Directory

Chris Garrison
PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE

Teaching Professor,
Simulation Lab Director

University Park

Phone: 814-863-1150

Email: cmg35@psu.edu

Garrison’s clinical background includes experiences in medical-surgical, cardiology, home health, and as an adult/gerontological nurse practitioner. He is  a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) and a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). He teaches in classroom, simulation, and clinical settings across the curriculum in the BSN program at The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. He is responsible for the development and implementation of simulation across the curriculum. He manages a simulation laboratory with 11 separate instructional spaces that serves a nursing program with approximately 400 students per academic year. Garrison also lead faculty development efforts in simulation including facilitation of a 32.5 contact hour hybrid faculty simulation course and webinars on various simulation topics. In 2020, he received the Janet A. Williamson Excellence in Teaching Award from the Penn State College of Nursing. He has 17 years of experience in designing and delivering simulation-based learning. In addition, he has developed multiple interprofessional simulation experiences with both medicine and athletic training. His research interests include evaluating the effectiveness of simulation and virtual simulation as an educational strategy. Garrison has published and presented at national and international conferences on simulation and other nursing education topics.

Education

• PhD, Nova Southeastern University, Nursing Education
• MSN, George Mason University, Nurse Practitioner
• AAS, Northern Virginia Community College, Nursing
• BS, Penn State, Human Development

Awards and Honors

• Janet A. Williamson Excellence in Teaching Award, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. (2020 & 2021)

Teaching

Courses Taught

• NURS225: Pathophysiology
• NURS405A: Nursing Care of the Adult Client with Complex Health Problems: Part A

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

• Medical-Surgical.
• Adult/Gero Nurse Practitioner

Mentorship

Garrison, C.M. & Hockenberry, K. (2023).  Simulation Development Course for Healthcare Educators [Hybrid Professional Development Course]. Penn State Nese College of Nursing. (32.5 hours)

Research

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

My research interests include evaluating the effectiveness of simulation and virtual simulation as an educational strategy. I have published and presented at national and international conferences on simulation and other nursing education topics.

Presentations and Conference Involvement

• Garrison, C. M., Zhang, T., Simpkins, S., & Hockenberry, K. (2025, January). Integrating Robots into High-Fidelity Simulation: Impact on Team Performance [Poster Presentation]. 25th International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) 2025, Orlando, FL, United States.
• Garrison, C.M., Hockenberry, K., Cutezo E. A., & Sugiura, S. (2023, June). Building an IPE Simulation Collaboration: Lessons Learned [Podium Presentation]. Simulation Users Network, University Park, PA, United States.
• Lacroix, D.P., Samia, R., Garrison, C. M., & Roye, J. L. (2022, December). Assessing and Evaluating Competence Through the Curriculum [Webinar]. Laerdal medical, Wappingers Falls, NY, United States.
• Lacroix, D.P., Samia, R., Garrison, C. M., Roye, J. L., Rogers, M. R., Allard, P. M. (2022, January). Case study: Three schools of nursing begin the journey of assessment and evaluating competence through the curriculum [Panel presentation]. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), Los Angeles, CA, United States. https://imsh2022.org/
• Garrison, C. M. (2021, January). A Comparison of Manikin-Based High-Fidelity Simulation to Synchronous Screen-Based Virtual Simulation [Poster Presentation]. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), Virtual.
• Becker, D., Collazo, M., Garrison, C. M., & Sandahl, S. (2019, June). Finding Your Way with the INASCL Standards of Best Practice: Simulation SM [Podium Presentation] International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL) Conference, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
• Garrison, C.M., Ritter, F. E., Weyhrauch, P., Niehaus, J., Bauchwitz, B. (2019, January). A computer-based tutor to teach nursing trauma care that works as an adjunct to high fidelity simulation [Poster]. International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), San Antonio, TX, United States.

Research Funding and Grants

• (September 30, 2024 – September 29, 2025).
  Berish, D. E. (Co-Investigator), Garrison, C. M. (Co-Investigator), Pandian, V. (Principal Investigator)Grant, 5% credit. “Center for Immersive Learning and Digital Innovation: A Patient Safety Learning Lab advancing patient safety through design, systems engineering, and health services research,” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Federal Agencies.Total requested: $844,723.00. Total awarded: $428,928.00. Total anticipated: $428,928.00, Award Agreement number: HS029124.
• (September 2017-June 2021).
  Defense Health Program Virtual Intelligent Tutor for the Andragogy of Military Medicine Integrated Skills (VITAMMINS).With Charles River Analytics, prime. At PSU Ritter (PI), Garrison (Co-I), $499k.

Publications and Scholarly Work

• Garrison, C. M., Hockenberry, K., & Lacue, S. (2023). Adapting Simulation Education During a Pandemic. Nursing Clinics of North America, 58(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2022.10.008
• Feeg, V. D., Mancino, D., Vasquez-Clarfield, B., Garrison, C. M., Mahler, E., & Vance, C. (2022). A National Perspective on New Nurse Graduate Transition to Practice: Secondary Analysis of the National Student Nurses’ Association 2021 New Graduate Survey. Nursing Economic$, 40(4), 167-185.
• Garrison, C. M., Ritter, F. E., Bauchwitz, B. R., Niehaus, J., & Weyhrauch, P. W. (2021) A computer-based tutor to teach nursing trauma care that works as an adjunct to high fidelity simulation. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 39(2), 63-68. doi: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000637
• Becker, D., Collazo, M., Garrison, C. M., & Sandahl, S. S. (2020). Finding your way with the INACSL Standards of Best Practice: SimulationSM: Development of an Interactive Web-Based Guide and Roadmap. Clinical Simulation in Nursing,48, 75-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2020.08.005

Editorial and Peer Review Roles

• 2019-2021: Chair of INACSL Webinar Committee
• 2018-2021: Nurse Planner for INACSL Webinar Committee

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

MEMBERSHIPS:

• International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL)
• Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• National League for Nursing (NLN)
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Clinically-oriented Conference Presentations and Clinical Publications

• Garrison, C. M., & Hockenberry K. (2024, April). Evaluation in Simulation: Using Data for Quality Improvement and Curriculum Development [CE Webinar]. Penn State Nese College of nursing. Both live and enduring. (1 hour).
• Garrison, C.M., & Hockenberry K. (2023, November). Prebrief: Preparing Students for a Successful Simulation [CE Webinar]. Penn State Nese College of Nursing.  Both live and enduring. (1 hour).
• Garrison, C.M. & Hockenberry, K. (2023). Simulation Development Course for Healthcare Educators [Hybrid Professional Development Course]. Penn State Nese College of Nursing. (32.5 hours).
• Garrison, C. M., Lacue, S., & Hockenberry, K. (2022, November). Current Topics in Simulation [CE Webinar]. Penn State Nese College of Nursing. Both live and enduring. (1 hour).
• Garrison, C. M., Lacue, S., & Hockenberry, K. (2021, November). Debriefing to Promote Clinical Judgment: Use in Simulation, Clinical, and Classroom [CE Webinar]. Penn State College of Nursing. Both live and enduring. (1 hour).
• Garrison, C. M., Lacue, S., & Hockenberry, K. (2021, March). Implementing INACSL Standards of Best Practice SimulationSM [CE Webinar]. Penn State College of Nursing. Both live and enduring. (1.5 hours).

Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health

• Faculty mentor for study abroad experience in Galway Ireland at the University of Galway (2024).

Learn more about Interprofessional Education »

Download Garrison’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/5/2025