework in nursing education that guides the use of simulation as a teaching and learning strategy. Developed by Pamela Jeffries, in collaboration with the NLN, the theory offers a comprehensive model for creating, implementing and evaluating simulation-based educational experiences in nursing and health care.