Director, Nursing Simulation & Skills Lab

Whitworth University; Country Homes (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitworth University invites applications for Director of Simulation & Skills Lab to help build a new BSN program. Lead simulation spaces, shape curriculum, and establish standards guiding the program’s future.

The role blends teaching and leadership, with CHSE certification preferred and potential for tenure-track rank. Work involves policy creation, budget oversight, and collaboration with nursing faculty in a faith-based university setting.

Qualifications

• RN license active and unencumbered
• MSN or related health field with eligibility for Whitworth nursing faculty
• Experience in healthcare simulation in education, research, or administration
• CHSE certification or eligibility with plan to obtain
• Knowledge of INACSL Standards and applying them in simulation
• Clinical nursing experience to design/evaluate realistic simulations
• Commitment to Whitworth University’s Christian mission
• Ability to lead projects, manage budgets, and build systems in startup environments
• Familiarity with program accreditation processes (CCNE/WABON)

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and evaluate simulation scenarios and skills labs
• Lead simulation lab operations, space planning, budgeting, and vendor management
• Collaborate with program directors and nursing faculty to integrate simulations
• Provide mentorship on debriefing, scenario writing, and pedagogy
• Monitor accreditation requirements and prepare documentation
• Represent the program to professional bodies and stakeholders

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum design

Collaboration

Budget management

Change management

Education

MSN or related health field

Doctorate in nursing or related field (PhD, DNP, EdD)

Tools

High-fidelity manikins

Task trainers

VR platforms

EHR software (DocuCare, SimChart)

Job description

The Director of Simulation & Skills Lab provides leadership for the simulation and clinical skills learning experiences supporting Whitworth University’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. This is a unique opportunity to help build a new nursing program from the ground up, including equipping and opening simulation spaces, shaping simulation-based learning across the curriculum, and establishing the policies, systems, and standards that will guide the program into the future.

Working collaboratively with nursing faculty, the Director will design and lead high-quality 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 11-month administrative faculty position is approximately 50% teaching and 50% leadership and administration of the simulation and skills labs. 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, with courtesy faculty rank determined based on academic preparation and experience in accordance with Whitworth’s faculty appointment policies.

Simulation-Based Education, Teaching, and Curriculum Integration | 50%

• Teach 15 credits per year.
• Design, implement, and evaluate simulation scenarios and skills lab experiences aligned with the 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; 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

Simulation & Skills Lab Leadership | 20%

• 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 the 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

Certification, Standards & Accreditation Leadership | 10%

• Hold, or obtain within an agreed-upon timeframe after hire, CHSE® certification through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH); maintain the documented simulation experience and continuing education required to sit for and retain the credential
• Lead Whitworth's application for the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement™
• Monitor Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) requirements governing the use of simulation in lieu of traditional clinical hours
• Provide simulation-related evidence and documentation in support of 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

Staff Supervision & Team Building | 10%

• 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
• Build the operational team needed to support a growing prelicensure nursing program from its inaugural cohort forward

Collaboration & Community Engagement | 5%

• Work closely 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

Safety, Compliance & Quality | 5%

• 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 in a manner consistent with FERPA and applicable privacy standards
• Maintain accurate records of lab usage, equipment maintenance, staff certifications, and standards compliance for accreditation and endorsement reporting

Qualifications

• Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license, eligible for licensure in Washington State
• Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or a closely related health field; eligible 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
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith and learning
• A commitment to the educational mission of Whitworth University 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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) program approval or simulation-hour policies
• Familiarity with high-fidelity manikin platforms, virtual reality simulation tools, and academic electronic health record software (e.g., DocuCare, SimChart, or similar)
• Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS®) knowledge, or experience supervising simulation operations staff
• Prior full-time nursing faculty teaching experience in a prelicensure BSN program

Salary Information

• 0.92 FTE | 11-month ongoing appointment
• Master's degree with CHSE eligibility | $85,000 - $90,000
• Doctorate with CHSE eligibility | $90,000 - $95,000
• Doctorate with current CHSE | $95,000-$100,000

Whitworth University is a Christian liberal arts university. Our shared mission is to provide our diverse students with an education of mind and heart, equipping them to honor God, follow Christ, and serve humanity. We seek candidates who are willing to engage with the university’s mission and integrate their Christian faith into their work.

A background check and sexual misconduct check will be required of the successful candidate.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain valid work authorization throughout the duration of employment, including those on OPT. Whitworth University does not offer visa sponsorship for this position.