Professional Development Educator Generalist (ED) - Registered Nurse

The Clinical Nurse Professional Development Educator (NPD) is a Registered Nurse position in the Emergency Department at Wellstar Health System. This role works collaboratively to assess, identify, plan, implement, coordinate, facilitate, and evaluate educational activities that improve healthcare practice for nursing and non-licensed staff. The position supports professional development initiatives aligned with the Association of Nurse Professional Development (ANPD) Practice Model and Wellstar's Nursing Professional Practice Model.

The Clinical NPD Educator supports the Clinical Nursing Professional Development Educator Specialist, clinical managers, and interprofessional teams to implement, document, and modify evidence-based educational programs and activities that promote professional competency and role performance. The role also includes providing direct clinical support as a proactive member of the interdisciplinary care team to ensure patients, families, and significant others receive individualized, high-quality, safe patient care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct learning needs assessments of target audiences and validate identified needs with learners, content experts, and nurse leaders
• Prioritize anticipated educational needs in alignment with system strategic goals and use data to identify future trends and issues
• Assess and identify practice gaps related to educational needs, determining needs from current issues and trends such as falls, infections, new equipment, and regulatory changes
• Establish learning outcomes in collaboration with learners and stakeholders, using outcomes to demonstrate that learning activities and programs meet their intended purpose
• Develop educational plans that prescribe strategies, alternatives, and resources to achieve expected outcomes, incorporating adult learning and instructional design principles
• Plan education that addresses diverse learners including gender, race, culture, and generational differences within target audiences
• Implement and coordinate educational plans while facilitating positive learning experiences
• Select valid and reliable methods and instruments to measure processes and outcomes; evaluate data to guide future decision-making and improvements
• Disseminate results of educational program evaluations and revise based on evaluation data
• Collaborate with support departments including organizational learning, safety and quality, IT, and business intelligence to advance educational initiatives
• Serve as a clinical resource to nursing staff, leadership, and medical staff for interdisciplinary practice
• Demonstrate teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a fiscally responsible manner that promotes recruitment and retention of healthcare team members
• Consult with preceptors and orientees to facilitate completion of orientation
• Partner with colleagues to effect change and generate positive outcomes
• Engage colleagues in planning and implementing lifelong learning activities for individuals and groups
• Facilitate and support performance improvement activities inclusive of all stakeholders to promote safe, quality patient care
• Actively participate in shared governance at all levels in the system
• Ensure patient, family, and staff confidentiality and corporate compliance; complete all required mandatory education and proficiencies
• Serve as a preceptor or mentor for professional nurses, staff, and students of all disciplines to ensure a current and future qualified workforce
• Model professional nursing practice and create a healthy work environment
• Participate in educational activities related to knowledge and skills appropriate to the specialty area, practice setting, nursing education role, and learner diversity
• Apply current standards, guidelines, policies, and regulations into educational offerings
• Seek experiences to develop, maintain, and improve competence in nursing professional development
• Seek professional certification in NPD
• Promote evidence-based practice, research, and performance improvement in nursing
• Participate in value analysis activities as part of decision-making processes in evaluating patient care products
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and disseminate research findings through educational programs
• Apply principles of implementation science to maintain and sustain practice changes
• Uphold all healthcare system and organizational policies, procedures, and clinical competencies including legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements
• Integrate ethics in all areas of practice
• Develop innovative solutions and strategies to secure appropriate resources and technology for professional development initiatives
• Introduce and support new ideas and embrace meaningful change; continuously scan the environment for trends and issues that require change and foster acceptance and adoption
• Perform the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, identification of outcomes, planning, implementation, and evaluation) in clinical care using evidence-based practice and critical thinking
• Coordinate delivery and documentation of safe, quality patient care that promotes the professional care delivery model
• Utilize diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary communication methods including interdisciplinary rounds and case reviews
• Complete timely documentation and promote a respectful, inclusive clinical environment
• Complete all initial and ongoing professional competency assessments and required mandatory education
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Comply with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct

Schedule

• Day shift

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
• Minimum 3 years of nursing practice experience
• Experience with direct patient care
• Ability to read, write, and speak English language
• Advanced computer skills and ability to optimize use of technology to support learning
• Emotional intelligence
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with excellent customer service skills
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment and respond to emergencies in a decisive, composed, and respectful manner
• Excellent time management skills
• Strong understanding of adult learning theories and ability to utilize multi-methods to implement training and development
• Ability to use tools, theories, skills, and knowledge of the specialty to improve healthcare practice of learners
• Critical thinking skills and education innovation
• Ability to maintain educational or clinical competencies appropriate for role
• Commitment to promoting lifelong learning
• Ability to use appropriate measurement tools and methods in quality improvement and evidence-based practice
• Ability to involve learners in assessment of needs and identification of outcomes
• Ability to ensure educational programs are congruous with organizational mission and goals
• Ability to produce desired outcomes relevant to organization
• Ability to select appropriate teaching strategies to facilitate behavioral change
• Ability to evaluate effectiveness and outcomes of educational endeavors
• Ability to promote career development and role transition
• Ability to develop, coordinate, manage, facilitate, conduct, and evaluate onboarding, orientation, and competency programs for nursing and other healthcare personnel
• May be required to support more than one facility or specialty

Licenses and Certifications

• RN - Registered Nurse (Single State) or RN-COMPACT - RN Multi-state Compact upon hire
• BLS - Basic Life Support or ARC-BLS - American Red Cross Basic Life Support or LS-I - Basic Life Support Instructor upon hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Some specialties may require ACLS, NRP, or PALS per unit requirement; if required, must be obtained within 6 months of employment in position