GS Nursing Professional Development Specialist

Nursing Professional Development Specialist

The Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) is responsible for directing and planning the continuum of learning and professional development to support competence in role performance and improve patient care and quality outcomes. The role exists to advance clinical practice, professional growth, and organizational effectiveness through structured education and development initiatives that align with departmental and organizational strategic goals.

The NPDS assesses staff learning needs; identifies program goals and objectives; develops, plans, and implements evidence-based educational activities designed to promote positive learning and practice environments; and evaluates changes in knowledge, skills, and behaviors to ensure improved patient care and quality outcomes.

Operating under general supervision, the NPDS functions with a high degree of professional judgment in planning and executing education and development initiatives. The role collaborates across departments and disciplines to support practice transitions, quality improvement efforts, and the integration of evidence into practice. The NPDS may provide guidance related to professional development initiatives but does not typically exercise direct supervisory authority.

Essential Responsibilities / Duties:

• Conducts Comprehensive Learning Needs Assessments: Identifies and prioritizes educational and professional development needs by collecting and analyzing data from quality metrics, competency assessments, regulatory requirements, patient outcomes, practice gaps, stakeholder input, and organizational initiatives. Reassesses needs as competencies are achieved or new gaps emerge.
• Designs and Develops Evidence-Based Education and Development Programs: Develops measurable program goals, objectives, and outcomes aligned with organizational priorities, regulatory standards, and evidence-based practice. Designs curricula, competency frameworks, orientation programs, residency/fellowship programs, continuing education, and interprofessional education initiatives using adult learning principles and structured educational design processes.
• Implements Education, Orientation, and Competency Programs: Coordinates and delivers onboarding/orientation, in-service education, continuing education, competency assessment programs, practice transition (residency/fellowship) programs, and role-specific certification courses. Adjusts learning plans based on learner readiness, performance data, and demonstrated competence. Ensures required materials, documentation, and equipment are available and maintained.
• Evaluates Program Effectiveness and Outcomes: Utilizes reliable evaluation methodologies to measure changes in knowledge, skills, behaviors, clinical practice, and patient outcomes. Analyzes evaluation data, quality indicators, and feedback to determine effectiveness and implements revisions to improve educational and competency programs. Maintains required documentation and records for regulatory and accreditation compliance.
• Supports Practice Change and Quality Improvement Initiatives: Applies change management and quality improvement methodologies to advance patient care standards, policies, procedures, and care delivery processes. Participates in interdisciplinary committees and institutional initiatives that impact clinical practice, safety, efficiency, and quality outcomes. Facilitates implementation and adaptation of practice changes across departments.
• Provides Consultation and Clinical Practice Support: Serves as a resource and consultant to nursing leadership and interdisciplinary teams regarding competency concerns, practice standards, clinical decision-making, and professional development strategies. Collaborates to address complex clinical or system-level issues and supports remediation or performance improvement initiatives when indicated.
• Promotes Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Scientific Inquiry: Integrates current research, literature, and evidence into educational programming and practice standards. Supports quality improvement projects and research activities; analyzes findings for applicability to clinical practice; and disseminates outcomes through presentations, reports, or integration into practice guidelines.
• Ensures Regulatory and Professional Standards Compliance: Incorporates applicable professional standards, accreditation criteria, and regulatory requirements into all education and professional development activities. Develops and maintains required program documentation consistent with accreditation and institutional standards and ensures readiness for audits or regulatory review.
• 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.

(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:

Master's degree in nursing and at least 5 years of progressively responsible duties in clinical nursing practice required

Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Previous teaching experience is strongly preferred

Role and Unit specific coverage preferred

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Required:

Licensed to practice professional nursing as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, required.

Basic Life Support current status required

Certification in a relevant specialty or practice area (or within 6 months).

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Preferred:

BLS/ACLS Instructor Status is highly desired.

Role Specific PALS and/or TNCC Instructor Status desired

National certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD) is strongly desired (or when eligible).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Skill in analyzing clinical, quality, and educational data to identify practice gaps, develop measurable objectives, and evaluate program outcomes.
• Skill in developing and delivering educational programs and presentations for nursing and interprofessional audiences.
• Skill in using computerized information systems to access, enter, analyze, and retrieve clinical, quality, and educational data.
• Skill in organization and project coordination, including the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives, manage timelines, and maintain required documentation and program records.
• Skill in supervising and evaluating clinical competence of probationary employees through direct observation, competency validation tools, and performance feedback processes.
• Skill in written and verbal communication in English sufficient to prepare educational materials, reports, evaluations, and correspondence and to communicate effectively with interdisciplinary teams. Bilingual or multilingual skills appropriate to the patient population served are preferred.
• Ability to function effectively in high-demand environments involving critical patient care issues, organizational change, and competing priorities.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and educational design processes used to develop, implement, and evaluate competency-based education programs.

Role will also need to be flexible with work hours to meet needs of organization.

Compensation Range: $104,000.00- $151,000.00

This range offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications. However, our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and a broad range of factors is considered when making an offer. This includes education, experience, skills, and certifications/licensures as they directly relate to position requirements; as well as business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market-competitiveness. In addition, BMCHS offers generous total compensation that includes, but is not limited to, benefits (medical, dental, vision, pharmacy), discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases, Flexible Spending Accounts, 403(b) savings matches, paid time off, career advancement opportunities, and resources to support employee and family well-being.

Note: This range is based on Boston-area data, and is subject to modification based on geographic location.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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