SON Clinical Instructor/Professional Nurse (RN) - School of Nursing (Harrisburg)

Professional Nurse/Clinical Instructor

Full-time regular, 36 hours per week, hourly position. This is a dual role position - the standard weekly schedule includes three 8-hour days in the School of Nursing and one 12-hour day on the hospital unit. Due to the academic calendar, the School of Nursing may have a decreased need for employee hours. Should that occur, the employee will be expected to supplement the hospital unit by working all or increased hours on the unit if you do not wish to use PTO.

Purpose: As a dual practicing nurse and instructor, the Professional Nurse/Clinical Instructor demonstrates a commitment to the community and to the nursing profession. In this dual capacity, the Professional Nurse/Clinical Instructor will encompass leadership, partnership, collaboration and supervision with unit members, faculty, students, and patients. As Clinical Instructor, the registered nurse will have the authority, responsibility and accountability for the clinical instruction of students at the Schools of Nursing. While serving as Clinical Instructor, will instruct, guide and evaluate nursing students during the provision of nursing care to patients during clinical practicum experience. As a practicing Professional Nurse, will serve as a member of the care delivery team. The Professional Nurse has responsibility to set the standards for the level and quality of care, with authority and accountability for the provision of nursing care. The Professional Nurse manages and provides patient care activities through the application of independent judgment, communication and collaboration with all team members.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a role model of professional nursing practice for students and peer nursing staff by serving as a recognized unit leader in one or more of the following areas: clinical expertise, teacher, specialized resource nurse, and/or evidence-based practice. Consistently gives appropriate feedback to all members of the health care team and participates in the nursing peer review process. Promotes change that enhances the quality of patient care and the unit environment. Serves on teams and manages relationships with other faculty members as a part of daily practice. Demonstrates highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skills within the context of Relationship Based Care. Reflects a commitment to nursing, the school and the program goals. Explores creative and innovative teaching learning strategies during conferences and on the clinical unit.
• Utilizes information technology skillfully to support the teaching learning process. Demonstrates interest and respect for learners through mentoring and knowledge sharing. Provides quality instruction to groups of students in the clinical area utilizing teaching learning concepts reflective of best practice in nursing education. Provides timely, thoughtful and constructive feedback and evaluations to learners. Establishes and maintains positive, caring relationships with students, faculty, management, patients/families and all other members of the health care team. Works productively and effectively within a complex educational and patient care environment. Creates meaningful clinical learning assignments based on student learning needs. Utilizes critical thinking skills necessary to lead students in the application of the nursing process in the clinical area. Applies the nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates daily goals and a plan of care for patients that involves the patient as partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner. Practices solid communication skills and is able to articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers and to negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care and unit practices. Patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient care within an episode of care and in educational/teaching instances
• Participates in self-review by critically analyzing strengths, areas for improvement in relation to performance as a clinical instructor. Receives and utilizes constructive feedback to improve clinical teaching and nursing practice. Demonstrates clinical competence in order to provide the highest quality of clinical instruction for nursing students. Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires. Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices. Supports continuous learning and commitment to lifelong learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, teaching students, supporting journal clubs, etc.
• Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement and shares outcomes from improvement projects with peer practicing nurses, other faculty, and schools of nursing. Applies evidence-based practice as a regular aspect of professional practice. Serves on or leads teams that launch innovations in patient care or support a healthy workforce. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to support improvement in clinical teaching. Assesses student performance to ensure care reflects evidenced based nursing practice.
• Builds and mends relationships among colleagues within the framework of a healthy workplace. Role models keen cultural awareness including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life through prioritization and delegation of responsibilities. Works cooperatively and productively to achieve the school goals in accordance with the mission and values of the parent organization. Maintains open communication with other health care team members to achieve academic and organizational goals. Understands how the concepts of trust, respect, professionalism and caring are utilized to build an organizational climate that fosters the development of the student. Applies principles of dignity and respect in meeting the diverse learning needs of students in clinical practice. Resolves and manages conflict effectively and in a timely manner. Creates an environment which recognizes and values differences in students, peers, patients, families and communities. Coaches students on cultural diversity and civility in the educational environment.

Requirements:

• 2 years clinical experience required
• BSN required
• Must currently be enrolled in an MSN program with a 3-year completion plan
• Precepting experience required; clinical teaching experience in prelicensure program preferred
• Appointment to this position and retention of this position is contingent upon the approval of the PA State Board of Nursing.
• The individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately to the ages of the patients served by his/her assigned unit.
• They must also demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needs as described in UPMC policy and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families.
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment.
• Exemplary clinical judgment with critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care.
• Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and to lead others in application of the nursing process.
• Mobility and visual manual dexterity.
• Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting and positioning of patients.
• Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
• Current Pennsylvania licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse.
• CPR Certification for BLS for Health Care Providers.
• Have Act 33, 34 and 73 (FBI) clearances.
• Appointment to this position and retention of this position is contingent upon the approval of the PA State Board of Nursing.
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran