It’s not always that a career and passion will blend into one, but simulation team member Gloria Trujillo has managed just that, applying her love for helping people, especially children, to her nursing profession. Employed as a nurse specialist/educator at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies for 11 years now, Trujillo has worked hard to get where she is today. Starting in pediatrics for eight years, she then earned her master's degree from Barry University and became a supervisor for an urgent care center in Miami-Dade County.
She credits past experiences—like being a bedside nurse, interacting with families, being a problem solver, and holding a leadership position—with much of the success she’s found in her role at S.H.A.R.E.™. Receiving feedback from great mentors was also helpful, says Trujillo, as she didn’t know much about simulation before joining the simulation team at the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
A typical day at work for her means guiding students through either simulation scenarios or skills labs. It’s always a different experience because she teaches students at various experience levels. “My favorite,” says Trujillo, "is working with the first and last semester students because you see where they started, and how much they’ve grown from the beginning.”
In today’s world, where superior nurses are needed more than ever to help people, Trujillo loves that simulation gives students a safe environment to practice nursing, and sees it as constantly changing and evolving.
Speaking of changing and evolving, Trujillo admits that 2020 was a rough year for all of us, but she always tries to look at the positive side of things. As a wife and mom of two who deeply values her family time, she says she took advantage of COVID-19 restrictions by spending a lot of time with them, doing outdoor activities such as biking and barbecuing.
Describing herself as flexible, creative, and caring, Trujillo also values the bonds she has been able to form with students and faculty members from many different backgrounds. Their journey to becoming nurses is the common interest that strengthens their connection. “I love meeting new students and getting to know why they want to become a nurse,” says Trujillo. “Their stories are very compelling and personal, which makes it a great experience!”
