Apply for the Sentinel U®
Nursing Simulation Research Grant
(SUNSRG V)

 

Make Your Mark on Simulation Education!

 

SentinelU-SUNSRG-III-Nurse-VectorSentinel U® will award a limited number of in-kind research grants (product access only) to support the evaluation of our simulation products. Selected proposals will be granted free access to the Advanced Practice Series: Client Encounters™ and expected to implement the simulation, collect outcomes, and disseminate results in a scholarly format. Projects should commence no later than Spring 2026.

This year’s RFP seeks proposals that investigate the educational value, learner outcomes, and implementation of Sentinel U’s® Advanced Practice Series: Client Encounters™ in graduate-level nursing education. This includes Family, Adult-Gero, and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner programs. We welcome inquiries into competency-based education, clinical reasoning, virtual patient encounters, and advanced practice preparation.

Submit your proposal below, and if yours is selected, Dr. Laura Gonzalez will personally mentor you in producing research that will contribute to nursing science and education – and may even be eligible for publication!

 

Watch the Sentinel U® Nursing Simulation Research Grant (SUNSRG V 2026) Overview Webinar Recording

Why Apply?

For Your Program:

  • Strengthen simulation-based curricula for APRN learners
  • Engage in a faculty-driven research initiative with publication potential
  • Receive mentorship and editorial support for emerging researchers

For Sentinel U®:

  • Promote evidence-based product validation
  • Support research dissemination in the simulation and nursing education literature
  • Foster a national community of simulation scholars


About Laura Gonzalez

Ph.D., APRN, CNE, CHSE- A, ANEF, FAAN, Vice President, Healthcare Innovations

SentinelU-Laura-Gonzalez-HeadshotDr. Gonzalez is an internationally recognized simulation expert. She is one of 76 advanced certified healthcare simulation educators (CHSE-A) globally. In the fall of 2020, she was recognized by the prestigious American Academy of Nurses as a Fellow (FAAN). She is a past President of INACSL. She is also a fellow of the Academy of Nurse Educators (ANEF). Her professional nursing and academic career focus is on advancing the science of nursing education through the use of simulation and its impact on learner outcomes. She has a very specific body of work that has resulted in over 20 data-based manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and one clinical skills textbook. She was Co-PI on a large interprofessional grant through the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her team was able to demonstrate that learners were more engaged and had a higher sense of urgency when interacting with the augmented virtual reality simulator. Her article on deliberate practice reached a readership milestone. She is one of several scientists to have two patents: Detecting Sterile Field Events and Related Methods and Virtual Patients. Lastly, she is a seasoned nurse educator with experience teaching across the curriculum to including live, hybrid, online, and synchronous delivery methods.

The Details

Who is eligible to apply?

Open to all accredited nursing programs (MSN, DNP, or post-master's certificate). Preference will be given to proposals that:

  • Integrate the APRN Essentials or NONPF Core Competencies
  • Demonstrate an innovative application of simulation
  • Commit to dissemination via poster, podium, or peer-reviewed manuscript

How will the recipients be selected?

  • A review committee of simulation education experts will use this research rubric to score the proposals.


How many will be selected?

  • At least 5 proposals will be selected.

What are some examples of research proposal ideas?

  1. Do virtual simulations increase clinical decision-making and diagnostic reasoning?
  2. Do virtual simulations improve patient management?
  3. Do virtual simulations prepare learners for clinical placement?
  4. Are virtual simulations perceived as an authentic encounter?

When will the recipients be notified?

  • Recipients will be notified the week of October 14, 2025.

What are the proposal requirements?

  1. Background & Significance (250 words)
    Briefly describe the problem or gap addressed by your study.
  2. Study Aims or Hypothesis (100 words)
    Clearly define the purpose and expected impact.
  3. Theoretical or Conceptual Framework (250 words)
    Identify the underpinning framework guiding your design.
  4. Methods (250-400 words)
    Include design, participants, setting, instruments, and data analysis plan.
  5. Current References (within past 5 years)
  6. Timeline
    Provide a realistic timeline, assuming a Spring 2026 start.
  7. Institutional Letter of Support
    From a Dean, Director, or Department Chair.
  8. IRB Status
    Submission to your IRB is required. Approval not needed at the time of application.

What is the deadline to submit a proposal?

  • All proposals will be due by 11:59 p.m. EST on September 30, 2025.


IRB should be submitted by the host institution; approval is not required for submission.

 

Watch the SUNSRG V Informational Webinar

Review and Selection

Proposals will be evaluated by an internal review committee using a standardized research scoring rubric. Final selections will prioritize scholarly rigor, feasibility, and alignment with APRN education.

 

Train Your Learners with The Best Practice℠


From the minds of top nurses and educators, Sentinel U® immerses your learners in multiple critical thinking scenarios that mirror what’s happening in healthcare today. A full portfolio of healthcare simulations – including one-of-a-kind collections of virtual simulations focused on various course and content areas – provide several powerful ways to enhance your curriculum or workforce development.