Today's spotlight we sat down with Stephanie Edson, Director of the Health Professions Skills and Simulation Center at the College of Saint Mary.
In honor of Healthcare Simulation Week, we are spotlighting the professionals who dedicate their lives to improving healthcare outcomes through training, skill development, and research. We sat down and asked questions on how they approach their career in simulation healthcare.
Stephanie Edson, EdD(c), MS, RDN, LD, LMNT
Director, Health Professions Skills and Simulation Center
College of Saint Mary
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare simulation?
"I ended up in simulation by chance! I am trained as a registered dietitian/nutritionist and medical nutrition therapist but have embraced simulation as a second career. I remember receiving a tour of the simulation space at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, WI, where I completed my dietetic internship and thinking how cool it was… Little did I know a sim center would become my new home! I had a successful career as a retail dietitian (I was awarded dietitian of the year) and declined to move away from Nebraska, so I was looking for a new challenge and found it in simulation."
2. How do you stay updated with the latest advancements and best practices in simulation technology and techniques?
"I stay updated in the world of simulation by watching seminars and reading articles. This is one area where I hope I can continue to learn and grow."
3. What aspects of your role as a healthcare simulation leader bring you the most satisfaction?
"It is so fun and rewarding to see the students go from being unsure at the beginning of a simulation to owning it and sharing how much they learn during debriefing. I also enjoy managing the space including coordinating the schedules and ordering the supplies. It is great to know I am supporting the next wave of healthcare providers."
4. What have been your "aha" moments that have reshaped the way you approach simulations?
"Embrace it when things go wrong, and it is okay for simulations to be disorganized or chaotic. When a simulation does not go as planned, it can still be a great learning opportunity which the students would have otherwise not had. When it comes to simulations being disorganized or chaotic, it is valuable for the students to think thru various distractions just like they will need to in real life. Being able to roll with the simulation and make the most of it has influenced my approach the most."
5. What advice would you give to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare simulation?
"Keep an open mind. Even if your path is not the trajectory you want or imagined, keep learning and working toward your goals, you never know where you will end up!"
About VALT at College of Saint Mary College:
Saint Mary uses VALT in their Health Professions Skills and Simulation Center. This is where students put theory into practice and hone their nursing skills before going into a clinical setting. Since the Center had such a positive experience with VALT, another program on campus has added the VALT solution to support their learners. The Center has been using VALT for the past several years, providing students with a comprehensive learning experience that prepares them to excel in their nursing career.
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