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Desiree A. Diaz, Ph.D., speaking at the W.F. “Tex” and Pauline Curry Rankin

Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences hosted Desiree A. Diaz, Ph.D., FNP-BC, CNE, CHSE-A, ANEF, FAAN as part of the W.F. “Tex” and Pauline Curry Rankin Lectureship in Nursing. The Rankin Lectureship was established in 1998 to bring to campus interdisciplinary health care leaders and to advance the impact of nursing on campus and in the local community. During her time on campus in early February, Dr. Diaz presented three lectures to student, faculty and community audiences.

Attendees of the W.F. “Tex” and Pauline Curry Rankin Lectureship

Dr. Diaz talked to nursing students about psychological safety, reflective practice and how nurses engage strategically to create an environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their stories honestly.

“Reflective practice and communication intersect with the way nurses assess individual patients and families and provide teaching,” said Ashley Franklin, Ph.D., RN, CNE, CHSE-A, the W.F. “Tex” and Pauline Curry Rankin Professor of Nursing.

Psychological safety is the belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up about ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes. Reflective practice demands a conscious effort to examine bias surrounding beliefs and values. This approach enables nurses to learn from experiences and translate learning to improve patient care outcomes. Reflective practice is a core element of TCU Nursing’s clinical and simulation curriculum.

Attendees of the W.F. “Tex” and Pauline Curry Rankin Professor of Nursing

Dr. Diaz helped nursing students, faculty and community members think about strategies to be more curious about patients, their families and the communities they provide care for. She helped unpack psychological safety concepts that underpin leadership, learning and organizational culture in academic and practice settings, and far beyond the nursing discipline.

Her research focuses on combining cutting-edge simulation technology with empathy to foster cultural curiosity and improve care for underserved patient populations, including the incarcerated, English language learners and the LGBTQ+ community.

Desiree A. Diaz, Ph.D., headshot

Dr. Diaz earned her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Connecticut and completed post-doctorate training at Johns Hopkins University, where she focused on simulation pedagogy and other innovative technologies. She is an associate professor and the undergraduate simulation coordinator at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Dr. Diaz is the president-elect of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning and a Fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy.