Sarah Jo Ball, PhD, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CHSE

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

photo placeholder for Ball, Sarah Jo

Contact

SarahBall@creighton.edu
Faculty - Nursing
College of Nursing
CRISS II - Criss 2 - 217C

Sarah Jo Ball, PhD, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CHSE

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sarah Ball is an Assistant Professor and the Faculty Chair of the Traditional Undergraduate College of Nursing at Creighton University. With a focus on innovative simulation technology interventions, Dr. Ball’s research is dedicated to advancing assessment and evaluation tools in nursing education, particularly in the realm of Virtual Reality (VR).

Dr. Ball earned her PhD in Nursing and a Master's degree in Nursing Education, along with a Post-Masters Certificate in Online Teaching in Higher Education all from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She completed her bachelor’s in nursing science at Clarkson College in Omaha, Nebraska. Her doctoral dissertation explored the effects of augmented reality on anxiety levels in prelicensure nursing students, contributing to the growing body of knowledge on how technology can enhance nursing education.

Currently, Dr. Ball is leading several cutting-edge research initiatives. She is working with a team to revise the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument (CCEI) to its updated version, CCEI 2.0, which includes studies on validity and ongoing reliability across various settings. She is also spearheading a funded research project examining the interrater reliability of CCEI 2.0 when used in conjunction with Immersive Virtual Reality in real-time scenarios. Additionally, Dr. Ball is the principal investigator of a second funded project focused on improving pre-licensure nurses' practice readiness by incorporating Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) into the final semester practicum course.

Dr. Ball’s expertise and innovative approach to nursing education continue to shape the future of healthcare training, blending the latest advancements in technology with practical applications to better prepare nursing students for success in the clinical environment.

Teaching Interests

  • Women's Health (Maternal -Child Nurse)

Research Focus

Clinical Simulation Labs Student Peer & Self Evaluation Interactive Classroom Teaching E-learning; Augmented Reality; Immersive Virtual Reality; Assessment;Self-Care

Department

Nursing - Bachelors

Position

Assistant Professor

Publications

  • The Journal of nursing education
    Williams Jacqueline, Goodman Joely, Ball Sarah, Young Christine, Woodward Trevor, Nursing From Within: A Self-Care Course for Undergraduate Nursing Students
    64:8, p. 530 - 533 2025
  • Clinical simulation in nursing
    Manz Julie A., Todd Martha J., Iverson Lindsay, Ball Sarah J., Manning Lucas, Topp Robert, Validity and reliability testing of the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument 2.0© (CCEI 2.0)
    103, p. 101736 - 2025
  • Clinical simulation in nursing
    Todd Martha J., Manz Julie A., Iverson Lindsay, Ball Sarah J., Manning Lucas, Conceptual Framework and Content Validity for the Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument 2.0© (C-CEI 2.0©)
    85, p. 101467 - 2023
  • Nursing Forum
    Flott Elizabeth, Kirkpatrick Amanda, Rusch Lori, Koziol Dana, Laughlin Ann, Williams Jacqueline, Ball Sarah, Hanks Jacquie, Minnich Margo, Fostering collaborative learning and leadership through near-peer mentorship among undergraduate nursing students
    57:5, p. 750 - 755 2022
  • International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship
    Flott Elizabeth, Ball Sarah, Manz Julie, Beiermann Trisha, Khanna Maya M., Supporting the transition to practice
    19:1 2022
  • Nursing Education Perspectives
    Ball Sarah, Hanks Jacquie, Potthoff Meghan, Connelly Susan, A Pediatric Telehealth Simulation for Prelicensure and Advanced Practice Nursing Students
    42:6, p. E181 - E182 2021
  • The Journal of nursing education
    Young Christine, Ball Sarah, Flott Elizabeth, Goodman Joely, Hercinger Maribeth, Threading QSEN Competencies Across a Baccalaureate Nursing Program: The Development of Dedicated QSEN Labs
    60:9, p. 526 - 528 2021
  • Nurse educator
    Young Christine, Goodman Joely, Flott Elizabeth, Hercinger Maribeth, Ball Sarah J., Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Laboratory
    46:4, p. 197 - 197 2021
  • Ball Sarah, Bousfield Jennifer, Leach Brandi, Marjanovic Sonja, Smith Pamina, Arts-based approaches to public engagement with research: Lessons from a rapid review 2021
  • Nurse Educator
    Flott Elizabeth, Goodman Joely, Young Christine, Ball Sarah J., Hercinger Maribeth, Enhancing confidence and communication for clinical practice
    45:6, p. 351 - 351 2020
  • Nurse Educator
    Ball Sarah J., Goodman Joely, Flott Elizabeth, Young Christine, Hercinger Maribeth, Photosphere Safety Rooms
    45:5, p. 235 2020
  • The Journal of nursing education
    Ball Sarah, Hussey Leslie C., The Effects of Augmented Reality on Prelicensure Nursing Students' Anxiety Levels
    59:3, p. 142 - 148 2020
  • Clinical Simulation in Nursing
    Kirkpatrick Amanda, Ball Sarah, Connelly Susan, Hercinger Maribeth, Hanks Jacquie, Potthoff Meghan, Banzhaf Sara, McCafferty Kandis, Intraprofessional Simulation's Impact on Advanced Practice and Baccalaureate Student Self-Efficacy
    16, p. 33 - 39 2018
  • Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing
    McCafferty Kandis Leigh, Ball Sarah Jo, Cuddigan Janet, Understanding the Continuing Education Needs of Rural Midwestern Nurses
    48:6, p. 265 - 269 2017
  • Online journal of nursing informatics
    Iverson Lindsay, Harms Ann, Murcek Christina, Woods Sandra, Young Tina, Ball Sarah, Technology in the College of Nursing: Perception and Use to Achieve Learning Outcomes
    20:1, p. 1 2016

Presentations

  • NurseFacultyWorkLife Balance: Setting Boundaries to Combat Burnout 2025
  • CCEI 2.0: Upgraded for the Future of Nursing Education 2025
  • Enhancing Competency-Based Nursing Education: Leveraging the C-CEI 2.0 for Effective Student Evaluation. [Pre-conference workshop]. 2025
  • Team up to Stay Up: Implementing a Comprehensive Interprofessional Fall Risk Assessment with Older Adults Residing in Assisted Living 2025
  • Updated and Upgraded! The Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument 2.0 (CCEI 2.0) 2024
  • Updated and upgraded! The Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument 2.0 (C-CEI 2.0) 2024
  • Assessing and evaluating competency in nursing education: The Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument 2024
  • Standardizing Assessment in Competency-Based Education: The Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument 2.0 2024
  • Elevating the Practice of Self-Care: Nursing Students Reflections 2024
  • Competency assessment: Balancing rigor with adaptability 2022
  • Competency-based assessment using the CCEI and CSEI 2022
  • Nurse Faculty Work-Life Balance: Setting Boundaries to Combat Burnout -0001