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Clinical Simulation Actor Jobs in Wheaton, IL (NOW HIRING)

Clinical Simulation Actor information

See Wheaton, IL salary details

$13

$33

$87

How much do clinical simulation actor jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for clinical simulation actor in Wheaton, IL is $33.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.01 and $31.83 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a clinical simulation actor?

Clinical simulation actors, also known as standardized patients, are individuals trained to portray real patients in medical training scenarios. They help medical students and professionals practice clinical, communication, and diagnostic skills in a realistic but controlled environment. These actors follow scripted cases and provide feedback to learners, aiding in the development of essential healthcare competencies. Their work is crucial for improving patient safety and the quality of care provided by future medical practitioners.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a clinical simulation actor?

To thrive as a Clinical Simulation Actor, you need strong acting ability, attention to detail, and a good understanding of medical scenarios, often supported by training in drama or simulation programs. Familiarity with simulation labs, standardized patient case scripts, and possibly medical terminology databases is beneficial. Excellent communication, adaptability, and feedback receptiveness are crucial soft skills that set top performers apart. These skills ensure realistic and effective simulations, helping medical trainees develop their clinical and interpersonal competencies in a safe environment.

What are common challenges faced by clinical simulation actors, and how can they be addressed?

Clinical Simulation Actors, also known as standardized patients, often face the challenge of consistently portraying specific symptoms, emotions, and case details across multiple sessions. This requires excellent memory, adaptability, and emotional resilience. To address these challenges, actors benefit from thorough case preparation, regular feedback from instructors, and participation in training workshops. Collaborating closely with medical educators and fellow actors also helps ensure the accuracy and realism needed for effective simulations.

What is the difference between Clinical Simulation Actor vs Medical Simulation Technician?

AspectClinical Simulation ActorMedical Simulation Technician
Required CredentialsOften no formal certification, but healthcare or acting experience helpfulTechnical certifications or training in medical simulation equipment
Work EnvironmentHealthcare simulation labs, educational institutionsMedical simulation centers, hospitals, training facilities
Employer & IndustryMedical schools, hospitals, healthcare training programsHealthcare institutions, medical device companies, training centers
Common Search & ComparisonClinical Simulation Actor vs Medical Simulation Technician

The Clinical Simulation Actor primarily role-plays patients or healthcare scenarios to enhance training, often with minimal technical equipment. In contrast, the Medical Simulation Technician focuses on setting up, maintaining, and operating simulation equipment. Both roles are vital in healthcare education but differ in technical responsibilities and focus areas.

What job categories do people searching Clinical Simulation Actor jobs in Wheaton, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Clinical Simulation Actor jobs in Wheaton, IL are:

What cities near Wheaton, IL are hiring for Clinical Simulation Actor jobs?

Cities near Wheaton, IL with the most Clinical Simulation Actor job openings:

Assistant Director, Clinical Simulation & Resuscitation Quality

University of Chicago Library

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


University Of Chicago rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 47 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

169th of 627 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Department

BSD SIM - Administration


About the Department

The UChicago Simulation Center strives to measurably improve the quality, safety, and experience of healthcare delivery through the application of cutting-edge simulation methods, systems thinking, human-centered design, and innovative technology. Dedicated to high-quality simulation, the Simulation Center partners across the University of Chicago Health System and Biological Sciences Division to co-design and implement simulation-based programs that promote clinical readiness, skill development, digital innovation, and research.


Job Summary

The Assistant Director, Clinical Simulation & Resuscitation Quality supports operations of the simulation lab to ensure effective delivery of center programming with a focus on quality assurance. This role may provide direct supervision to professionals at the and serves as an advisor to Center leadership to set goals.

Responsibilities

  • Co-design clinical scenarios alongside hospital clinical educators, residency program directors, and academic faculty to target specific learning gaps.

  • Actively incorporate clinical priority quality and safety concepts directly into simulation scenarios leveraging existing system committees, experts, and data trends.

  • Enable and coordinate interprofessional simulation initiatives to enhance communication and clinical teamwork.

  • Maintain the master scenario library, ensuring clinical accuracy, up-to-date guidelines, and standard formats.

  • Cultivate a culture of learning and psychological safety for all staff and learners that engage with the Simulation Center.

  • Establish and manage a system-wide mock code program, including governance, scheduling cadence, performance feedback mechanisms, and standardized scenario design for cardiac, respiratory, and other high-acuity emergency events.

  • Tailor mock code scenarios and equipment/medication protocols to the distinct needs of inpatient, ambulatory, adult, and pediatric care settings, ensuring age- and acuity-appropriate realism.

  • Coordinate with unit-based champions, nursing leadership, and rapid response/code teams to schedule unannounced and announced mock codes across care sites.

  • Lead structured debriefs after each mock code and ensure timely feedback loops to unit leadership and participating staff.

  • Standardize mock code evaluation tools to assess team performance, role clarity, communication (e.g., closed-loop, SBAR), time-to-intervention, and adherence to resuscitation guidelines (e.g., AHA/PALS/ACLS/NRP).

  • Aggregate and trend mock code performance data across departments and campuses to identify systemic gaps and prioritize targeted retraining and incorporation into other Resuscitation Core programming (ACLS, PALS, BLS, NRP).

  • Partner with resuscitation committees, code blue committees, and emergency preparedness leadership to align mock code findings with system-wide quality and safety initiatives.

  • Establish and oversee instructor audit, feedback review, and coaching to ensure fidelity to best practices and maximize effectiveness of instructors across the resuscitation core (BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP).

  • Lead performance improvement efforts related to instructional quality, programmatic efficiency, and transparent reporting.

  • Create training opportunities for simulation team members and faculty around clinical competencies identified as key to professional growth and simulation quality.

  • Implements and administers systems, policies, and procedures to support the strategic goals and sustainable growth of the simulation center and programming.

  • Scales and iterates processes across the UChicago Medicine health system to promote quality and standardization of simulation sessions across sites. Travels to locations throughout the health system as necessary to promote continuity and collaboration with a focus on Resuscitation Core and Mock Code programming.

  • Creates and fosters strong partnerships across the Simulation Center as well as throughout the UChicago Medicine health system, serving as a liaison and representative of the Simulation Center.

  • Actively participates as a thought partner and clinical voice to the simulation team.

  • Operates and maintains simulator technologies ranging from anatomic models and task trainers to screen-based simulation to full-body patient simulators and virtual reality surgical simulators.

  • Brings a growth-mindset to all duties, actively learning new technologies and skills.

  • Supports adult learning principles and the learning experience for all center users.

  • Support the mission, vision, and goals of the UChicago Simulation Center.

  • Serves as an active participant (i.e. imbedded actor) in simulation activities as needed.

  • Develops and communicates program priorities and performance standards and assesses operations using these criteria. Plans and conducts quality assurance reviews and recommends changes as appropriate.

  • Has a deep understanding when interacting with faculty, researchers and staff for committee work or information.

  • Performs other related work as needed.


Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.


Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.


Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Masters degree in education, nursing, instructional design, or a related clinical field strongly preferred.

Experience:

  • At least 2 years of direct patient care experience.

  • At least 4 years of experience working in a healthcare or technical environment.

  • At least 2 years of experience working in a simulation environment.

  • Experience in a clinical or educational setting.

  • Experience operating and troubleshooting products and software, including SimMan 3G, SimBaby, SimJunior, HAL, SuperTory and other advanced manikins.

  • Experience as a technician supporting cadaveric and tissue labs.

  • Experience with simulation software platforms such as Laerdal LLEAP.

Preferred Competencies

  • Knowledge of human anatomy and physiologic states.

  • Strong understanding of simulation-based education principles, including scenario setup, debriefing tools, and learner-centered methodologies.

  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and professional communication skills.

  • Knowledge of patient simulation services, technologies and applications.

  • Proficiency in MS software applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), database management, and Internet utilization.

  • Ability to express clinical information clearly and simply.

  • Ability to learn new skills and technology quickly and independently.

  • Ability to work well under pressure, set priorities, and make critical decisions.

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding job assignments and sensitive issues.

  • Ability to work with internal and external individuals from different disciplines and different levels of training.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Ability to collaborate successfully with faculty members, clinical instructors, learners, and other stakeholders concerning educational activities on a daily basis.

  • Self-motivated and requires minimal supervision with the ability to work as a team member.

  • Flexibility and adaptability to work varying hours/days/evening/weekends.

  • Ability to balance multiple tasks simultaneously in fast paced environment.

  • Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills to manage and resolve issues promptly.

Working Conditions

  • Office environment.

  • Weekend/evening hours: as needed.

  • Travel required: travel across UChicago Medicine's health system footprint as needed; operating a University vehicle.

  • Work requires a moderate amount of walking, transporting equipment, and occasional heavy physical lifting of equipment.

  • Must be able to lift, reach, carry, pull, and push equipment/materials up to 25 pounds frequently, and occasionally up to 75 pounds.

  • Must be able to see, hear, stand, walk, read, and perform manual tasks with or without accommodation and care for oneself with little or no difficulty.

  • Manual dexterity and quick movements required for technical tasks.

Application Documents

  • Resume (required)

  • Cover Letter (required)


The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.


Job Family

Administration & Management


Role Impact

Individual Contributor


Scheduled Weekly Hours

40


Drug Test Required

No


Health Screen Required

Yes


Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No


Pay Rate Type

Salary


FLSA Status

Exempt


Pay Range

$75,000.00 - $100,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.


Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.


Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.


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