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Faculty & Staff

Heather MacLean, MN, RN, CHSE®, CCSNE, CCNE


Academic title: Associate Professor

Contact information

Office: Y366
Email: hmaclean@mtroyal.ca
Phone: 403.440.8627

 

Education

MN University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
BN Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS 


Heather is an Associate Professor at Mount Royal University’s - teaching in the Bachelor of Nursing Program with a focus on foundational nursing knowledge and transition to nursing practice. Heather also has more than 15 years’ experience teaching in simulation. As an ongoing member of INACSL, she has been involved in several international subcommittees; mentoring international members, the INACSL Standards Advisory committee, INASCL Education Committee and most recently the HSSOBP® Prebriefing Standard Committee. Heather has completed several simulation-based professional development courses in simulation including the Comprehensive Instructor Workshop from the Center for Medical Simulation-Institute for Medical Simulation (Harvard), TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer Course and holds certification as a Certified Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE)(CHSE®) and is a Canadian Certified Nurse Educator (CCNE). Heather’s research centers on simulation methods that enhance student learning and improve best practices in simulation. Heather maintains currency in practice as a cardiac nurse in the acute care setting.

Areas of Instruction
  • Bachelor of Nursing Program - foundational knowledge and transition into nursing practice
  • Fundamentals in Nursing - 1st year
  • Adult Health 
  • Transition to Practice - 4th year
  • Simulation 
Areas of Scholarship
  • Simulation supporting student learning and safe patient care
  • Simulation - Learner Experience
  • Simulation - Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice
  • Simulation - Tag Team in Classroom setting

Teaching Pattern

Teaching-Scholarship-Service


Selected Publications

INACSL Standards Committee, Persico, L., Ramakrishnan, S., Wilson-Keates, B., Catena, R. Charnetski, M., Fogg, N. Jones, M. C., Ludlow, J. MacLean, H. et al. (2025). Healthcare Simulation Standard of Best Practice® Prebriefing: Preparation and Briefing. Clinical Simulation In Nursing, 105.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2025.101777

Persico, L., Ramakrishnan, S., Wilson-Keates, B., Jones, M., MacLean, H... Wilks, A.(2025). Examining the impact of healthcare simulation standards of best practice: Prebriefing and briefing standard on simulation effectiveness: A systematic review Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2025.101717

Catena, R. & MacLean, H. (2025). Speaking up for patient safety: Bringing simulation to the classroom. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2025.02.023

Harvey, G., MacLean, H. M., El-Hussein, M. T., Zettel, S. A., & Benacchio, D. (2024). Developing Formative Strategies to Support Undergraduate Nursing Student’s Learning in the Lab. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(8), 560-563.

Persico, L., Ramakrishnan, S., Catena, R., Charnetski, M., Fogg, N., Jones, M., … Wilson Keates, B. (2024). The Impact of Prebriefing on Simulation Learning Outcomes - A Systematic Review Protocol. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 1–4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2023.101507

Catena, R. & MacLean, H. (2023). Contextualizing Learning in a Resuscitation Simulation Experience: A Supportive Approach to Simulation for Novice Learners. Quality Advancement in Nursing Education-Avancées en formation infirmière, 9(2), 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17483/2368-6669.1401

Harvey, G., MacLean, H. M., & Catena, R. (2021). Using Tag Team Simulation for Ethics Education in Undergraduate Nursing Students Author links open overlay panel. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 1–4.

MacLean, H. M., Janzen, K., & Angus, S. (2019). Lived experience in simulation: Student's learning perspectives from two lenses. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 31, 1–8.

Janzen, K., Jeske, S., MacLean, H. M., Harvey, G., Nickle, P., Norenna, L., … McLellan, H. (2016). Handling Strong Emotions Before, During, and After Simulated Clinical Experiences. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 12, 37–43.


Selected Presentations

Wilson- Keates, B., Catena, R., & MacLean, H. (June 17-19) Building Better Collaboration: A Workshop to Improve Interprofessional Simulation Prebriefing. Sesam Conference, Lyon France (Workshop)

Persico. L., Wilson-Keates., Catena, R., & MacLean, H. (Jan 2026) Healthy Simulation CE Webinars: Advancing Healthcare Simulation Prebriefing Practice: Insights and Implementation Tools

Wilson-Keates, B., Catena, R., & MacLean, H (Aug 2025) Cornerstones of Best Practice Webinar Series: Prebriefing – INACSL 2025

Catena, R., MacLean, H, and Wilson-Keates, B. (Nov. 2025). Improving Your Prebrief: Integrating Updated Evidence from HSSOBP® Systematic Review. Simulation Canada, Sim Expo 2025 Conference. (Workshop).

Catena, R., & MacLean, H. M. (2025). Shared Visions: The Role of Simulation in Communication and Interprofessional Healthcare Teams‘: Key Note Speaker. Blended Intensive Program (BIP): Interprofessional Simulation for Future Education in Health Care Professions, Vienna,Austria

BIP Conference 2 Day Workshop; Catena, R., & MacLean, H. (2025). Prebriefing and Debriefing Workshops. BIP Blended Intensive Program: Interprofessional Simulation for Future Education for Healthcare Professions. - (2 day) offered for faculty from Slovenia, Portugal, Austria, Belgium and Finland

Conference Workshop INACSL (2024) MacLean, H. M., Catena, R., Persico, L., & Wilson Keates, B. (Fall 2024). HSSOBP® Session 1: The Core Four Standards for Novice Simulationists: Focusing on Prebriefing: Preparation and Briefing, Facilitation, The Debriefing Process, and Professional Integrity. Raleigh NC USA Role: Co author and presenter at 90 minute workshop

Persico, L., MacLean, H. & Catena, R. (2024). Building a Professional Development Plan for the Clinical Simulation Facilitator. International Webinare: Healthy Simulation. https://www.healthysimulation.com/webinars/clinical-simulation-facilitator-professional-development/

Persico, L, MacLean, H. M., Catena, R., Wilson-Keates, B., Dunning, L., & Xavie, N. (2024). Application of the Healthcare Simulation Standards to Achieve Psychological Safety. International Webinar: Healthy Simulation. https://www.healthysimulation.com/webinars/healthcare-simulation-standards-psychological-safety/

Conference Podium Presentation INACSL (2023) Providence, RI. Kurji, Z., MacLean, H. M., & Wilson-Keates, B. Uncovering Digital Inequity in Virtual Simulation.

CCCN Conference (2023) Poster Presentation: MacLean, H. M., de Mello, K., Angus, S., Smawley, S., Salcedo, D., & Wiens, K. (2023). Empowering Patients and Families Living with Heart Failure: An Educational Video Series. Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses (CCCN).

Conference Podium Presentation 8th NETNEP (2022). Catena, R., & MacLean, H. M. (2022). Speaking Up for Success: A pilot project supporting nursing students with communication skills for patient safety.

Conference Presentation INACSL (2022). Kurji, Z., MacLean, H. & Wilson-Keates, B. Our Journey to Innovation: Virtual Reality Simulation in Pakistan

Harvey, G., MacLean, H., & Catena, R. (2020).Bringing ethics to life: Implementing tag team simulation in undergraduate nursing education CASN May 2020

Catena, R & MacLean, H. (2018).Does Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Support Student Learning during a cardiopulmonary high fidelity simulation? INACSL (Toronto, ON) Blue Ribbon Award for Education Category

MacLean, H., Janzen, K.J., & Angus, S. (2017).How do students experience learning in simulation: Giving voice to students from two perspectives. WNRCASN Edmonton, AB.Feb 2017

MacLean, H & Janzen, K.J. (2016) When the debrief time runs out: Mitigating psychological harm in SCEs. WNRCASN, Saskatoon, SK 2016

MacLean, H., & Jeske, S. (2015).Challenging Assumptions about the Simulation Prebrief: Establishing Learner Readiness for "Onsite" Clinical Learning, INACSL Atlanta, Georgia USA

Relevant Community Service
  • Heart Failure Committee AHS; Creating Patient Education Videos for patients and families with heart failure
  • The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice Advisory Council (HSSOBP). Member of the HSSOBP Advisory Council Committee, providing expertise and support in the review of the Four Core Simulation Standards™.
  • The Internationa Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) HSSOBP® Prebriefing Standard Committee, completing a systematic review of the literature and publishing the updated Standard for best practice; Prebriefing: Preparation & Briefing
  •  The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), Education Committee. The Education Committee provides expertise in simulation-based education that is aimed at offering opportunities to support INACSL members and others in the simulation community with various educational initiatives.
  • The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), Education Sub-Committee, Best Practices in Simulation Subcommittee. A committee member and presenter. The focus is on delivering educational content and developing workshops that help healthcare simulation professionals implement the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice®.
  • The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Mentorship for International Members Committee; supporting international members with research design and abstract submissions for conferences