Advancing Nursing Education Through Simulation

Like many students, Iris Appenrodt came to Florida by way of Disney. Born in Germany, she came to the United States in 2000 to participate in the Walt Disney World International College Program, where she connected with people from around the world and strengthened her English skills. While in the U.S., she discovered new academic opportunities that encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

Appenrodt earned her associate degree from Valencia College in 2012 and transferred to UCF through DirectConnect. She completed her bachelor’s in nursing at UCF and went on to earn her Nursing MSN in the Nurse Educator Track.

While completing her graduate degree, Appenrodt worked full-time as a registered nurse in an emergency department. Her busy schedule helped her develop strong time management skills, and she valued the flexibility of her primarily online program. She encourages future students to stay focused, maintain balance, and remember that their hard work will pay off.

During her time at UCF, Appenrodt was recognized for her leadership and service, including her involvement in the College of Nursing Student Nurses Association. She was also selected as a speaker at a donor recognition luncheon and received the Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Service Award in 2017.

She served as a course instructor for the Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum at the National SimLEARN Center in Orlando, where she also completed her final internship. Today, Appenrodt works as a National Simulation Nurse Faculty member at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, combining her passions for emergency medicine, simulation, and education.

• Worked full-time as a registered nurse in an emergency department
• 2017 Sigma Theta Tau Excellence in Service Award
• Course instructor for the Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum at the National SimLEARN Center in Orlando