Connecting Resources With Outcomes, Faculty With Support, and Students With Success

In nursing education, success is rarely the result of a single initiative. Rather, success emerges through strong partnerships, intentional faculty development, evidence-based teaching strategies, and a shared commitment to student success. One role that has a profound impact on faculty, students and programs is that of the ATI Champion.

ATI Champions help nursing programs turn ATI resources into practical teaching, remediation, and student-success strategies. For faculty, that can mean clearer guidance, stronger data use, and more consistent support across the curriculum.

How ATI Champions Support Faculty Engagement

I decided to become an ATI Champion because I believe every nursing student deserves the tools and support to succeed. ATI resources help bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice, and I enjoy using assessment data to improve student outcomes and share those insights with my team.

I have served as an ATI Champion since January 2024. This role allows me to help prepare the next generation of nurses for success and to become more knowledgeable and well-rounded leader in nursing education. Ultimately, if I can help students become confident, competent nurses who provide exceptional patient care, I know I am making a lasting impact on the future of our profession.

One of the most rewarding aspects of serving in this role has been collaborating with faculty to increase both the use and effectiveness of ATI resources.

Faculty members work hard to balance teaching, curriculum development, accreditation requirements, scholarship endeavors, and student support. With so many priorities, it can be difficult to stay current on every new resource available. ATI Champions help bridge that gap by identifying practical ways to integrate ATI tools into existing courses and learning experiences rather than viewing them as additional responsibilities.

To support continuous quality improvement, I use ATI assessment data to identify content areas in which students demonstrate the greatest difficulty. Through item and topic analysis, I develop targeted study guides and remediation resources to address weaknesses in key concepts and NCLEX content. These resources help students become better prepared for course examinations, the ATI Comprehensive Predictor, and ultimately, the NCLEX exam.

Over time, this process has evolved into a comprehensive, data-driven strategy embedded throughout our curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Washington School of Nursing. Through targeted remediation and the integration of ATI resources across courses, student outcomes have progressively improved. I regularly share performance data and trends with faculty colleagues and align ATI resources with the NCLEX Client Needs categories in which students struggled most.

Beyond improving individual student performance, this work generates valuable insights for our Program Effectiveness Committee. By leveraging assessment data to identify curricular strengths and opportunities for improvement, we support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen NCLEX readiness initiatives, and enhance overall program quality.

How ATI Champions Help Onboard and Support Faculty

ATI Champions can help ease transitioning and onboarding by providing individualized guidance, sharing best practices, and demonstrating how ATI aligns with course objectives and program outcomes. Rather than overwhelming new faculty with every available tool, I encourage a phased approach that introduces resources strategically and intentionally.

Equally important is demonstrating real-world application. Faculty members gain confidence when they can see examples of ATI resources successfully integrated into courses, remediation plans, classroom activities, and student support initiatives. ATI Champions help transform possibilities into practical teaching strategies.

My work as an ATI Champion has also strengthened my nursing advocacy and policy engagement. Effective policy depends on data, evidence, collaboration, and strategic actions. Whether advocating for improved student outcomes, stronger nursing education programs, workforce development initiatives, or broader healthcare priorities, nurses are uniquely positioned to be change agents. ATI Champions contribute to this work by helping faculty and programs use evidence to inform decisions and advance excellence.

Helping Faculty Translate ATI Data Into Action

Every technology platform presents occasional challenges, and faculty may have questions about ATI testing, remediation requirements, implementation strategies, data interpretation, or student access.

ATI Champions support their programs by serving as an accessible resource for troubleshooting and guidance. Although ATI representatives provide rapid and effective support, faculty often appreciate having a colleague who understands both the technology and their program's specific needs.

ATI Champions also help faculty translate assessment data into actionable strategies for student improvement. Questions surrounding remediation, performance trends, and NCLEX preparation often become opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Through these discussions, faculty move beyond simply using ATI resources and begin maximizing their impact.

Helping Students Use ATI Resources More Strategically

While faculty support is critical, students remain at the center of everything educators do. ATI Champions have a unique opportunity to help students understand the purpose and value of ATI resources throughout their educational journey.

Students tend to think of ATI as a testing platform. Yet ATI provides much more, including:

• learning modules
• remediation tools
• practice assessments
• focused reviews
• NCLEX preparation resources
• clinical judgment activities
• performance analytics to guide learning.

Champions help students interpret their performance data to fill knowledge gaps. ATI provides valuable information that can guide individualized study plans, but students may not know how to use that information effectively. Teaching students how to analyze their results and prioritize remediation allows them to study more strategically.

In my experience, students are most successful when ATI resources are integrated throughout the curriculum rather than introduced only near graduation. Early and consistent exposure throughout classroom teaching and clinical experiences allows students to develop the familiarity and confidence that supports long-term success.

Using ATI Data to Support Program Improvement

Strong ATI integration benefits not only individual students and faculty members but also entire nursing programs.

Programs that integrate ATI resources with intention can leverage assessment data to identify curricular trends, support accreditation efforts, strengthen NCLEX readiness, and guide program improvement initiatives. Data-informed decision making is increasingly important, and ATI provides valuable insights that support those efforts.

Throughout my work as an ATI Champion, I have witnessed the power of collaboration among faculty, ATI representatives, and institutional leaders. When educators understand the resources available to them and students are supported in using them effectively, the impact extends well beyond individual courses.

Personal Reflections on Being an ATI Champion

Serving as an ATI Champion has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my nursing education career, and I was humbled to receive ATI's inaugural Champion Award in April 2026. This honor reinforced something I strongly believe: Education technology is most powerful when combined with collaboration, mentorship, and a genuine commitment to student success.

Seeing my students walk across the graduation stage and later celebrating their NCLEX success and professional accomplishments reminds me why I became a nurse educator. Their achievements are the ultimate measure of success and a powerful reminder that the work we do as educators has a lasting impact on the future of nursing and patient care.          

What I value most about the  ATI Champion role is not the technology itself but the relationships it helps foster. Every conversation with a faculty colleague, every student who gains confidence through remediation, and every opportunity to share innovative ideas contributes to a collective mission of preparing safe, competent, and compassionate nurses.

ATI Champions have the unique opportunity to influence student outcomes by empowering educators. When faculty feel informed, confident, and supported, students benefit. When students succeed, programs thrive. And when programs thrive, the nursing profession is strengthened. This ripple effect is what makes the ATI Champion experience so rewarding.

The impact of ATI Champions is not measured solely by data, exam scores, or program outcomes, but by the lives they help shape. Behind every NCLEX success story is a student who was encouraged when they struggled, guided when they needed direction, and supported in reaching goals they once thought impossible. That is the true power of the ATI Champion experience.

Are you looking to make a greater impact on your students, your academic program, and your own professional development? Become an ATI Champion. Get the details here.