Ascend Learning

Meet Derek Hoefer, sales director for Ascend Learning brand ExamFX. In his role, Derek views his job as creating and facilitating a win/win/win situation on a daily basis. A win for our customers, a win for ExamFX, and a win for the account managers who are the face of ExamFX in the marketplace. Derek works directly with account managers to maintain long-term partnerships and identify new opportunities to introduce financial services organizations to ExamFX. “For me, being passionate about our product and coming to work every day knowing the impact we are having on people's lives is a rewarding feeling. I have been in sales in other industries before my time at ExamFX and Ascend, but this is the one company where I have found a real passion for what our product offers,” said Derek. This is how we change lives. Hear more from Derek in the Q&A, linked in the comments, on what it’s like to work at Ascend.

The nation's nursing shortage cannot be solved without strengthening the nursing education pipeline. In a MedCity News op-ed, Kelly Preston MSN, RN, AHSC of UPMC of Washington School of Nursing—a client of Ascend Learning brand ATI Nursing Education—shares why meaningful investments in nursing education through the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs are essential for preparing the next generation of nurses to meet the growing demand for care. What's the challenge? Thousands of qualified nursing school applicants are turned away each year because schools lack the faculty, clinical placements, or resources to educate them. What's the solution? Investing in Title VIII to address some of the root causes of the nursing shortage. By reauthorizing and increasing funding to these invaluable programs, Congress can: ✅ Support nursing schools so they have more resources to admit more students. ✅ Incentivize and support nurses with more affordable pathways to become nurse educators. ✅ Provide students with the academic support they need to succeed in rigorous nursing programs. At Ascend Learning, we're proud to support our partners in advocating for policies that strengthen nursing education and expand access to high-quality training. This is how we help change lives. Read the full op-ed through the link in the comments.

For too many aspiring healthcare professionals, the cost of graduate education is becoming a barrier to entering the workforce. In a new letter to the editor published by KFF Health News, Lorie Hacker DNP, MSNed, NP-C, RN, CNE, a nurse practitioner and Senior Director – Client Success at Ascend brand ATI Nursing Education, shares how new federal student loan caps could make it harder for nursing students and future nurse educators to pursue the advanced degrees they need. The stakes are high: ➡️ Demand for advanced practice nurses is projected to grow 36% ➡️ More than 1 million nurses are expected to retire by 2030 ➡️ 7.2% of nursing faculty positions nationwide are currently vacant Why does this matter? We cannot strengthen the healthcare workforce while making it harder for qualified students to access the education they need. That's why Congress must ensure aspiring Advanced Practice Nurses and nurse educators can access adequate financial aid to pursue advanced nursing degrees. Read Lorie's full letter, "Healthcare Students Clutching at Straws," by following the link in the comments below.

ANNOUNCEMENT: ATI and Elsevier Inc. have obtained a preliminary injunction from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the operators of Naxlex.com and other affiliated websites. The complaint alleges copyright infringement based on Naxlex’s unlawful sale of ATI’s and Elsevier’s proprietary nursing exam content and the provision of proxy test-taking services.  ATI and Elsevier filed suit against Naxlex on August 20, 2026. A day later, the Court issued a temporary restraining order requiring Naxlex to immediately shut down the illegal activity alleged in the complaint, and ordering third-parties to cease providing services to Naxlex in support of that activity. That relief has now been continued in the preliminary injunction granted on September 17, 2026, which will remain in place for the duration of the case, absent further order of the Court. Read more at the link in comments.

We're excited to announce that Ascend Learning has acquired M7 Health, a cloud-based platform that transforms how health systems deploy and engage their clinical workforce. Used nationwide by some of the country's largest academic medical centers and community and rural hospitals, M7 streamlines hospital operations such as schedule building and shift filling, curbing administrative burden and premium labor spend while integrating staff preferences and driving engagement. As health systems contend with heightened demand for healthcare workers, M7 delivers a solution built for how clinical work actually happens, maximizing team productivity while ensuring staff feel supported. The addition of M7 to Ascend's portfolio gives health systems a single partner across the full workforce lifecycle, from developing talent to deploying it intelligently to keeping staff engaged and retained. And a warm welcome to the new team members joining us—we're so glad you're here! 📖 Read the full announcement at the link in the comments.

Meet Megan Williams, senior learning experience designer for Ascend. In her role, Megan partners with the product, content, engineering, and business teams to research learner needs, design solutions, and explore new approaches to measuring learning. Much of Megan's current work involves responsive learning, assessment innovation, and the thoughtful use of emerging technologies such as AI. Her goal is to help create experiences that are engaging, effective, and meaningful for learners. "One of the things I've appreciated most over the last eight years of working at Ascend is that the company values are more than words on a page. I've seen them come to life through the people I've worked with, the opportunities I've been given, and the way teams come together to solve complex challenges," said Megan. "I've been encouraged to stay curious, embrace change, and continuously grow. Those experiences have shaped not only my career but also how I approach collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning." Learn more from Megan about what it's like to work at Ascend Learning in her full Q&A! Link in the comments.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of our Q3 Elevation Awards, which celebrate and honor Ascend team members whose exceptional leadership, innovation, influence and achievements accelerate, support, and sustain our growth and vision. 🤝 Rachel (Sylvester) Durbin: Cultural Impact Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify and enrich Ascend's mission-driven, team-oriented and client-centric culture, and motivate and inspire others. 🏅 Heidi Nelson: Customer Champion Award, which honors outstanding service to our clients, maximizing product value, and deepening and strengthening customer relationships. 🤖 Erin Rosfeld, MBA, MSN, RN: Trailblazer Award, which recognizes advancements in AI, creative problem-solving and innovations with shared enterprise capabilities. 🚀 Madison McShane: Growth Architect Award, which honors significant contributions to growth, focusing on new product development, market expansion and customer acquisition. 🔧 Alfredo Martinez (Al): Operational Excellence Award, which honors accomplishments in optimizing resources, fostering cross-functional collaboration and driving efficiency in content, processes and outcomes. We are proud to recognize the impactful work our team members have on our organization and the industries and professions we serve. Please join us in congratulating these team members and follow the link in the comments to watch short video interviews with each recipient.

On this day 25 years ago, 2,977 lives were lost, including 343 firefighters and eight EMS professionals who ran toward danger while others ran from it. Today, we pause to honor them. We remember their courage and their sacrifice, and the families forever changed in a single morning. We also recognize a generation of first responders who now enter the field with no personal memory of that day—only its lessons. That's where education carries the legacy forward. Our brand, Public Safety Group (PSG), the most trusted name in EMS and Fire education, published two reflections on their blog that speak to this moment: 🔹 The lasting legacy of 9/11 on training: That day proved that individual skill isn't enough in a catastrophe. It reshaped how responders communicate, lead, and look out for one another, driving lasting change in incident command, mass-casualty triage, responder health, and life-safety standards. 🔹 Teaching 9/11 to the next generation: For today's students, 9/11 is history—but the weight of the work is not. Instructors honor those who responded by linking remembrance to readiness, preparing future clinicians for the high-consequence moments they hope never to face. To every EMT, paramedic, firefighter, and instructor who serves and safeguards our communities: Thank you. Your preparation is how we carry their memory forward. Follow the links in the comments to read the blog posts by PSG.

We're hiring for a leadership role on our test development team, which plays a critical role in creating high-quality assessments that help learners demonstrate what they know and can do. Their work directly supports educators, schools, and organizations in making informed decisions—ensuring our customers can trust the results while helping learners achieve their educational and career goals. If you're considering this opportunity, here are a few qualities that would make someone especially successful in this role: ☑️ Deep expertise in Test Development, including a strong understanding of the item development lifecycle and form assembly process. ☑️ Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while building trust across a diverse team. ☑️ Exceptional communication skills and a leadership style that motivates others, leads by example, and celebrates both team and individual accomplishments. ☑️ A passion for coaching and developing talent, helping team members leverage their strengths and grow in their careers. ☑️ Resilience and adaptability, with the ability to lead confidently through change and help teams navigate evolving priorities. "What makes this role especially exciting is the impact you'll have from day one," says Stephanie Stratton, test development director and hiring manager for this role. "You'll join a highly collaborative group of test development managers who are committed to supporting one another and sharing expertise. As our team continues to modernize systems and processes through AI-enabled tools and innovative practices, you'll have the opportunity to help shape decisions that will influence how we work for years to come." If you're energized by leading people, improving processes, and advancing the quality and impact of assessment development, click the link in the comments to learn more about this role and apply.

Meet Kelly Simmons, nursing content strategist at Ascend Learning brand ATI Nursing Education. In her role, Kelly leads faculty development initiatives that support educator success in the classroom, clinical, and lab/simulation environments. She serves as a subject matter expert on ATI products, providing strategic guidance and thought leadership to internal teams and external partners. In her role as American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Program Director, Kelly oversees the continuing nursing education activities, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards while delivering high-quality educational opportunities for nurse educators. "Ascend's values have shaped my work experience by fostering a culture in which teamwork, collaboration, and support are part of everyday work. Those values have encouraged me to be creative in my faculty development work and focus on making a meaningful impact for educators and students. Most importantly, they reinforce our shared commitment to helping faculty and students succeed," said Kelly. This is how we change lives. Want to learn more about what it's like to work at Ascend? Read Kelly's full Q&A linked in the comments below.