Simulation Program Director

Michelle Stearns, DNP, MSN, RN
Simulation Program Director for Nursing and Allied Health Programs
michelle.stearns@vtc.edu

I have been a registered nurse for 27 years. My areas of nursing practice have included critical care (from ICUs to critical care transport), home health care, telehealth nursing, and wellness consulting. I have worked at Vermont Tech since 2008. My positions have included administrative assignments and clinical teaching assignments. I have been involved with simulation at Vermont Tech since it arrived in 2010. I have been actively involved in simulation lab design, program development, faculty development and delivery of simulation for allied health students and practicing nurses. I have collaborated with our Continuing Education and Workforce Development department to create conferences which utilized high fidelity simulation to apply newly learned skills. I have presented on simulation locally and nationally. I have participated in local simulation research as well as a national level simulation pilot study. My doctoral capstone project focused on faculty comfort with high fidelity simulation as a teaching methodology.

My current position is that of Simulation Program Director. As part of this position, I work with students from multiple programs: Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Respiratory Therapy and Paramedicine. I provide educational development to faculty and staff to increase their comfort and utilization of simulation as a teaching modality. I have worked with healthcare organizations to create and deliver staff development events for healthcare providers.

Professional Memberships:

• American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE)
• American Nurses Association
• ANA-Vermont
• International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning
• National League of Nursing through Vermont Technical College Nursing Programs
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Society for Simulation in Healthcare