15 Expert Tips for Integrating AI with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™
Introduction: Why AI matters for the future of simulation
If you work in healthcare simulation, you’re likely experiencing how technologies are rapidly changing the way you prepare your learners for practice. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now an important tool for simulation programs that seek to improve efficiency, realism, and scalability while maintaining educational quality.
When AI is intentionally aligned with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™, it becomes a valuable resource that strengthens simulation programs and supports educators in meeting growing demands. By offloading repetitive tasks, AI allows educators to dedicate more attention to critical teaching moments, reflective learning, and learner engagement.
Simulation programs are being asked to deliver more with fewer resources, as Jennifer Roye, EdD, MSN, RN, CHSE-A, CNE, PNAP, explained during a recent Simulation User Network (SUN) session.
"We are being asked to do more with less. We want to increase realism and fidelity, but we need some help. That’s where AI can reduce our burden and really increase our efficiency. As an instructor, facilitator, or educator, AI can really give some good tools to help you do your job."
Rather than treating AI as a standalone solution, Dr. Roye emphasized that it should be implemented within a trusted structure.
“The Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice give us a nice framework, a nice ‘skeleton’ to integrate AI for high-quality simulation,” she explained.
This article presents 15 expert tips drawn directly from her session. These tips explore how AI can enhance simulation design, facilitation, debriefing, and operations while remaining grounded in standards and professional integrity.
Before we begin: the common theme
Before diving into the tips, read this one principle that applies to every example Dr. Roye shared:
“Everything that we’re saying about AI still has to have that human touch. AI should be used as an augmentation—not a substitute.”
Simulation design tips
- Support needs assessment.
“You can use AI to create a needs assessment for pretty much anything,” she said. Upload learner data (as long as your data is de-identified or behind your organization’s firewall) to look for program gaps. Or use AI to analyze your current simulation activities to see where you’re short on simulation. - Write learning objectives.
AI can help draft measurable objectives when you provide frameworks such as Bloom’s taxonomy. - Choose the right modality.
Ask AI to help you decide whether your learning goals are best supported by a manikin-based scenario, standardized patient, or other modality. - Create multiple versions of a scenario for different learner levels.
AI can generate multiple versions of a scenario to match different learner levels. - Tap into the AI expertise of simulationist Dr. Liz Robison.
“You need to follow Dr. Liz Robison on LinkedIn if you’re interested in AI at all,” Dr. Roye advised. “She’s a good read. She is the chair of the new AI Special Interest Group in INACSL.”
Facilitation tips
- Create learner-matched facilitation.
If you have a scenario that students aren’t doing well on, run it through AI and ask if it’s appropriate for a Junior 1 level, for example. “If there’s a full arrest that doesn’t survive, I’m not sure that’s appropriate for a Junior 1 student,” she said. “But AI can help you discern that.” - Create prebriefings.
If you have a prebriefing standard that you would like AI to meet, upload a template and ask AI to create a prebriefing for a scenario using your template. - Create planned, responsive cuing.
Ask AI for a scenario that cues students when they do something. For example:
“Failure to rescue is a big gap that our students struggle with,” she shared. “So developing cues that focus in on that failure-to-rescue is one thing that you can use an AI scenario creator for.” - Support real-time learner feedback.
Get scenario-specific learner feedback based on inputted performance data (e.g.,
“The learner failed to identify sepsis within the golden hour; provide feedback focused on early recognition cues.”)
Debriefing tips
- Keep debriefing human-centered.
AI should support reflective dialogue, not replace human-facilitated debriefing. Debriefing remains a human-centered process. - Use AI to generate debriefing questions aligned to objectives.
AI can generate targeted reflection questions tailored to scenario objectives and outcomes. - Create psychologically safe reflection questions.
Ask AI: “Is there anything in this debriefing that might cause some learners not to feel psychologically safe?”
Operations tips
- Make strategic planning easier.
Analyze stakeholder feedback and program data to inform strategic planning. Upload documents like your SSH simulation activities worksheet, QI process, setup sheets, and simulation templates and say, “Based on this information, what should my priorities be next year? How many manikins do I need to buy?” - Draft policies and procedures with AI, then review them.
Upload templates, generate drafts, and be sure to review everything for accuracy before use. - Schedule your learners.
Take the learner list (de-identified) and your simulation center schedule, upload them to AI to make a schedule. Then add learner names back in.
“It’s beautiful for scheduling if you have a lot going on,” she said.
An important note on using AI intentionally in simulation
AI is already here, but Dr. Roye was clear that how you use it matters more than whether you use it at all. As she told the SUN audience:
“Don’t just use it because it’s cool!” she advised. “It is cool…but don’t just use it because it’s cool.”
Instead, she urged educators to slow down and stay grounded in purpose, standards, and accountability.
AI, she emphasized, should be used as “an enhancement or an augmentation to our educator capabilities,” not something you become dependent on.
That means protecting data privacy, avoiding overreliance, and making sure AI stays aligned with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice. When that alignment is lost, she warned: “We need to step back and look at what we’re doing.”
Key takeaway
Dr. Roye closed her session with a statement that captures the intent behind every example she shared:
"The future of simulation is not artificial intelligence alone. It is human expertise enhanced by intelligent tools."
Jennifer Roye, EdD, MSN, RN, CHSE-A, CNE, PNAP
Assistant Dean for Simulation and Technology and Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation
FAQ: Integrating AI into healthcare simulation
How should AI be integrated into healthcare simulation programs?
AI should be aligned with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™ and used to augment—not replace—educators. AI can assist with tasks such as scenario creation, needs assessment, and operations while educators maintain oversight.
What are some effective AI applications for simulation design?
AI can create learning objectives using Bloom’s taxonomy, produce multiple scenario variations for different learner levels and more.
Can AI support debriefing without removing the human element?
Yes. As Dr. Jennifer Roye said: “AI is kind of like a co-debriefer.” AI can suggest reflective questions and identify psychological safety issues while ensuring human facilitation remains central.
What operational tasks can AI improve?
AI can support strategic planning by analyzing program data, drafting policies and procedures, and managing complex scheduling to reduce administrative workload.
