The Clinical Practice Nurse Educator functions across Carewell Health by providing staff development expertise as an educator, consultant, facilitator, change agent, leader, and researcher. The Clinical Educator strives for quality outcomes and innovative practice in accordance with the NJ Nursing Practice Act and the Hospital/departmental policies. The Clinical Practice Nurse Educator supports the development of bedside nurses and fosters empowerment through knowledge to achieve excellence in the delivery of evidence-based nursing practice. This occurs through the facilitation of the educational process, including the assessment, development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of competency assessment, continuing education, and leadership development. Accountable for the quality of nursing services delivered by self (or others who are under her/his direction). This is done through participation in quality-assurance or performance-improvement initiatives.

The Clinical Practice Nurse Educator reports to the Director of Education or Designee and provides care in collaboration with other disciplines to ensure optimal, individualized patient care and outcomes. In managing patient care, the Clinical Practice Nurse Educator/Leader will take a leadership role, coordinating the interdisciplinary team and collaborating with other health team members to enhance patient outcomes. In addition, as a role model of professional behavior, the Clinical Practice Nurse Educator is instrumental in creating a professional nursing climate within Carewell Health.

Educator

• Conducts needs assessments using a variety of strategic tools.
• Assists learners in the assessment of needs and identification of outcomes.
• Incorporates principles of adult learning in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of education programs
• Coordinates orientation of new staff to the organization
• Develops/coordinates education plans related to initial and ongoing competency validation.
• Develops/coordinates core education to address patient population-specific nursing care.
• Develops/coordinates core education for the development of beside leaders.
• Plans, prepares, and maintains materials for use in educational programs for accuracy and relevance to the target audience.
• Identifies and evaluates instructional materials in all types of media and formats.
• Adjusts content and teaching strategies to meet the learner's needs.
• Provides educational opportunities that benefit nurses at all stages of their career development.
• Delivers competence-based programs for nursing staff with a focus upon improvement of skills and retention of knowledge.
• Develops evidence-based educational materials.
• Supports staff development with educational activities (which include remediation, certification, mentoring, life support, TJC, DOH, OSHA, and other regulatory requirements, product rollouts, etc.)
• Evaluates the effectiveness of educational programming.
• Prepares short- and long-term planning and programs to address identified needs.
• Teaches content as needed and/or assigned within clinical expertise to facilitate orientation, staff development, and/or safe practice.

Consultant

• Serves as an educational consultant to facilities, task forces, committees, and projects relating to policy, procedure, and program development.
• Responses to regulatory mandates for research and management of sentinel events
• Responds to identified needs of Carewell Health to promote quality patient care and safety.
• Collaborates with Carewell Health to recommend educational strategies for the implementation of clinical standards.
• Consults with staff regarding individual learning needs.

Researcher

• Supports the integration of research into practice.
• Provides information to document the effectiveness of the role as a staff development educator.
• Incorporates current educational evidence into individual practice as a staff development expert.
• Conducts and/or contributes to nursing research.
• Interprets, communicates, and incorporates research findings into program planning.

Nursing Practice

• Utilizes advanced clinical knowledge and communication skills through role modeling, consultation, and education with nurses and healthcare providers to support nursing practice and improve patient outcomes.
• Creates and develops evidence-based policies, procedures, protocols, and best practice models/guidelines using advanced clinical and specialty knowledge.
• Assists nurses and the interprofessional team to evaluate and change practice standards and ensure nursing practice is evidence-based.

System

• Leads systematic quality improvement and safety initiatives based on gap assessments and data analysis.
• Drives translation of best evidence into practice and facilitates integration of multiple programs and disciplines across the healthcare system to ensure positive patient outcomes.
• Collects and analyzes data while utilizing collaborative systems thinking to achieve quality, cost-effective patient care and outcomes.

Facilitator

• Facilitates the adult learning process, creating a climate that supports learning across the health system.
• Identifies and recruits internal and external resources (nurses, doctors, other specialists) for educational activities.
• Coordinates educational activities (includes continuing education credit, clinical affiliations, nurse residency, etc.)
• Participates in committees, task forces, and projects for areas of coverage.
• Facilitates teambuilding and leadership development for areas of coverage.
• Participates in review of activities or processes for the area of coverage and department.

Change Agent

• Responds to changes in nursing practice and develops programs to support those changes.
• Ensures that educational programs are congruent with organizational missions, values, and goals.
• Maintains flexibility when managing multiple roles and responsibilities.
• Interprets and communicates across multiple disciplines.
• Promotes a safe and healthy work environment.