To make the nearly 8,000-mile trip to New Orleans for Emergency Nursing 2025, ED nurses from the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority did everything they could to ensure they could attend the premier event dedicated to emergency nurses.
They fundraised and secured scholarship dollars to get here and appear poised to soak in the full experience — including entering two teams in this year’s SIM Wars competition, which takes place in the Experience Hall over two days.
SIM Wars pits teams of four against one another in simulated high-stakes scenarios.
“We have never done SIM Wars. A large group of us is coming, so we had to separate in two groups,” said Pascale Bartlett, who signed up the Flip Flop Responders and Hafa Adai teams in late May.
It’s a good thing the Guam squads got on board as early as they did. The popularity of SIM Wars — now in its eighth year as part of ENA’s annual conference — has grown so strong that some teams were wait-listed.
Considered a true test of ED nursing skills, SIM Wars pits teams of four against one another in simulated high-stakes scenarios. The excitement of these fast-paced matchups is heightened by the clinical prowess of the clinicians trying to outperform their peers.
Battle Ready
According to ENA Senior Manager of Learning Experiences Ashley Grady, the combination of teams battling it out while putting their skills on display — and picking up knowledge and skills along the way — has made SIM Wars a can’t-miss opportunity for attendees.
“The heart of SIM Wars has always been about more than competition — it’s about creating a dynamic learning experience where teamwork, critical thinking and clinical judgment come to life under pressure,” Grady explained. “This year, all 16 team slots filled faster than ever before, a clear sign of the excitement and energy building around the event. If that’s any indication of what’s to come, you’re in for a competition you definitely won’t want to miss.”
Early round matchups begin Thursday in the Experience Hall, with the championship contest scheduled for Friday morning. A new champion will be crowned this year, as the 2024 titleholders are not in the running for a repeat this year.
Attendees can check out all the SIM Wars action firsthand and then be there when the 2025 champion is revealed during Saturday’s “Impact: An ENA Celebration” to close out Emergency Nursing 2025.