Healthcare Simulation Director

A Healthcare Simulation Director is a leadership role in a Healthcare Simulation Center or Simulation Program. A Healthcare Simulation Director is an executive administrator and manager of technical and education staff support. The Healthcare Simulation Director role involves not only operational management but also supports instructor and clinical simulation courses provided.

Other roles of a Healthcare Simulation Director also include to hire and develop staff, space design, and purchase of clinical simulation equipment. A Healthcare Simulation Director has responsibility for administration, strategy, management, and leadership of a clinical simulation based educational program. Healthcare Simulation Directors are responsible for the decisions associated with center operations and how they meet educational and financial objectives.

The Healthcare Simulation Director will coordinate and communicate with stakeholders, external agencies and professional organizations on behalf of the clinical simulation program. Assurance is to be provided by the Healthcare Simulation Director that the center aligns with and contributes to best practices and policy in healthcare simulation. These assurances can be given via support of clinical simulation training, instructor courses, assessment, and research that relates to healthcare simulation.

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The Healthcare Simulation Director assists to both establish, update and oversee policies and procedures for the clinical simulation center. The Healthcare Simulation Director will ensure that any requirements for accreditations, certifications, credentialing, and regulations are met and maintained as required. The role of Healthcare Simulation Director is a highly critical role in a clinical simulation team.

Large clinical simulation centers will require a Healthcare Simulation Director to organize clinical simulation activities and also serve as liaison between executive leadership and operations staff. The Healthcare Simulation Director will implement administrative and operational decisions, and direct facilities management functions. A Healthcare Simulation Director often creates timetables and manages administration for clinical simulation courses, equipment use, provides staff support and oversees procurement and center purchases.

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Some more responsibilities that a Healthcare Simulation Director is involved in can include instructor development, research, tours and attendance at organization wide meetings. Additional financial responsibilities for a Healthcare Simulation Director include overseeing the center’s finances, staying at the forefront of technological advances and adherence to accreditation standards. Healthcare Simulation Directors usually supervise or work alongside Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists and Healthcare Simulation Educators.

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In a Healthcare Simulation Director role there is a requirement to help many others through the transfer of knowledge in both a teaching and mentorship manner. The Healthcare Simulation Director is responsible for the oversight of the culture and psychological safety of the clinical simulation program and the staff who work within the center. At times a Healthcare Simulation Director will need to be prepared to learn new skills often and be able to switch into multiple different team roles depending on demands.

Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities for a Healthcare Simulation Director can be broad and varied depending on what center or organization is the employer. Healthcare Simulation Directors have a focus on improvement of patient safety and care through innovation, education, quality improvement and research in healthcare simulation. This Healthcare Simulation Director position is responsible for the direction of the daily operations of simulation centers, clinical simulation based educational activities, staff development and budget.

Healthcare Simulation Directors are leaders of clinical simulation based activities and ensuring best practices are followed in regards to healthcare simulation. Healthcare Simulation Directors work closely with a variety of internal hospital departments and external organizations. A Healthcare Simulation Director establishes, meets, and monitors on a continuous basis the goals and vision of the healthcare simulation program.

The maintenance and oversight of the alignment with the strategic goals and objectives of the clinical simulation program is an essential part of the Healthcare Simulation Director role and responsibilities. Healthcare Simulation Director roles vary between organizations and can be either part time or full time dependent on the size of the clinical simulation program.

Experience and Skills

A Healthcare Simulation Director requires business management skills and there is a requirement for a high knowledge of educational principles, curriculum development and equipment. Familiarity with the management of purchase orders and team support is also required. The ability to understand objectives of healthcare education and training, financial and budget plans and general business management are all critical skills for Healthcare Simulation Directors.

A Healthcare Simulation Director must be fluent in web and technology based applications, operation of clinical simulation based softwares and also have a high level of academic writing abilities. The ability to maintain confidentiality is another skill which is essential for Healthcare Simulation Directors.Collaboration and the ability to connect easily with others is an incredibly important skill as a Healthcare Simulation Director. A drive to constantly want to improve and progress is also of great importance.

As a Simulation Director there is the huge responsibility to be able to orchestrate and also ensure that there is a psychologically safe and managed culture for all team members.

The creation of a culture within the clinical simulation program which constantly challenges the status quo and has a desire to grow and improve will help to nurture clinical simulation programs to the next level with effective leadership at the helm.

Success as a Healthcare Simulation Director means to possess the ability to problem-solve, be organized, implement best practice and also create and source solutions. Harnessed skills should also include the ability to multitask, think critically and prioritization of responsibilities. There should be comfort to work in a fast-paced environment and reach deadlines.

Education

In order to be employed as a Healthcare Simulation Director, ideally candidates should possess a Master’s Degree and many years of experience in healthcare, technology, management, education and ideally healthcare simulation. Often, a Master’s Degree in a nursing subject and a current Registered Nurse license is a strong preference. However, other subjects of postgraduate study may be suitable. Although a healthcare clinical background helps, the primary responsibilities of a Healthcare Simulation Director is to manage the clinical simulation program. Therefore health administration or business management training and experience is a bonus also.

Healthcare Simulation Directors have the ability to advance their careers with the completion of additional certification (CHSE-A/CHSOS) or a license. This process will assist Healthcare Simulation Directors to keep abreast on best practice, networking with others in the industry and gain experience to present at educational workshops.Healthcare Simulation Directors can find opportunities to advance in the process of participation in research projects/studies.

Healthcare Simulation Directors never stop to learn, educate, improve and grow. For some Healthcare Simulation Directors there may be an interest to consider a Doctorate Degree in addition to their Masters Degree. A Healthcare Simulation Director is interested in continuous and lifelong learning.

Compensation

Management experience for a healthcare professional in the healthcare simulation field can increase salary range typically dependent on the organization of employment. The salary scale for a Healthcare Simulation Director can range significantly from $75,000 to $160,000 annually.

The length of time required to gain enough experience for a Healthcare Simulation Director role is on average six years. A Master’s Degree in either Business, Healthcare Administration, Healthcare or Technology is generally required.

Associations Supporting the Healthcare Simulation Director Role

The HealthySimulation.com LEARN CE/CME platform has hundreds of webinars and courses supporting the management and administration of a clinical simulation program.

Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH) is a not for profit Association with membership which is dedicated to the improvement of patient care and professional performance by clinical simulation and technology based learning. INACSL, aka The International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation & Learning, is a non profit organization which provides healthcare simulation conferences and resources for Nurses. INACSL developed Industry Standards of Excellence for the use of clinical simulation in healthcare.

Other Associations and Societies of interest for Healthcare Simulation Directors include: International Pediatric Society for Simulation (IPSS), Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine (SESAM), Dutch Society for Simulation in Healthcare (DSSH), The Gathering of Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists (SimGHOSTS), Simulation Australasia (ASSH), The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), and NZASH (New Zealand Association for Simulation in Healthcare).