Janet O'Brien
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Phone: 602-496-1415
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500 N. 3rd. St. Room 314 Arizona State University PHOENIX, AZ 85004-0697
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Mail code: 3020Campus: Dtphx
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Janet O'Brien is a Clinical Professor in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. She coordinates the standardized patient clinical exams and teaches DNP 679, Biostatistics: Principles of Statistical Inference, for the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs. She has also coordinated and taught in the the Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation program, as well as the Health Care Innovation Bachelor and Masters programs. She is a dissertation co-chair and committee member for PhD students and a thesis director for Barrett Honors students. Prof. O'Brien's research interests include competency assessment using simulation and reliability and validity testing in the design of simulation scenarios and measurement instruments. She is a member of the Edson College Standards Committee, the Research & Statistics editorial board member for The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, a member of the Spunt Grant Review Committee for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL), and past Chair for the Scholarship Committee for the Arizona League for Nursing.
2014 PhD - Arizona State University, AZ
- Measurement, Statistics, and Methodological Studies in Educational Psychology
Other Education:
MA - Arizona State University, AZ
- Measurement, Statistics, and Methodological Studies in Educational Psychology
MEd - Arizona State University, AZ
- Curriculum Development in Secondary Education
BA - Pennsylvania State University, PA
- Geography
ADN - GateWay Community College, AZ
Prof. O’Brien’s research interests include competency assessment using simulation and reliability and validity testing in the design of simulation scenarios and measurement instruments.
O’Brien, J.E., Thrall, C.A., & Sebbens, D. (2021, November 23). Overcoming COVID-19 challenges: Using remote and hybrid simulation designs in DNP programs. Academic Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000004534
Green, E.P. Peterson, K.S., Markiewicz, K., O'Brien, J., & Arring, N. (2020). Cautionary study on the effects of pay for performance on quality of care: A pilot randomized controlled trial using standardized patients. BMJ Quality & Safety. Advanced online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010260
O’Brien, J.E., Thompson, M.S., & Hagler, D. (2019). Using generalizability theory to inform optimal design for a nursing performance assessment. Evaluation & the Health Professions. Advance online publication October 11, 2017. doi: 10.1177/0163278717735565
O’Brien, J., Hagler, D., & Thompson, M. (2015, November). Designing simulation scenarios to support performance assessment validity. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 46(1), 492-498. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20151020-01
Mary Killeen Investment Funding for "Breaking Bad News - Developing Communication Skills in Health Care Practitioners - Learn, Practice, Engage." Co-Leads: Janet O'Brien and Erin Tharalson, 2023 - 2024.
Association of SP Educators Research Grant, Co-PIs: Janet O’Brien and Erin Tharalson, "Developing Self-Efficacy in Breaking Bad News through a Nurse Practitioner Student Simulation-Based Workshop," 2022 – 2024.
ASU-Mayo Seed Grant, PI: Ellen Green, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Co-Investigator: Janet O’Brien, "Using Behavioral Economics to Transform US Health Care Delivery and Disease Management," 2016 – 2017.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NUR 493 | Honors Thesis |
| NUR 799 | Dissertation |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| DNP 679 | BiostatPrincipleStatsInference |
| NUR 799 | Dissertation |
| NUR 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| NUR 690 | Reading and Conference |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HCS 593 | Applied Project |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HCS 502 | HC Sim Ed Assess Debrief |
2020 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HCI 311 | Health Innovation: Found Conc |
| HCI 311 | Health Innovation: Found Conc |
| HCI 428 | Technology: Health Care Innov |
| HCI 428 | Technology: Health Care Innov |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HCI 311 | Health Innovation: Found Conc |
| HCI 311 | Health Innovation: Found Conc |
| HCI 425 | Facilitating Innovation |
| HCI 425 | Facilitating Innovation |
Invited Speaker Presentations and Papers:
O’Brien, J. (2023, April 21). Achieving excellence in simulation for health professions education [Invited Keynote Speaker and Workshop Organizer]. 2023 Simulation Summit – Fundamentals of Simulation-based Education, City University of New York, Virtual Conference.
O’Brien, J., Thrall, C., & Sebbens, D. (2021, July 12-15). Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges: Using remote and hybrid simulation designs in DNP programs [Commissioned case study]. Macy Foundation’s “COVID-19 and the Impact on Medical and Nursing Education” conference, virtual.
O’Brien, J. (2014, October). Developing simulation scenarios in healthcare: Design and validation [Invited Keynote Speaker]. 4th Annual Arizona Simulation Network Conference, Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale, AZ.
Recent National/International Peer-Reviewed Presentations and Posters:
O’Brien, J., & Tharalson, E. (2023, June 4-7). ASPE research & project award: Developing self-efficacy in breaking bad news through a nurse practitioner student simulation-based workshop – June 2023 update. [Conference session]. Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon.
Tharalson, E., & O’Brien, J. (2023, April 26-30). Developing curriculum and self-efficacy in breaking bad news: A novel simulation-based workshop for nurse practitioner students [Conference session]. Accepted proposal for 2023 Annual National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Conference, Orlando, Florida.
O’Brien, J., & Tharalson, E. (2023, Jan. 24). Preparing healthcare practitioners in the skillful art of breaking bad news – A simulation-based workshop [Conference session]. 2023 Annual International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) Conference in Orlando, Florida.
O’Brien, J., & Tharalson, E. (2022, June 28). ASPE research & project award: Developing self-efficacy in breaking bad news through a nurse practitioner student simulation-based workshop [Conference session]. Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Tharalson, E. & O’Brien, J. (2021, Sept.23-25). Breaking bad news: A simulation-based pilot for nurse practitioner students [Conference session]. National League for Nursing Education Summit, Washington, D.C.
*O’Brien, J., Kiesling, H., & Benn, A. (2019, June 22). Mentoring students and developing future nursing simulation educators [Poster presentation]. International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL) Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
*O’Brien, J., Benn, A., & Kiesling, H. (2019, June 11). Facilitating student leadership in simulation: A new twist [Innovation & discussion snapshot session]. Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
O’Brien, J., Hagler, D., & Thompson, M. (2016, October) Generating evidence for regulatory policy decisions [Poster session]. American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Conference, Washington, D.C.
O’Brien, J., Hagler, D., & Thompson, M. (2014, September). A validation protocol for nursing simulation scenario development [Concurrent Session]. 2014 National League for Nursing (NLN) Education Summit, Phoenix, AZ.
2014 Nominated for Nurse of the Year, March of Dimes
2016 – present / National League for Nursing
2016 – present / Arizona League for Nursing
• Chair, Scholarship Committee (2017 – 2021)
2014 - present / Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) and 2005 – 2006
• Reviewer of presentations for annual conference (January, 2015)
2013 - present / Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
2012 - present / The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)
2011 - present / International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL)
* Spunt Grant Review Committee Member (2017 - present)
2011 - present / Arizona Simulation Network (AZSimNet)
• Research Committee Co-Chair (2014 – 2016)
2005 - present / American Educational Research Association (AERA)
2005 - present / National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME)
2017 – 2024 / American Nurses Association and Arizona Nurses Association
Full-time Positions at ASU
2011 – Present Arizona State University, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Phoenix, Arizona
2021 - Present Clinical Professor
2014 – Present Coordinator, Standardized Patient Programs
2020 – 2024 Coordinator, M.S. in Health Care Simulation
2015 – 2021 Clinical Associate Professor
2018 – 2019 Curriculum Lead, B.S. and B.A.S. in Health Entrepreneurship & Innovation
2017 – 2018 Coordinator, B.S. and B.A.S. in Health Entrepreneurship & Innovation
2011 – 2015 Simulation and Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Member, Edson College Standards Committee, 2023 - present
- PhD Dissertation Co-Chair, Edson College, 2023 - present
- PhD Dissertation Committee Member, Edson College, 2021 - present
- Invited Research and Statistical Consultant Board Member, Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 2019 - present
- Invited Peer Reviewer, Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 2019 - present
- Chair, Barrett Honors Student Thesis Committees, 2018 - present
- Grant Reviewer, Research Grant Committee, International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), 2017 - present
- Member, Barrett Honors Student Thesis Committee, 2016 - present
- Member, Simulation Steering Committee and Simulation Space Planning Committee, 2014 - present
- Arizona Simulation Network (AZSimNet), Member 2011 - 2021; 2022 - present
- * Research Committee Co-Chair, 2014 – 2016
- Faculty Presenter for Innovation Projects, ASU 101 classes, 2019 - 2022
- Chair, Scholarship Committee, Arizona League for Nursing, 2017 – 2021
- RN Faculty Volunteer - COVID-19 testing and vaccination administration, 2020 - 2021
- Edson College Ombudsperson, 2019 - 2021
- Nominated Member, University Undergraduate Standards Committee, 2017 - 2021
- Invited Member, Arizona State Board of Nursing Advisory Opinion Task Force for Simulation in Pre-Licensure Programs, 2019 - 2020
- Graduate Scholarship Committee and Chair, CONHI, 2016 - 2019
- Invited Peer Reviewer, Innovations in Pharmacy, 2019
- Invited Peer Reviewer, Evaluation & the Health Professions, 2017
- Faculty Preceptor, SHOW Clinic, Student Health Outreach for Wellness – a community health initiative and free clinic coordinated by students from ASU, UofA, NAU, 2016 – 2017
- Mentor, CONHI Health Initiatives, student club for non-clinical health careers majors, 2017
- Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE), reviewer of presentations for annual conference (January, 2015)