Darla
Gruben
May 2020
Darla
Gruben
,
MSN, RN, CHSE, CNE
Texas A&M Health Science Center, College of Nursing
Round Rock
,
TX
United States
Darla is the sunshine and cheer on our campus.
Always supportive and positive
***
Prof. Darla Gruben has established a reputation for upholding the ethical standards of nursing and demonstrating an exemplary model of nursing leadership. Prof. Gruben’s methodology centers on improving the students’ experience in didactic, clinical, and simulation settings. She is a National League of Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), which distinguishes her as an expert educator and leader for others in nursing education. Her expertise has served the College of Nursing well through her contribution to curriculum and program evaluation on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Additionally, Prof. Gruben is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), which distinguishes her as an advanced educator and mentor in the practice of healthcare simulation. Through her service on the Simulation Committee, she has advanced the development, integrity, and delivery of all nursing simulations to be consistent with professional standards. Her expertise in simulation has been especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic when all nursing clinicals and simulations were canceled due to the requirement of social distancing and shelter in place orders. Prof. Gruben served on the College of Nursing Simulation Committee to quickly develop Standards of Practice for online simulations that were required to replace clinical immersion.
Prof. Darla Gruben has gone well beyond what is required to provide encouragement, advice, and leadership to me personally on many occasions. Her respect for transparency and integrity make it a real joy to work alongside her in the nursing program. These rare qualities make her a trusted advisor to students and faculty. Prof. Gruben has served as a mentor for several graduate students during their precepted experience, new faculty, and seasoned faculty new to our college.
***
I have had the privilege of working for Texas A&M CON for three years now. Darla is extraordinary. She is tenacious, generous, kind, passionate, and perhaps one of the most hard-working people I know. With any assignment or task, she puts forth 110% effort, and I don’t think I need to tell many people that – it’s fairly evident in everything she does.
Her focus is constantly on her students and not herself. She re-evaluates nearly everything she does in order to find improvements to make learning a better experience for the students and no detail goes unnoticed. Students often say she is the most accessible, generous, and caring professor they have ever had.
I can’t think of just one example because so many come to mind – but every time I call, text, or email her, she responds happily (and promptly) and helps without question.
***
Prof Gruben is our t-ball coach. She is the sunshine and cheer on our campus. Prof. Gruben has an amazing ability to take teach our new-to-nursing students with just the right amount of pressure and coaching. Her knack to guide a student that may not understand a concept or is struggling with the transfer of professional behavior, to understand what it is to truly be a nurse and be true examples of the profession. Darla protects our brand, she is an Aggie at heart, and she exemplifies the Aggie Core Values in her interactions with students, faculty, and staff alike. She has a passion to educate our students to be accountable, responsible, and safe practitioners. With her passion, she brings excitement to try new and innovative things to move our students into the next generation of technology in healthcare. It is a great pleasure to work with Prof. Gruben.
***
Prof. Darla Gruben has established a reputation for upholding the ethical standards of nursing and demonstrating an exemplary model of nursing leadership. Prof. Gruben’s methodology centers on improving the students’ experience in didactic, clinical, and simulation settings. She is a National League of Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), which distinguishes her as an expert educator and leader for others in nursing education. Her expertise has served the College of Nursing well through her contribution to curriculum and program evaluation on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. Additionally, Prof. Gruben is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), which distinguishes her as an advanced educator and mentor in the practice of healthcare simulation. Through her service on the Simulation Committee, she has advanced the development, integrity, and delivery of all nursing simulations to be consistent with professional standards. Her expertise in simulation has been especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic when all nursing clinicals and simulations were canceled due to the requirement of social distancing and shelter in place orders. Prof. Gruben served on the College of Nursing Simulation Committee to quickly develop Standards of Practice for online simulations that were required to replace clinical immersion.
Prof. Darla Gruben has gone well beyond what is required to provide encouragement, advice, and leadership to me personally on many occasions. Her respect for transparency and integrity make it a real joy to work alongside her in the nursing program. These rare qualities make her a trusted advisor to students and faculty. Prof. Gruben has served as a mentor for several graduate students during their precepted experience, new faculty, and seasoned faculty new to our college.
***
I have had the privilege of working for Texas A&M CON for three years now. Darla is extraordinary. She is tenacious, generous, kind, passionate, and perhaps one of the most hard-working people I know. With any assignment or task, she puts forth 110% effort, and I don’t think I need to tell many people that – it’s fairly evident in everything she does.
Her focus is constantly on her students and not herself. She re-evaluates nearly everything she does in order to find improvements to make learning a better experience for the students and no detail goes unnoticed. Students often say she is the most accessible, generous, and caring professor they have ever had.
I can’t think of just one example because so many come to mind – but every time I call, text, or email her, she responds happily (and promptly) and helps without question.
***
Prof Gruben is our t-ball coach. She is the sunshine and cheer on our campus. Prof. Gruben has an amazing ability to take teach our new-to-nursing students with just the right amount of pressure and coaching. Her knack to guide a student that may not understand a concept or is struggling with the transfer of professional behavior, to understand what it is to truly be a nurse and be true examples of the profession. Darla protects our brand, she is an Aggie at heart, and she exemplifies the Aggie Core Values in her interactions with students, faculty, and staff alike. She has a passion to educate our students to be accountable, responsible, and safe practitioners. With her passion, she brings excitement to try new and innovative things to move our students into the next generation of technology in healthcare. It is a great pleasure to work with Prof. Gruben.