Katie W
Kafel
May 2021
Katie W
Kafel
,
RN, MS
University of Massachusetts Boston, College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Boston
,
MA
United States
Katie volunteered to vaccinate against this virus and elicited students to serve in this capacity at several of the partnering clinical agencies.
Ms. Kafel joined the full-time faculty at University of Massachusetts Boston in 2003 after over twelve years of experience as a clinical educator. Since becoming a full-time faculty member, Kathleen has taught in both accelerated and traditional options in the Fundamentals, Adult Health, and Capstone courses. She has coordinated all clinical in Adult Health and has been involved in the development of creative clinical teaching methods.
As course coordinator of Adult Health, Ms. Kafel welcomed simulation as a method of clinical learning and was the first in the college to utilize simulation as a method of clinical learning. She assisted in the initial planning for the development of Dedicated Educational Units at partnering agencies. The Dedicated Educational Unit at MGH continues and is in its 13th year. She has initiated Dedicated Educational units at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, South Shore Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston.
In her recent role as Director of Undergraduate Clinical Education, Ms. Kafel has developed new partnerships with several hospitals and clinical agencies seeking out clinical educational opportunities to enhance student learning and to meet the needs of the future population.
She has authored and co-authored articles on DEUs, and spoken on this method of clinical education to several audiences. She has been the past director and coordinator of bi-annual presentations by the Dedicated Educational Unit Students at Brigham and Women’s, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Good Samaritan Medical Center directed towards the improvement of patient care, teamwork and collaboration and quality initiatives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked to quickly transition all clinical faculty and students to virtual teaching and learning with emphasis on preservation of clinical learning and stimulating of critical thinking.
Ms. Kafel participated on a state-wide board during this crisis and Fit tested numerous students with protective N95 masks required for clinical. She volunteered to vaccinate against this virus and elicited students to serve in this capacity at several of the partnering clinical agencies.
Ms. Kafel is currently on the advisory board at Brigham and Women's Newly Licensed Nurse program. She is most passionate about varying and innovative methods of clinical learning and teaching that best prepare students for their future professional work.
As course coordinator of Adult Health, Ms. Kafel welcomed simulation as a method of clinical learning and was the first in the college to utilize simulation as a method of clinical learning. She assisted in the initial planning for the development of Dedicated Educational Units at partnering agencies. The Dedicated Educational Unit at MGH continues and is in its 13th year. She has initiated Dedicated Educational units at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, South Shore Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Boston.
In her recent role as Director of Undergraduate Clinical Education, Ms. Kafel has developed new partnerships with several hospitals and clinical agencies seeking out clinical educational opportunities to enhance student learning and to meet the needs of the future population.
She has authored and co-authored articles on DEUs, and spoken on this method of clinical education to several audiences. She has been the past director and coordinator of bi-annual presentations by the Dedicated Educational Unit Students at Brigham and Women’s, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Good Samaritan Medical Center directed towards the improvement of patient care, teamwork and collaboration and quality initiatives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked to quickly transition all clinical faculty and students to virtual teaching and learning with emphasis on preservation of clinical learning and stimulating of critical thinking.
Ms. Kafel participated on a state-wide board during this crisis and Fit tested numerous students with protective N95 masks required for clinical. She volunteered to vaccinate against this virus and elicited students to serve in this capacity at several of the partnering clinical agencies.
Ms. Kafel is currently on the advisory board at Brigham and Women's Newly Licensed Nurse program. She is most passionate about varying and innovative methods of clinical learning and teaching that best prepare students for their future professional work.