Educator Patient Care Services - Education-Clinical

Department: Education-Clinical

Shift: Days

Daily Work Times: Variable 

Scheduled Biweekly Hours: 80

Position Summary: 

Responsible for evaluating the learning needs of staff and providing on-going education within assigned unit scope of practice by using evidence-based research, following hospital policy and procedures, nursing process guidelines, standards of care, and accrediting body standards. Develops orientation and competency curriculums.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

Incorporates the roles of educator, facilitator, change agent, leader, consultant, or researcher in the learning activities that support the nurse in developing and maintaining continuing professional nursing competence.

1.     Educator: Utilizes principles of adult learning, nursing process, and nursing theory to foster the educational development of staff, the healthcare team and self.

·       Develops, plans, and implements educational activities within their area of expertise and directly or indirectly fosters the development of competence in the learner.

·       Provides role orientation development, which engages the learner in critical thinking and problem solving.

·       Develops an annual educational plan, based upon an assessment of each nursing unit/nursing group, which defines core and ongoing competency validation consistent with current practice, assures consistent standards of practice across the continuum, and meets all legal and program accreditation requirements.

·       Develops, coordinates, and evaluates basic and advanced nursing continuing education programs consistent with American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation Criteria and other applicable national accrediting bodies.

·       Ensures documentation of employee orientation, competency validation, and continuing education activities in assigned areas.

·       Supports and assists staff in developing preceptor and teaching skills.

·       Identifies creative competency verification and continuing education methods, which are cost effective, utilizing risk/benefit analysis skills and stimulate an ongoing learning environment/culture.

·       Differentiates educational issues from system/compliance issues.

·       Studies and evaluates matters relating to continuing education and recommend appropriate action.

2.     Leader:  Utilizes leadership principles and support organizational and administrative structures to achieve department and organization goals.

·       Participates in quality improvement initiatives in specialty areas.

·       Orientation of new department members in clinical orientation.

·       Supports leadership efforts to monitor educational activities of staff.

·       Ensures that the educational activities are congruent with the organizations mission, vision, and goals.

3.     Consultant: Acts as a formal or informal consultant to clinical and administrative staff.

·       Participates in the development, facilitation, and evaluation of unit, departmental, service line, and corporate goals and objectives, especially as they relate to clinical practice, patient outcomes, and defining systems/models of care delivery.

·       Promotes professional cohesiveness among clinical staff, positive working relationships with other departments, and interdisciplinary team building in health care delivery.

·       Represents the clinical specialty in networking with hospital/system-wide committees, professional associations, external agencies, and related programs.

·       Provides feedback to the learners, leadership, and the organization related to the effectiveness of the learning and the learning activity.

·       Identifies the need for state legislation in the field of continuing education and recommend appropriate action.

·       Provides continuing education activities and providers of continuing education.

·       Reviews or initiates other duties related to continuing education.

·       Reviews matters relating to continuing education and recommends appropriate action.