Nursing Simulation Educator

AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work.

We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

At AU we believe that continuous learning is a fundamental part of working life, and our goal is for all colleagues on our campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support our community by providing all employees with opportunities to engage in professional development activities, as well as a range of tuition and employee benefits that can be found here.

Position Purpose:

The nursing simulation educator works collaboratively with the director of the center in the day-to-day operations of the nursing simulation and skills laboratories to offer high-quality simulation and skills experiences to promote the students’ critical thinking and clinical judgment skills. Following standards of best practice, simulationist implement, operate, and participate in nursing skills and simulation activities to guarantee a high-quality, safe, and consistent learning experience. This position will require the candidate to interact directly with students, staff, inter-professional colleagues, and vendors. This is a high-paced, dynamic environment that will require the candidate to be willing to learn new technologies and skills as they emerge. The successful candidate will contribute to Aurora University’s strategic commitment to expanding flexible, high-quality educational opportunities through innovative face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning experiences, as appropriate, that support diverse learners and evolving workforce needs.

Core Competencies:

1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
2. Upholds the Mission Statement: At Aurora University, our singular goal is to empower students to achieve lasting personal and professional success. We do this by being an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and purposeful lives.
3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities and events.
5. Demonstrates adaptability, innovation, and a commitment to continuous learning through the effective use of instructional technologies and teaching practices that support student engagement across multiple learning modalities.

Essential Job Functions:

• Instructs students and manages simulation scenarios, including pre- and post-simulation, orientation, and operations in face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities as assigned.
• Collaborates with nursing faculty to develop, present, and refine scenarios for simulation experiences, to create realistic learning environments to meet course outcomes and current evidence-based practice standards.
• Partners with nursing faculty in the process of student learning, assessment, and performance by providing feedback and assessment through debriefing, evaluations, and remediations.
• Assist faculty with the preparation, breakdown, and cleanup of instructional laboratory simulation sessions in all lab environments (health assessment, skills lab, simulation, Virtual Reality).
• Assist with educating faculty, adjunct clinical faculty, and students on the use and operation of simulation laboratory equipment and supplies.
• Mentor and evaluate clinical faculty on simulation best practice.
• Record simulation exercises and make the audio/visual files available to faculty and students for educational purposes.
• Ensures a safe learning environment, the safe storage and disposal of all hazardous materials, and oversees the implementation and adherence of SON policies and procedures.
• Assist the Director of the Center with technical and operational systems design, policies, planning, safety, and support, and for IT-related needs.
• Assist the Director of the Center in ordering of supplies and inventory related to skills and simulation laboratory.
• Works with Director of the Center to ensure timely preparation of lab supplies and equipment based on faculty requests and course schedules.
• In collaboration with the Director, monitor lab usage, evaluate effectiveness of resources and teaching aids provided, oversee the collection of evaluation data on learning outcomes for simulation activities, and provide data and disseminate findings as necessary for program evaluation.
• Participates in program recruitment and marketing, including providing tours that may occur during the day, evening, and weekends.
• Seeks opportunities to maintain professional competence related to simulation and utilize research findings to integrate ‘best practices’ into lab and simulation.
• Perform other responsibilities and projects as assigned.

Essential Job Requirements:

Education:

• Current unrestricted Illinois RN license (required)
• Master’s degree in Nursing (required)
• Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) or equivalent (preferred)

Experience:

• Experience working in a fast-paced teaching/learning simulation education environment (required)
• Working knowledge of computer software and networked systems (including wireless networks) used in support of teaching in a clinical laboratory setting and experience in providing technical assistance (required)
• Previous experience in the operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of audiovisual systems and manikins in healthcare simulation setting (required)
• Preferred candidates will have teaching experience or demonstrated interest in hybrid and online instruction, instructional technology, and student-centered pedagogy.

Skills:

• Demonstrate excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written communication skills, customer service, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion when handling student files and personal student information
• Flexibility and adaptability to work varying schedules and hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate the Simulation Center schedule
• Knowledge and skills operating high-fidelity simulation manikins and technology
• Ability to correctly lift and carry manikins, equipment, and supplies
• Will take initiative, prioritize, and adapt to shifting variety of duties
• Skilled in debriefing using a planned and structured framework.

Work Hours: Days and hours may vary as needed, including days, evenings, and weekends. This is an in-person position requiring daily on-site engagement on Aurora University campus.

The pay range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted amount the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The final pay rate will not be below the lowest pay rate listed herein.

Benefit-eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.

Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.