Beth Fentress Hallmark, PhD, RN, MSN, CHSE
By Erin Flynn Jay
Beth Fentress Hallmark decided to pursue the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE™) credential because it sets her apart as an expert in simulation education.
“It has enhanced my career by recognizing me as a leader and demonstrates my knowledge of the standards set by the professional organization [Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSIH)],” she explained.
Hallmark serves as Director of Simulation at Belmont University’s College of Health Sciences & Nursing in Nashville, TN, which encompasses programs in nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work, public health, and pharmacy. A CHSE™ for two years, she chose certification to formally demonstrate her expertise in simulation to her university.
Preparing for Certification
Hallmark admitted that the exam was challenging, even for someone with over a decade of simulation education experience.
“My experience was definitely a bonus, but SSIH publishes a list of articles to read, there are published books regarding the exam, and I took a course offered by SSIH to prepare. There’s a lot to do aside from just having experience.”
Her best strategy was focusing on areas outside her daily work. Because she works in an academic environment, she devoted time to reviewing medical-side content such as just-in-time training for CPR, dressing changes, and code management. She also revisited the theoretical foundations of simulation education from scholars like Dewey and Kolb.
She feels her disciplined preparation paid off—she passed on her first attempt with no regrets.
Looking Ahead: CHSE-A
The Society for Simulation in Healthcare offers two levels of certification: the CHSE™ and the advanced CHSE-A™, which is portfolio-based. Hallmark is currently preparing for the advanced level.
She recently completed a teaching video with new faculty and is working on written reflections to complete her submission.
A Day in the Life
Much of Hallmark’s work is administrative. A typical day includes:
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Checking in with her team to ensure labs are running smoothly
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Educating faculty about simulation standards for accreditation
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Refining policies and procedures
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Managing finances, ordering, and equipment repair
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Working with both students and faculty in the simulation lab
Her favorite part of being a CHSE™ is helping faculty implement simulation using INACSL (International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning) standards, particularly teaching them to use effective debriefing language that allows students to reflect deeply on their learning.
Impact on Students
Hallmark believes she supports students best by providing state-of-the-art simulation labs and educating faculty in simulation pedagogy. Her program features five mannequin labs and a live-actor lab, where trained actors role-play as family members at the patient’s bedside.
Recently, she coordinated an interprofessional simulation on ethics and end-of-life care that brought together nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and social work students.
One of her most rewarding moments came when a student emailed her after assisting someone who had a seizure at a festival:
“She told us it was because of her simulation experience that she knew what to do. That is so rewarding!”
Lessons Learned and Advice
Reflecting on her teaching career, Hallmark wishes she had realized earlier that students don’t need to “know everything.”
“I am a pediatric nurse and I wanted students to know everything that I did. Now I want them to understand core concepts like patient safety and how to apply them across the lifespan.”
She believes the essential skills for success as a CHSE™ are vision, attention to detail, and a willingness to continually expand expertise.
Her advice to aspiring CHSEs is clear:
“Work in the field for a couple of years and spend as much time learning as you can—read the literature, attend conferences, and immerse yourself in the profession.”
Dedication to Simulation Education
Beth Fentress Hallmark embodies the mission of simulation education: preparing healthcare professionals not only with knowledge but with the confidence and competence to act when it matters most.
Through her leadership, Belmont University students are gaining transformative experiences that prepare them for real-world clinical challenges.
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