Nursing Professional Development Specialist - Labor & Delivery and Postpartum at Waterbury Hospital – Waterbury, Connecticut

SCOPE OF POSITION:

Provide clinical education experiences to foster professional development of staff in clinical areas. This includes orientation of new staff in addition to the ongoing development of current staff to include training and competency programs. Promote safe care for mothers and babies and maintain patient safety as a priority for all clinical practice and operations at the unit level. Perform audits and chart reviews as needed internally or as requested by government or regulatory agencies. Collaborate with the FBC Management Team and the Central Education Department. Reports to Director of Nursing Education.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Validate competencies and skills based on employee specific needs assessment.

• Establish individualized goals and experiences with both new and current staff.
• Maintains working balance of national benchmarks and relevant quality initiatives.

• Provide/coordinate experiential and Unit/Department specific learning opportunities.

• In collaboration with the Education Department, facilitate the ongoing development of staff with a focus on clinical expertise, critical thinking, communication skills and professional behavior through role modeling activities.

• Actively participate in quality and performance improvement activities. Maintain policies and procedures. Develop, revise, and implement standards of care for the department.
• Synthesizes national guidelines, current literature, and evidence-based practice to implement, maintain, and evaluate perinatal safety program.
• Maintains competence in national clinical practice standards and disseminates safety and specialty related information to FBC team members.
• Collects, analyzes, and evaluates outcome data to anticipate and mitigate potential patient risk and to enhance nursing professional practice.
• Promotes professional growth and development of nurses and providers through role modeling and mentoring.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Licensed Registered Nurse, State of Connecticut.
• MSN required (or obtained within 2 years of hire)
• RN C-OB or C-EFM certification required
• Minimum five (5) years Post-Partum and Labor & Delivery Experience
• AWHONN Fetal Monitoring Instructor Certification required or obtained within 12 months from hire
• Previous experience teaching groups preferred.
• Must have basic computer skills and ability to access internet and other programs applicable to Waterbury Hospital procedures.
• Perform automated functions that fall within job responsibility.