Assistant Director for Didactic and Simulation Education, Nurse Anesthesia Program

Reports to: CRNA Program Director

Position Summary: The primary responsibility of this position is leadership of the didactic and simulation curriculum of the Nurse Anesthesia Program. This includes course coordination, simulation lab education, and learner academic assessment. The position also includes classroom instruction and student advisement.

The Assistant Director for Didactic and Simulation Education reports to the Program Director. This position works closely with the Assistant Director for Clinical Residency so that what learners gain in the classroom and simulation lab carries into clinical practice.

Position Responsibilities

• Assist the Program Director to ensure compliance with the accreditation standards of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). Hold primary responsibility for standards related to curriculum, instruction, and learner assessment in the didactic and simulation components.
• Provide assistance with the administrative responsibilities of the program as assigned by the Program Director.
• Coordinate the didactic curriculum, including course sequencing, syllabi, faculty teaching assignments, and course evaluations.
• Provide instruction in core nurse anesthesia course content
• Lead development of the simulation curriculum. Map simulation experiences to course and clinical outcomes and use competency-based evaluation.
• Oversee nurse anesthesia simulation lab operations, including scheduling, equipment, and supplies.
• Coordinate use of shared simulation and educational resources across the university.
• Develop interprofessional simulation experiences with other health professions programs.
• Orient and develop didactic faculty, guest lecturers, and simulation facilitators.
• Oversee the design and quality of course examinations, including item analysis and test review.
• Monitor learner academic performance. Work collaboratively with the Program Director and faculty to provide counseling and assessment of remediation needs of learners.
• Prepare learners for the Self-Evaluation Examination (SEE) and the National Certification Examination (NCE). Track and report results.
• Coordinate research and evidence-based practice activities for learners and CRNA faculty, including DNP scholarly projects.
• Work with the Assistant Director for Clinical Residency so that course content and simulation prepare learners for clinical expectations at each stage of the program.
• Collect and report didactic and simulation outcome data for program evaluation and the COA annual report.
• Participate in preparation for the COA accreditation site visit.
• Serve on the Admissions Committee for review and selection of candidates for admission.
• Serve on the Curriculum Committee and provide leadership in curriculum development, assessment, and revision to meet COA and CCNE curriculum and learner outcome standards.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, or DNP) from an institution of higher education accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education at the time the degree was conferred.
• Current unencumbered license, or eligibility for licensure, as a registered nurse and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in North Carolina.
• Current certification or recertification as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA).
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.
• Minimum of three years of clinical experience as a CRNA.
• Formal education in curriculum, instruction, and evaluation.
• Experience in simulation-based education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) credential.
• Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential.
• Experience developing courses and examinations in a nurse anesthesia or graduate health professions program.
• Teaching and academic administrative experience.