7C Med surg Unit Based Educator

Unit Nurse Educator

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you're making a difference in people's lives.

Under the general supervision of the Nurse Manager and in collaboration with the Clinical Nurse Leader, the Unit Nurse Educator practices within the Lahey Clinic Professional Practice Model, MA Nurse Practice Act, ANA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and demonstrates Lahey Clinic's core values that reflect its Mission. The Unit Nurse Educator promotes excellence in nursing practice by providing expert nursing care to patients and functions as a clinical/educational resource to nursing staff. The nurse-patient/family relationship, continuity of care and accountability are central to the delivery of individualized high quality patient care. The Unit Nurse Educator facilitates the coordination of care across the continuum and demonstrates safe practice within the domains of: Clinical judgment and decision making Nurse-patient/family relationship Clinical leadership Clinical scholarship The Unit Nurse Educator provides direct and indirect care to patients in collaboration with other health care team members. The Clinical educator maintains a current level of knowledge and skill with technical procedures as defined by nursing specialty organization complies with all regulations and standards of regulatory and accrediting bodies and is currently licensed in the state of Massachusetts as a registered nurse.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities including but not limited to:

Clinical Judgment and Decision Making: Ways in which nurses come to understand the problems, issues or concerns of patients/families, to attend to salient/critical information, and to respond in concerned and involved ways.

A. Facilitates the nursing process (as outlined in the Tertiary RN job description):

1. Maintains clinical skills and assumes clinical/direct patient care for patients when necessary.

2. Providing safe patient care -Demonstrates organizational skills that maintain safe delivery of standard care for assigned patients/families.

3. Performing systematic patient and family assessment relevant to practice settings.

4. Evaluating effectiveness of care and adapts plan based on patient/family response.

5. Effectively communicating plan of care and patient/family response

B. Collaborates with staff nurses on the assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation and documentation of nursing care.

1. Provides clinical education support to clinical nurses regarding quality metrics and disease management. Assess and document progress of practice nurses. Directly observe the delivery of care and to offer guidance to staff, especially for complex or difficult patient problems.

2. Provides the staff with available resources and information to improve patient care outcomes as well as to develop their skills.

3. Collaborates with nurses in coordinating patient teaching as well as discharge planning.

C. Improves nursing practice by assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient outcomes and standards of care.

1. Works with Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Leader, and staff nurses to plan, implement and evaluate changes in practice on each unit.

2. Develops unit-based standards of practice/protocols, which are compatible with the philosophy and goals of the Nursing Department.

3. Educates nurses about standards of practice/protocols.

4. Coordinates and implements unit-based nursing education on new or revised policies, procedures, products and equipment.

5. Participates in hospital and nursing committees

6. Develops and monitors continuous improvement initiatives on the unit.

7. Assures maintenance of educational files, bulletin boards and literary resources for the unit

8. Ensures adherence to and evaluates compliance with established policies and procedures. Ensures compliance with professional nursing standards and regulatory agencies.

D. Promotes excellence in nursing practice by providing expert nursing care to patients and functioning as a clinical resource to nursing staff.

1. Guides and instructs staff in their role as direct caregivers

2. Evaluates nursing practice to provide clinical learning opportunities for staff.

3. Assist staff to incorporate evidence-based knowledge into their daily nursing practice

4. Ongoing evaluation of nurse's progress along pathway for professional development (i.e. unit-based pathway or clinical ladder)

Clinical Leadership: The ability to lead and influence the reasoning of colleagues in the patient's best interest depends on skillful comportment, authoritative clinical knowledge and wisdom, the conviction to act as an ethical agent despite adverse consequences, and the ability to listen and enhance others' strengths. The registered nurse supports the development of others, creates a practice climate of responsiveness and learning (designer, teacher, steward).

A. Integrates the components of professional nursing practice by serving as role model. These components include clinical practice, consultation, collaboration, leadership, education, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.

B. Demonstrates professional behavior.

1. Demonstrates a commitment to practice setting by extending self when unusual needs arise.

2. Displays a positive attitude in the workplace that is supportive and open to change.

3. Demonstrates a commitment to patient safety.

4. Adheres to unit policies and procedures related to such issues as dress code, punctuality, illness, vacation scheduling, and overtime

C. Adheres to practice guidelines specific to the setting.

1. Uses resource manuals and professional journals to assist with integrating evidence-based practice into nursing care.

2. Seeks guidance from appropriate unit resources and setting-based experts.

3. Is knowledgeable about current performance improvement activities and measurement data of unit and new product initiatives.

D. Demonstrates skills as a responsive team member.

1. Assures completion of individual assignments.

2. Functions without supervision in a manner appropriate for experience.

3. Recognizes and respects the role of other health care providers.

4. Delegates work appropriately and provide direction and guidance to support personnel.

5. Shares information with other members of the team to establish or contribute to the plan of care.

6. Communicates patient's interests/needs to caregivers of other shifts, units or disciplines

7. Seeks support from peers

8. Offers support to peers

E. Upholds standards of quality nursing care.

1. Identifies variances in the use of clinical pathways, when appropriate.

2. Recognizes the importance of continuous quality improvement initiatives.

3. Participates in continuing education appropriate to practice.

Clinical Scholarship

A. Assumes role of an evidence-based practice champion.

1. Incorporates research-based knowledge into nursing practice

2. Participates in nursing research projects

3. Participates in Nursing Department based Journal Clubs

4. Implements unit-based Journal Clubs

B. Demonstrates a commitment to lifelong learning.

1. Identifies typical problems occurring in providing care to common patient populations.

2. Reviews practice decisions with experienced personnel to evaluate effectiveness.

3. Learns from observing different types of professional relationships.

4. Seeks patient assignment and/or work experience that will strengthen skill acquisition and experiential learning.

5. Identifies learning needs and seeks appropriate assistance from experienced personnel.

6. Sets realistic goals for own development

7. Participates in professional nursing organizations

8. Pursues certification in field of practice.

9. Participates in Shared Governance Councils and/or nursing/organization committees.

C. Develops formal and informal educational programs to assist nursing staff with meeting performance expectations.

1. Works with Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Leader, and staff nurses in determining educational programs for the unit.

2. Develops and implements unit based educational programs as a result of annual unit-based educational needs assessment

3. Participates in the development and presentation of hospital wide educational programs.

4. Develops and implements orientation schedules and programs for new staff members.

5. Reviews current research findings to determine if pertinent to unit practice setting.

6. Evaluates, counsels and documents the competency and performance of nursing staff.

7. Works with Nurse Manager and Clinical Nurse Leader to assure attendance at educational offerings

D. Serves as resource for students from affiliated schools of nursing and allied health.

1. Provide support to nursing staff so they may serve as preceptors for student role.

Organizational Requirements

Incorporates Lahey Clinic Guiding Principles, Mission Statement and Goals into daily activities.

1. Complies with all La