Member of the Month: Natasha Nurse-Clarke

The Member of the Month feature periodically highlights our amazing membership and the things they’re doing. April’s Member of the Month is Natasha Nurse-Clarke, RN, PhD, FAAN, Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing at Lehman College, City University of New York.

What kind of work do you do?

I teach nursing students in general, but I mostly teach students who are already Registered Nurses who are returning to school to get their Bachelors degree. I mainly teach asynchronously online.

Why are you a NASAGA member?

I love to learn about new and innovative ways to engage students in the learning process and the main way I like to do this is through games and simulation. I joined NASAGA because I thought it would be a good resource to help me grow in this area. 

What’s your favorite NASAGA memory?

My favorite NASGA memory is my very first conference in Montreal in 2022. I was shocked to see it was not the typical lecture style conference. It involved games and playing while also learning. The one presentation that was in a more lecture-based style was so engaging that I was feverishly writing every word I could and got so excited about implementing what I learned from the awesome presenter Marie Jo Leroux. Then every night there was a fun game night! In fact, there was also a scavenger hunt/ night out on the town which was an amazing combination of site seeing, networking and game playing. I had a great time and really felt that I had “found my people”.  I found myself leaving feeling energized and looking forward to the next conference. 

NASAGA’s theme for the 2024 Conference is "Fair Play.” What does "Fair Play" look like in your professional practice, and what do you do to promote it?

In my professional practice as a nurse educator, 'Fair Play' embodies creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment where all students have equal opportunities to succeed. Not all students can excel with traditional teaching strategies.  I promote 'Fair Play' by implementing gamification techniques that ensure engagement and participation from all learners, regardless of their background or abilities. This includes designing activities and assessments that cater to diverse learning styles, providing clear guidelines and expectations, and fostering a culture of collaboration and respect among students. I have found that students are more responsive to game-based learning and are appreciative of the diverse options they have for learning. I also provide instructions in a variety of formats such as written and video.