Nurse Educator (RN) Cardiac Medical Surgical

Nursing Professional Development Specialist

The Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Specialist functions within the roles of educator, change agent, consultant, evidence-based practitioner, and leader. The NPD Specialist is responsible for assessment, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of learning and development programs that enhance associates' performance, promote professional development, or otherwise support the mission, vision, and SPIRIT Values of MedStar Health and the Department of Nursing. This role will have the responsibility of our Cardiac Medical Surgical area(s).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Learning and Education
  • Demonstrates clinical expertise, leadership, communication skills, and knowledge of education theory and principles necessary to develop learning programs and achieve optimal educational outcomes.
  • Designs, implements, and evaluates designated learning and educational programs and consultative services. Assesses learning needs through formal and informal approaches to data collection to determine specific education needs of associates.
  • Applies teaching techniques that promote critical thinking and evidence-based practice incorporating principles of adult learning theory.
• On-Boarding and Orientation of New Associates
  • Plans and conducts orientation of new personnel to facilitate a new associate's transition to the practice environment and meeting competency assessment requirements in conformance with departmental objectives, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards.
  • Participates in On-Boarding and Orientation of new associate by conducting general nursing orientation programs and coordinating the unit-based orientation of associates new to the department of nursing and/or hospital.
  • Supports transition to practice for newly licensed nurses using the MedStar New to Practice Nurse Residency Program model.
• On-Going Learning: Existing and New Clinical Programs
  • Identifies and assesses learning needs and knowledge or skill gaps that require remediation and collaborates with unit leaders to promote critical thinking and competent patient care delivery.
  • Develops education plans, coordinates appropriate resources, evaluates, and documents responses to teaching and follows up with associates transitioning to different clinical areas or roles.
  • Coordinates and plans educational offerings for nursing associates with consideration of but not limited to mandatory regulatory requirements, quality and safety performance improvement, and clinical advancement.
• Continuing Education and Provider of Contact Hours
  • Provides continuing education activities to expand current knowledge and where appropriate acquire and maintain certification using provider unit and other resources.
  • Conducts educational activities that inform, teach, and facilitate adoption of new procedures, technologies, equipment, and patient care trends with continuing education credits where appropriate.
  • Facilitate the offering of clinical nursing specialty certification review programs.
• Competency Assessment and Management
  • Provides expertise for competency development and competence assessment across the department of nursing.
  • Plans and regularly conducts competency validation programs for nursing department associates.
  • Applies principles of adult learning to assess staff learning and competency needs.
  • Offers competency-building activities to enhance associates' educational and experiential learning.
  • Coaches other nursing associates and provides feedback to enhance professional nursing practice.
  • Differentiates between practice gaps and performance or system issues and addresses them accordingly.
• Evaluation of Learning Programs
  • Develops evaluation plans and applies evidence-based evaluation systems to determine the effectiveness of educational activities and learning programs. Involves learners in the evaluation process.
  • Provides documentation of participation and level of success during competency and educational programs.
  • Disseminates the evaluation results of the learning activities and revises learning programs based on objective evaluation data.
  • Reviews performance data on clinical quality and safety of care delivery and contributes to plans which address patient population-specific needs and enhance outcomes.
• Career Counseling, Mentoring, and Coaching
  • Assists adult learners in applying theoretical knowledge through utilization of tactics such as just-in-time training and in-the-moment coaching.
  • Meets identified learning needs fosters lifelong learning and supports career advancement in a wide range of nursing specialties.
  • Evaluates own practice in relation to nursing professional development and practice standards guidelines and relevant statues, rules, and regulations. Pursues ongoing learning and educational opportunities to enhance own practice knowledge, skills, and competencies.
  • Promotes Pathway to Excellence standards through daily practice.
• Evidence-Based Practice and Research
  • Incorporates evidence into learning programs and clinical education activities especially in content development and use of evidence-based learning models and evaluation systems.
  • Participates in research evidence-based practice and/or performance improvement activities.
  • Maintains knowledge of evidence and current trends and innovations in nursing practice, clinical instruction, nursing education, staff development, and use of simulation and learning technologies.
  • Utilizes approaches and strategies that support and optimize patient care outcomes that are based on the interdisciplinary plan of care and absolutes of IMOC and Contemporary Primary Nursing.
  • Promotes the standards of Pathway to Excellence through daily practice.
  • Takes action to support the National Patient Safety Goals, nursing sensitive indicators, regulatory requirements (i.e. DC Health TJC), and other identified quality metrics.
• Partnerships: Internal and External
  • Participates in and disseminates information from committees involving the community health system entity and unit or department related to learning programs, projects, and collaborative governance council activities.
  • Collaborates with other departments, experts, and leaders both internal and external to MedStar Health to obtain information needed to pursue development of relevant learning programs.
  • Serves as a liaison with academic partners and clinical student placements.
  • Participates in the conduct of research or collaborates with others in such activities.

Minimal Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing required
• Master's degree in Nursing, Health Care, or Business Administration preferred

Experience

• 3-4 years of progressively more responsible job-related experience in Cardiac Medical Surgical required
• Experience in teaching or professional development preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure in the District of Columbia required
• Certification in clinical specialty from nationally recognized nursing organization within 1 Year required
• Nursing Professional Development certification within 36 months of hire required
• CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (includes BLS and NRP) for healthcare providers from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross within 90 Days required
• Additional unit/specialty certifications may vary by department or business unit.

This position has a hiring range of USD $89,065.00 - USD $162,801.00 /Yr.