Director, Nursing Simulation & Skills Lab

Whitworth University•Whitworth University Campus, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Simulation & Skills Lab provides leadership for simulation and clinical skills learning in Whitworth University’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. The Director will help build the program from the ground up by equipping and opening simulation spaces, shaping simulation-based learning across the curriculum, and establishing policies, systems, and standards. Working with nursing faculty, the Director will design and lead simulation experiences aligned with Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice and support program requirements established by CCNE and the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). The Director will also lead Whitworth’s work toward INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™. This is an 11-month administrative faculty position at 0.92 FTE, with approximately 50% teaching and 50% leadership and administration of the simulation and skills labs. The position teaches 15 credits per year. The successful candidate will hold, or work toward within an agreed-upon timeframe, the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE®) credential. The position reports to the Nurse Administrator/Program Director; courtesy faculty rank is determined based on academic preparation and experience in accordance with Whitworth’s faculty appointment policies. The role leads day-to-day operations and strategic direction for the simulation suite and skills labs in Hawthorne Hall; oversees lab spaces, equipment, systems, budgets, policies, and staff; and supports curriculum integration, accreditation, safety, compliance, and interprofessional collaboration. The position is based on campus and requires consistent, in-person engagement. Whitworth University is a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. Candidates are expected to engage with the university’s mission and integrate their Christian faith into their work. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain valid work authorization throughout employment; visa sponsorship is not offered.

Requirements

Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license and eligibility for licensure in Washington State.
Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) or a closely related health field.
Eligibility for appointment to Whitworth’s nursing faculty at a rank commensurate with academic preparation and experience, per university and program policies.
Experience in healthcare simulation in education, research, or administration.
Current CHSE certification, or eligibility to obtain CHSE certification within an agreed-upon timeframe of hire, with a documented plan to do so.
Working knowledge of the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice® and demonstrated experience applying them in scenario design, facilitation, or debriefing.
Clinical nursing experience sufficient to design and evaluate realistic, curriculum-aligned simulation scenarios across the nursing lifespan.
Personal commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith and learning.
Commitment to Whitworth University’s educational mission as a comprehensive Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church.
Demonstrated ability to lead projects independently, manage budgets, and build systems and processes in a start-up or ground-floor environment.
Legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain valid work authorization throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Current CHSE certification held at time of hire.
Earned doctorate in nursing or a related field (PhD, DNP, or EdD).
Two years of documented, continuous experience in healthcare simulation in education, research, or administration consistent with SSH’s CHSE eligibility requirement.
Experience leading a simulation program through INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement, SSH accreditation, or a comparable external review process.
Experience building or launching a new simulation or skills lab program, ideally within a new or recently launched prelicensure nursing program.
Experience working with WABON program approval or simulation-hour policies.
Familiarity with high-fidelity manikin platforms, virtual reality simulation tools, and academic electronic health record software such as DocuCare, SimChart, or similar.
CHSOS® knowledge or experience supervising simulation operations staff.
Prior full-time nursing faculty teaching experience in a prelicensure BSN program.

Responsibilities

Teach 15 credits per year.
Design, implement, and evaluate simulation scenarios and skills lab experiences aligned with INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice guidelines.
Partner with the Program Director and course faculty to integrate simulation and skills lab experiences across the traditional, track-based BSN curriculum, from foundational skills through advanced clinical judgment.
Serve as a resource to faculty on simulation pedagogy, scenario writing, and debriefing methods, and model best-practice facilitation for high-stakes and formative simulation experiences.
Evaluate simulation outcomes data and use it to inform curriculum revisions in coordination with the program’s systematic evaluation plan.
Provide day-to-day leadership and strategic direction for the simulation suite and skills labs in Hawthorne Hall, including space planning, equipment selection, and workflow design during build-out.
Direct setup, calibration, maintenance, and lifecycle management of high-fidelity manikins, task trainers, virtual reality platforms, hospital-grade equipment, and integrated electronic health record software.
Develop and maintain lab policies, scheduling systems, and standard operating procedures for simulation and skills lab use across the nursing curriculum.
Manage the simulation and skills lab budget, including equipment procurement, maintenance contracts, software licensing, and supply inventory.
Hold or obtain CHSE® certification within an agreed-upon timeframe after hire, and maintain the documented simulation experience and continuing education required to sit for and retain the credential.
Lead Whitworth’s application for INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™.
Monitor WABON requirements governing the use of simulation in lieu of traditional clinical hours.
Provide simulation-related evidence and documentation for the program’s CCNE accreditation self-study and ongoing systematic evaluation plan.
Represent Whitworth’s simulation program to INACSL, SSH, and other professional bodies, and stay current on evolving standards, technology, and accreditation expectations in healthcare simulation.
Recruit, hire, train, and supervise simulation technician staff and student or lab assistants.
Establish onboarding, training, and performance expectations for simulation and skills lab support staff, and build the operational team needed to support the growing prelicensure nursing program.
Work with the Program Director and nursing faculty to align simulation operations with program goals and accreditation timelines.
Support interprofessional education opportunities in partnership with other Whitworth health science programs and the community.
Participate in program, department, and university committees as assigned.
Maintain a safe, well-organized simulation and skills lab environment, including equipment safety checks and adherence to manufacturer and infection-control protocols.
Ensure simulation scenarios, recordings, and student performance data are handled consistently with FERPA and applicable privacy standards.
Maintain accurate records of lab usage, equipment maintenance, staff certifications, and standards compliance for accreditation and endorsement reporting.