Robert is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mount Royal University, and also continues to maintain practice in pediatric nursing. This academic and clinical expertise informs his scholarly and pedagogical interests in nursing education and simulation-based education. Robert is actively involved in simulation at Mount Royal University, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine and the KidSIM Program, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Calgary. He is recognized for his expertise in simulation-based education and contributes to advancing simulation practice through mentorship of facilitators and simulationists, teaching foundational simulation courses, and delivering faculty development workshops. Robert engages in scholarship and research activities supporting healthcare professionals and students in developing clinical judgment, communication, teamwork, and patient safety competencies. Robert has completed the Simulation Comprehensive Instructor Course at the Centre for Medical Simulation and the KidSIM Fellowship in Simulation Education and Research Program at Alberta Children’s Hospital. He has certifications as a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer, a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator®, and a Canadian Certified Simulation Nurse Educator.

Areas of instruction

• Child Health and Professional Practice of Child Health
• Simulation-Based Education
• Trends & Issues in Nursing Leadership
• Health Promotion
• Transition to Independent Practice

Areas of scholarship

• Simulation-Based Education
• Healthcare Teams and Team Communication
• Leadership

Teaching Pattern

Teaching-Scholarship-Service

Selected Publications

INACSL Standards Committee, Persico, L., Ramakrishnan, S., Wilson-Keates, B., Catena, R., Charnetski, M., Fogg, N., Jones, M. C., Ludlow, J., MacLean, H., Simmons, V. C., Smeltzer, S., Wilk, A. (2025). Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice® Prebriefing: Preparation and Briefing. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 105, 10177 (Aug. 2025).

Persico, L., Ramakrishnan, S., Wilson-Keates, B., Jones, M. C., MacLean, H., Catena, R., ... & INACSL Standards Committee. (2025). Examining the Impact of the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice Prebriefing: Preparation and Briefing Standard on Simulation Effectiveness: A systematic review. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 101717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2025.101717

Catena, R., & MacLean, H. (2025). Speaking up for patient safety: Bringing simulation to the classroom. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. 20(3), July 2025, e761-e765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2025.02.023

Persico, L., Ramakrishnan, S., Catena, R., Charnetski, M., Fogg, N., Jones, M., ... & Simmons, C. (2024). The Impact of Prebriefing on Simulation Learning Outcomes–A Systematic Review Protocol. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, (89)101507. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2023.101507

Catena, R., & MacLean, H. (2023). Contextualizing Learning in a Resuscitation Simulation Experience: A Supportive Approach to Simulation for Novice Learners. Quality Advancement in Nursing Education-Avancées en formation infirmière, 9(2), 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17483/2368-6669.1401

Harvey, G., MacLean, H., & Catena, R. (2021). Using tag team simulation for ethics education in undergraduate nursing students. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 56, 121-124.

Selected Presentations

Catena, R., MacLean, H, and Wilson-Keates, B. (Nov. 2025). Improving Your Prebrief: Integrating Updated Evidence from HSSOBP® Systematic Review. Simulation Canada, Sim Expo 2025 Conference. (Workshop).

Catena, R., MacLean, H (2025 Aug). Workshop Presentation for Faculty. VIU Pathways to Prebriefing and Debriefing. Vancouver Island University, B.C, Canada. (Workshop)

Catena, R. and MacLean, H. (May, 2025). Keynote Presentation. Shared Visions: The Role of Simulation in Communication and Interprofessional Healthcare Teams. Blended Intensive Program (BIP): Interprofessional simulation for future education in health care professions. FH Campus Wien (FHCW), University of Applied Sciences Vienna, Austria. (Conference).

Persico, L., MacLean, H. M., & Catena, R. (2024). Building a Professional Development Plan for the Clinical Simulation Facilitator. International Webinar: Healthy Simulation. https://www.healthysimulation.com/webinars/clinical-simulation-facilitator-professional-development/

Persico, L, MacLean, H. M., Catena, R., Wilson-Keates, B., Dunning, L., & Xavie, N. (2024). Application of the Healthcare Simulation Standards to Achieve Psychological Safety. International Webinar: Healthy Simulation. https://www.healthysimulation.com/webinars/healthcare-simulation-standards-psychological-safety/

Catena, R. and MacLean, H. (2022). Speaking Up for Success: a pilot project supporting nursing students with communication skills for patient safety. 8th NETNEP 2022: International Nurse Education Conference. Sitges, Barcelona, Spain. (oral presentations).

Relevant Community Service

• Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC). Executive Member, Board of Directors. National organization providing a vision for interprofessional education, research, policy development and collaborative practice within Canada and collaborate with International Partners.
• The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice Advisory Council (HSSOBP). Member of the HSSOBP Advisory Council Committee, providing expertise and support in the review of the Four Core Simulation Standards™.
• The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), Education Committee Chair. The Education Committee provides expertise in simulation-based education that is aimed at offering opportunities to support INACSL members and others in the simulation community with various educational initiatives.
• The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), Education Sub-Committee, Best Practices in Simulation Subcommittee. A committee member and presenter. The focus is on delivering educational content and developing workshops that help healthcare simulation professionals implement the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice®. Delivery is done by interactive workshops offered in partnership with other professional organizations, SSH and ASPE.
• Member of the Patient Safety Work Group, an International Group in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)-Nursing Section. The focus of the PSWG is to develop an awareness of how simulation-based education may support Patient Safety.