By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Three nursing simulation professionals at Saint Xavier University earned the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator credential, the Chicago university announced on Monday.
Jennifer Pietranczyk, director of SXU’s Simulation and Integrated Learning Center (SILC), sim lab technician Steven Ford and sim lab assistant Kailey Kehoe all received the CHSE credential from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, an international organization that promotes standards in simulation education, according to an Oct. 26 announcement from the university.
Kehoe, the most senior member of the SILC team, renewed her CHSE certification this year. Pietranczyk earned the credential for the first time, achieving what she called a long-standing professional goal. Ford also earned the Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist credential in addition to the CHSE.
“I wanted to challenge myself beyond simply gaining experience in simulation and confirm that I am following standards of best practice,” Ford said in the announcement. “Certification gave me an opportunity to demonstrate that I understand the educational principles and professional standards behind the work we do.”
Ford said he plans to spend the academic year improving simulation scenarios, expanding the use of different simulation modalities and exploring opportunities for research and professional development.
“Ultimately, success isn’t about how advanced our technology is or how realistic our simulators are,” Ford said in the announcement. “It is what happens when one of our graduates encounters a difficult situation in practice and realizes, ‘I’ve seen this before. I know what to do.’ That’s the outcome I hope we continue working toward.”
Pietranczyk, who has more than 10 years of experience in healthcare simulation, said the credential represents an important milestone in her career.
“I have worked toward this certification for some time, and I am elated to have achieved it this past year,” Pietranczyk said in the announcement. “It represents an important milestone in my professional journey and reinforces my commitment to advancing simulation-based education.”
Simulation has become an increasingly important component of healthcare education, evolving from basic CPR training into immersive experiences using life-sized, lifelike simulators that recreate realistic patient-care scenarios, according to the university. The approach helps students practice clinical skills, strengthen critical thinking and build communication and teamwork abilities in a controlled environment.
The SILC team at SXU has worked to build an evidence-based simulation program through equipment acquisitions, learning environment improvements and the development of scenarios aligned with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice, the university said.
Saint Xavier University is located at 3700 W. 103rd St. on Chicago’s Southwest Side. The university offers undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. The credentials earned by the SILC team come at a time when healthcare workforce shortages have intensified demand for well-trained nurses across the Chicago region and nationally.
Students and prospective nursing students can learn more about SXU’s simulation resources by contacting the university at 844-468-6798.
Source: Saint Xavier University
