Simulation Operations Specialist, School of Nursing

About the role

The Simulation Operations Specialist partners with Simulation Education Specialists and faculty to develop, implement, operate, and participate in simulation activities to guarantee a high quality, safe, and consistent simulation experience in the Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning. Assist in the management of the infrastructure to ensure student privacy, operational efficiency, limited downtime, and that learning objectives are met. Troubleshoot and resolve any technical and logistical issues; operate simulation capture system to ensure activities are videotaped. Provide first and second level repairs and preventative maintenance to simulation resources; ensure equipment and supplies are used and maintained properly.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the Helene Fuld Pavilion operations team.
• Lead the Fuld Pavilion Operations team in complex simulation activity design, setup and execution.
• Manage the daily team assignments to ensure that simulation activities are setup, fully staffed, run efficiently, and are properly put away.
• Manage a running list (daily, weekly, monthly) of preventative maintenance and upkeep side tasks to be performed in the Helene Fuld Pavilion.
• Manage side project time allocation for the Helene Fuld Pavilion operations team.
• Ensure the daily upkeep of equipment is performed. All equipment should be emptied of fluids, cleaned, and stored properly.
• Act as a point of escalation for Fuld Pavilion Operations staff in regards to simulation design, setup, and execution.
• Provide backup to the Director of Operations.
• Provide backup to the Program coordinator in duties such as supply and equipment purchases, communicating with vendors on order status, inventory control, record keeping, and pavilion scheduling.
• In partnership with simulation faculty, advise, plan, implement, participate, operate, and evaluate simulation activities to guarantee high quality and consistent learner experiences in all educational activities in the Helene Fuld Pavilion for Innovative Learning.
• Collaborate with faculty on the planning and design of simulation activities to ensure that the exercise’s learning objectives are able to be met through simulation.
• Use healthcare simulation knowledge and skills to identify the level of fidelity needed for the activity, and discuss the level of realism possible in the simulation.
• Aid in the creation of the required setup documentation for the simulation activity and ensure that it is properly submitted to the Helene Fuld Pavilion.
• Setup and prepare individual simulation activity areas using gathered supplies, equipment, technology, props and Moulage (art of applying mock injuries for the purpose of training Emergency Response Teams and other medical and military personnel).
• In partnership with faculty, operate simulators and task trainers as part of the simulation activity.
• Act as a simulation confederate, voice of the patient, or standardized patient as needed in the simulation activity.
• Aid in the re-setting of the simulation activity between active simulations to maintain quality and consistency between groups of learners.
• Assist faculty in simulation debriefing activities as needed.
• Operate the Fuld Pavilion’s simulation capture system to ensure that simulation activities are videotaped correctly, completely, and performs as expected to assist faculty in debriefing students on their performance in the activity.
• Troubleshoot any technical or logistical issue(s) that arise immediately prior or during a simulation activity; Formulate and enact a solution to the issue, and effectively communicate it to the simulation faculty.
• Manage the infrastructure of the Helene Fuld Pavilion to ensure student privacy, operational efficiency, limit downtime, and that activity learning objectives are met.
• Perform a pre- and post-activity check of computers, software, simulators, task trainers, and healthcare equipment to ensure that all features of the device are operating properly.
• Troubleshoot any non-functioning features, attempt repair, communicate with faculty as necessary and report issues to Helene Fuld Pavilion Leadership.
• Maintain the constant operational state of the Pavilion’s computers and audio visual equipment.
• Liaise with the School of Nursing Service Desk for the quick resolution of all network, computer, and software issues in the Fuld Pavilion.
• Maintain software used to operate simulators, task trainers, and virtual simulation activities; assure updates are obtained and uploaded and operate properly.
• Troubleshoot any technical issues with Helene Fuld Pavilion and communicate and enact a resolution plan that has the least impact on learning activities.
• Ensure that all student data captured in or concerning simulated activities conform to standing privacy and FERPA policies at the School of Nursing and the university.
• Maintain, repair, and perform 1st and 2nd echelon preventative maintenance on simulators, task trainers and healthcare equipment to maintain quality of educational activities.
• Ensure that simulators are functioning, cleaned with ports/reservoirs emptied, properly maintained and stored after each simulation activity.
• Ensure that proper preventative maintenance takes place to limit downtime and guarantee operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and when necessary, change replaceable parts on simulators, task trainers, and healthcare equipment.
• As directed, liaise with equipment vendors and manufacturers to resolve malfunctioning equipment on behalf of the Helene Fuld Pavilion.
• Plan, develop, and manufacture materials and techniques for executing moulage (wounds, injuries, physical representation of symptoms, environmental props) and task trainers (suture pads, injection pads, customized trainers) to efficiently meet the learning objectives for an activity, level of realism, and pavilion budgetary requirements.
• Actively sustain a safe and clean healthcare environment in the Helene Fuld Pavilion.
• Ensure that activities and participants in the Helene Fuld Pavilion are in accordance with current healthcare guidelines and the pavilion policy and procedure manual.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills in all communication on behalf of the Helene Fuld Pavilion.
• Ensure the Helene Fuld Pavilion space and resources are consistently operating in a clean and safe manner.
• Act as the lead representative on behalf of the Helene Fuld Pavilion to the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) and the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP) in regards to supply purchase, borrowing equipment, best practice inquiry, and medical equipment maintenance assistance.
• Log, maintain, and report interactions regarding supply purchase and rental to the Helene Fuld Pavilion program coordinator and/or Director of Operations.
• Develop and provide orientation and training to users of the Helene Fuld Pavilion on the operation and best practices of resources (software, task trainers, simulators, computers, audio visual system, simulation capture system, mobile technology, etc.) that are available for use in simulation activities.
• Maintain currency in healthcare simulation knowledge and skillset, research, presentation, and execution of existing, new and emerging simulation technologies, healthcare procedures, educational methodologies, moulage techniques, workflows, and trends and their applicability in our environment.
• Participate in related university and national teams, committees, task forces, special interest groups, and professional organizations. Participation may require attendance at national conferences, meetings and training sessions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

  Qualifications

  • A High School Grad/GE Degree and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

  Job Location

  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  Department / School

  School of Nursing

  Pay Range

  $26.66 - $31.00 Hourly Rate

  Salary Offers

  Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

  Equal Opportunity Statement

  The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.