SimSimple in Practice: Emerging Leaders in ED

How do you prepare the next generation of emergency department leaders?

At one hospital, an Emerging Leaders Program brought together ED fellows and nurses to explore leadership and teamwork through the lens of the Seven Drivers of Team Effectiveness. The program aimed not just to teach leadership theory, but to give participants practical tools to lead their teams and grow into their roles.

To bridge that gap between theory and practice, the group turned to Visually Enhanced Mental Simulation (VEMS)using SimSimple Kits.

Participants designed and ran scenarios that mirrored the everyday challenges of emergency leadership:

• Coordinating during high-acuity cases

• Sharing mental models across disciplines

• Managing stress and uncertainty

• Practicing explicit and implicit communication

• Navigating role clarity and task delegation

By using the SimSimple Basekit, Trauma Kit, and Maternity Kit, nurses and fellows could quickly immerse themselves in simulated leadership and teamwork moments—without the complexity of a sim centre or manikins. The laminated patient and equipment visuals created just enough realism to spark authentic teamwork behaviours, while keeping the focus on decision-making, communication, and relationships.

The exercise highlighted how each of the Seven Drivers—capabilities, cognitions, communication, conditions, coordination, cooperation, coaching—can be brought to life in clinical situations. Participants not only learned about these drivers, they felt them in action, and reflected on how they show up in their day-to-day leadership practice.

This simple, accessible use of VEMS created a safe, practical space for emerging leaders to test themselves, support each other, and grow confidence in leading emergency teams.

You can purchase BaseKits to jumpstart your leadership training here.