Kathryn Vanderzwan, DNP, APRN-FPA, ACNP-BC, CHSE
Assistant Dean of Simulation and Experiential Learning
Clinical Associate Professor
Office of Academic Engagement and Student Success
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Contact
- Building & Room:
- 560 NURS
- Address:
- 845 S. Damen Ave., MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612
- Office Phone:
- 847-445-2382
Email:
CV Download:
Related Sites:
About
Dr. Vanderzwan is currently the Assistant Dean of Simulation and Experiential Learning and a Clinical Associate Professor at UIC Nursing. As Assistant Dean, Katie leads UIC Nursing's multi-campus simulation and clinical learning strategy that supports excellence in teaching, student success and practice readiness.
Dr. Vanderzwan graduated with her BSN from the University of Iowa in 2002, and is a two time UIC alum, completing her MSN/Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program in 2006 and her DNP in 2017.
As a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), Dr. Vanderzwan is an active member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). In 2025, the Schwartz Simulation Laboratory (Chicago) became the first nursing simulation program in Illinois to receive Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™ from INACSL.
Clinically, Dr. Vanderzwan practices per diem as a Full Practice Authority (FPA) Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Cardiology. Dr. Vanderzwan's area of scholarship focuses on simulation-based education, including interprofessional communication and handoff. Internationally, Dr. Vanderzwan has fostered international collaborations with the Caribbean Nurses Organization, providing professional development training in simulation to Caribbean nurse educators in over eleven countries.
Selected Grants
2024 American Nurses Association (ANA); National Commission to End Racism in Nursing, BIG Ideas to Address Racism in Nursing (Belonging, Innovation & Growth), Consultant
2023 UIC Interprofessional Practice and Education Funding: Steering Committee, Simulated Interprofessional Handoff: Determining students’ self-efficacy for collaborative practice., Primary Investigator (PI)
2023 National League for Nursing Education Research Grant: Dorothy Otto Research Award, Deliberate Practice of Critical Nursing Skills and Assessment of Competencies: A Multi-Site Study., Co-Investigator
Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), 2023 Nurse Educator Fellowship Program, Awardee, Fellow
International Nursing Association of Clinical and Simulation Learning (INACSL), 2022 Debra Spunt Research Grant, Primary Investigator (PI)
2022 UIC Interprofessional Practice and Education Funding: Steering Committee, Simulated Interprofessional Education: Understanding Health Care Students’ Perceptions of Caring for Patients with Complex Needs in High Risk Underserved Communities, Co-Investigator
Selected Publications
Vanderzwan, K., Jeremiah, R., Walsh, S. & Cash, P. (2026). Expanding the Use of Simulation Based Education in the Caribbean. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2026.101968
Schroers, G., Pfieffer, J., Vanderzwan, K., Klenke-Borgmann, L., Kilroy, S., Tell, D., & O’Rourke, J. (2026). Deliberate practice of hand hygiene and patient identification during simulated medication administration: A multisite study. Nurse Educator. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000002158
Vanderzwan, K., Schroers, G., Pfieffer, J., Kilroy, S., Klenke-Borgmann, L., Tell, D., & O’Rourke, J. (2026). Deliberate practice of nurse handoff using simulation: A multi-site study. Nurse education in practice, 90, 104664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2025.104664
Vanderzwan, K. J., Betka, A. A., Freer, C., Krassa, T., & Jones, K. L. (2025). Use of simulation-based education to enhance clinical judgment among prelicensure nursing students. International journal of nursing education scholarship, 22(1), 10.1515/ijnes-2025-0051. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijnes-2025-0051
Schroers, G., Vanderzwan, K., Kilroy, S., Klenke-Borgmann, L., Pfieffer, J., Tell, D., & O’Rourke, J. (2025). Deliberate practice of medication administration among nursing students: A multisite study. Nursing Education Perspectives, 46(5), 284-289. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001451
Schroers, G., Vanderzwan, K., Klenke-Borgmann, L., Kilroy, S., Pfieffer, J., Tell, D., & O’Rourke, J. (2025). Use of the Stay SAFE interruption management strategy: A multisite multi-methods study. Nurse Educator, 50(6), 219-296. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001932
Kilroy, S., Marks, B., Sawyer, K. M., Vanderzwan, K., Karczmar, C., Koronkowski, M., & Brown, B. P. (2025). Utilizing simulation-enhanced interprofessional education to identify differences in healthcare students’ collaborative practice behaviors: A mixed method study. Nurse education today, 147, 106569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106569
Castro, H., Stephens, K., Ortiz, M., & Vanderzwan, K. (2025). Integration of Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Into Prelicensure Nursing Curricula: Preparing Nursing Students for Cardiac Arrest Care. Nurse educator, 50(3), 161–164. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001809
Vanderzwan, K., Kilroy, S., Burt, L., & O’Rourke, J. (2024). Don’t interrupt me! Development of a handoff education bundle to simulate the real world. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 21(1). 10.1515/ijnes-2023-0092
Maffucci, J., Vanderzwan, K., & Burt, L. (2023). Evaluating a Shared Reflective Practice to Develop Nursing Student Clinical Judgment. Nurse Educator 00(0), 1-5. doi: 10.1097/NNE0000000000001570. In print.
Vanderzwan, K., Kilroy, S., Daniels, A., & O’Rourke, J. (2023). Nurse-to-Nurse handoff with distractors and interruptions: An integrative review. Nurse Education in Practice, 67, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103550
Vanderzwan, K., Hiller, A., Carlucci, M., Amusina, O., Ryan, C., Krassa, T., McPherson, S., Tozer, C., Quinn, L., & Kent, D. (2023). A Mentoring Workgroup for Academic Role Transition Among Nursing Faculty. Journal of Nursing Education, 62(3), 183–186. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20230109-10
Vanderzwan, K., Burt, L., & O’Rourke, J. (2023). Nursing Handoff Education Using Experiential and Virtual Innovations. Nurse Educator, 48(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001272
Ortiz, L., Kent, D., Carlucci, M., Ricca, P., Zeiher, W., Vanderzwan, K., Betka, A., & Kilroy. S. (2022). Bloom’s Taxonomy: Framing virtual simulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 39(5), E154-E160. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000897
Kilroy, S., Kent, D., Vanderzwan, K, Jones, K., Hiller, A., Reese, C., Woroch, R., & McPherson, S. (2021). Development of a Multisite Nursing Simulation WorkGroup Focusing on International Nursing Association for Clinical and Simulation Learning (INACSL) Standards. Journal of Nursing Education, 60(3), 165-168. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20210222-08
Vanderzwan, K., Schwind, J., Obrecht, J., O’Rourke, J., & Hieber-Johnson, A. (2020). Using Simulation to Evaluate Nurse Competencies. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 36(3), 163-166. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.000000000000063
Professional Leadership
Standards Committee Chair, International Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL)
Endorsement Committee Past-Chair, International Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL)
Caribbean Simulation Alliance Member, International Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL)
Research Committee, Debra Spunt Grant Sub-Committee Past-Chair, International Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL)
Research and Implementation Interest Group (RIIG): Nursing Education Past Co-Chair, Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS)
Special Interest Group (SIG): Advanced Practice Provider Past Vice-Chair, Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)
Notable Honors
2023, Teaching Recognition Program (TRP) Award, University of Illinois Chicago
2023, Early Career Investigator Award, Nursing Education Research Interest Group, Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS)
2022, International Nursing Association of Clinical and Simulation Learning (INACSL) Research Fellowship, International Nursing Association of Clinical and Simulation Learning (INACSL)
2019, Barbara Berger Excellence in Teaching Award, UIC Nursing, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 2002, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN; Acute Care Nurse Practitioner), 2006, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), 2017, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Licensures and Certifications
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Full Practice Authority, State of Illinois
Registered Nurse, State of Illinois
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC); Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) Board Certified (2007-current)
Society for Simulation in Healthcare; Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) (2022 to current)
Professional Memberships
Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)
International Nursing Association of Clinical and Simulation Learning (INACSL)
American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
American Nurses Association (ANA)-Illinois
Selected Presentations
2026 Stanley, S. & Vanderzwan, K. (2026, June 10). Integrating Simulation-Based Education into Nursing Curricula to Replace Clinical Hours for Caribbean Schools of Nursing [Poster presentation]. International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Conference, Oklahoma City, OK.
2026 Stanley, S. & Vanderzwan, K. (2026, May 29). Integrating Simulation-Based Education into Nursing Curricula to Replace Clinical Hours for Caribbean Schools of Nursing [Poster presentation]. The 35th Annual Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference, The University of the West Indies School of Nursing, Mona. Kingston, Jamaica.
2025 Vanderzwan, K., Schroers, G., Klenke-Borgmann, L., Kilroy, S., Pfieffer, J., & O’Rourke, J. (2025, June). Interruption management strategies for nursing students: Is simulation the key? Presented at the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning Conference, Denver, CO, United States
2024 Keehn, M., Park, C., & Vanderzwan, K. Learning from others: Scaling interprofessional simulation learning experiences to include all health profession’s’ learners. 13th International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care; Chicago, IL; March 2024.
2024 Schroers, G., Vanderzwan, K., Kirk, L., & O’Rourke, J. (2024). Building the Science of Nursing Education: Evidence-Based Teaching Practices and Policies. Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Nursing Education Research and Implementation Interest Group (RIIG): Competitive Research Symposium. Annual Conference; Minneapolis, Minnesota; February 2024. Panel presentation, 90 minutes.
2024 Park, C., Spain, A., Vanderzwan, K., Bowler, F., Hebert, S., Favor, N., Beebe, S. Healthcare Simulationist Code of Ethics-Aspiring to use it at your Sim Program! International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH); San Diego, California; January 2024.
2024 Vanderzwan, K. & Kilroy, S. Implementation of a Handoff Education Bundle with Distractors. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH); San Diego, California; January 2024. Hot Topic.
2024 Vanderzwan, K., Burt, L., Kiser, R., & Park, C. Cultural clothing among simulation professionals: What’s your style?. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH); San Diego, California; January 2024. Hands-on Workshop (90 minutes).
2024 Freeman, J., Vanderzwan, K., Andrighetti, T., & Edgar, C. Best practices for OSCE implementation in APP education. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH); San Diego, California; January 2024. Hands-on Workshop (90 minutes)
2023 Vanderzwan, K. UIC Spark Talk Speaker. Sim Zones: How competency-based nursing education needs can be met through experiential learning. Student Services Building, November 16, 2023
Research Currently in Progress