Biography

Jessica Skaltsis, DNP, RN, CHSE, is Director of Undergraduate Programs, Clinical Assistant Professor, and Simulation Education Coordinator at the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing, and an Emeritus Nurse at The Miriam Hospital. With more than 30 years of experience, she provides strategic leadership in undergraduate nursing education, curriculum implementation, clinical partnerships, and innovative teaching.

As Director of Undergraduate Programs, Dr. Skaltsis oversees program administration, curriculum delivery, clinical education, accreditation readiness, and faculty support. Previously, she served as Acting Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Clinical Coordinator, leading curricular improvements, strengthening clinical partnerships, coordinating placements for hundreds of students annually, and managing part-time faculty.

Since 2019, Dr. Skaltsis has led the transformation of URI’s skills and simulation program, delivering immersive, evidence-based learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. She secured Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) accreditation for the nursing simulation program in December 2024 and introduced virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and wearable technologies into simulation training. She obtained a $159,000 Champlin Foundation grant to support these innovations and founded the Rhode Island Healthcare Simulation Consortium in 2024 to promote statewide collaboration.

Her clinical background includes emergency, medical-surgical, and case management roles at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital. In 2024, she was named Emeritus Nurse at The Miriam Hospital in recognition of her clinical excellence, mentorship, and leadership in patient safety and quality initiatives. Dr. Skaltsis is committed to faculty development and continuing education in simulation pedagogy and clinical instruction. Her research on disaster simulation learning outcomes has been published in Nurse Educator. Through her leadership, she continues to advance undergraduate nursing education and simulation excellence.