Nursing Professional Development Generalist

POSITION SUMMARY :

The Nursing Professional Development Generalist (NPDG) supports the continuum of learning and professional development to promote and maintain clinical competence in role performance across assigned units. The role exists to assess staff learning needs, evaluate clinical knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based professional development activities that support individual and organizational goals.

Operating under general supervision, the NPDG provides leadership and direction to nursing staff with a focus on nurses new to their roles, ensuring alignment with departmental priorities and strategic objectives. The role contributes to optimizing patient outcomes, decreasing harm, and advancing quality and safety initiatives by fostering positive practice environments and supporting attainment of strategic goals.

The NPDG facilitates shared governance practices and utilizes the nursing process to guide professional development planning and support clinical practice across the assigned scope of responsibility.

Position: Nursing Professional Development Generalist Department: Nursing Training and Education Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Assesses and Prioritizes Learning and Practice Needs: Collects and analyzes data from multiple sources (quality metrics, competency assessments, regulatory requirements, stakeholder feedback) to identify practice gaps and learning needs. Validates findings with Nursing Professional Development Specialists (NPDS), Patient Care Directors, and Nurse Managers, and reassesses needs as staff achieve competency.
• Designs and Implements Evidence-Based Education and Development Plans: Develops collaborative education plans with defined learner outcomes in partnership with NPDS and clinical leadership. Plans and coordinates orientation, onboarding, in-service, continuing education, and competency-based programs using adult learning principles and evidence-based frameworks. Aligns programs with organizational strategic goals, patient safety priorities, and regulatory standards.
• Leads Nursing Onboarding and Orientation Programs: Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of competency-based orientation programs for new nursing staff. Collaborates with preceptors and leadership to create individualized orientation plans, monitor orientee progress, maintain required documentation, and recommend program improvements based on evaluation data and current practice standards.
• Oversees Ongoing Competency Assessment and Continuing Education: Contributes to the design, implementation, and annual evaluation of competency assessment programs. Integrates high-risk/low-volume data, high-volume/problem-prone data, regulatory requirements, and new skill acquisition into competency planning. Collects and analyzes program evaluation data to measure effectiveness and implements improvements as indicated.
• Serves as Clinical Practice Resource and Expert Consultant: Provides consultation and guidance to nursing staff and leaders regarding clinical decision-making, priority setting, practice standards and practice concerns. Supports implementation of patient care standards, policies, procedures, new technologies and practice changes to promote safe effective and cost-efficient care.
• Integrates Professional Standards, Evidence, and Regulatory Requirements into Practice: Incorporates the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice, accreditation criteria (including ANCC standards as applicable), and relevant laws and regulations into educational planning and clinical practice initiatives. Ensures required documentation and program records are maintained for compliance and audit readiness.
• Facilitates Interprofessional Education and Practice Initiatives: Develops collaborative partnerships with interdisciplinary departments to plan, implement, and evaluate interprofessional education programs and system-level improvement initiatives. Participates in nursing and interdisciplinary committees that impact patient care and professional practice.
• Maintains Required Program and Instructor Responsibilities: Coordinates and delivers designated certification programs, including American Heart Association courses (BLS, ACLS, PALS), ensuring use of current course materials, appropriate equipment, and accurate completion of course documentation. Maintains required records and ensures program compliance with governing standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Graduate of an accredited baccalaureate program required with a t least 5 years of progressively responsible duties in clinical nursin