Clinical Education Specialist

Job Description

Sign-on bonus of $9,000 for eligible applicants available

Summary

The NICU Clinical Education Specialist is a registered nurse who influences professional role competence and professional growth of learners. This individual supports lifelong learners in an interprofessional environment that facilitates continuous development. The NICU Clinical Education Specialist serves as a Learning Facilitator, Change Agent, Mentor, Leader, Champion for Scientific Inquiry, Advocate for the Nursing Professional Development Specialty, and Partner for Practice Transition. Specific responsibilities include: onboarding/orientation, competency management, education, professional role development, research/evidence-based practice/quality improvement, and collaborative partnerships with a focus on the department's clinical employees. Collaborates, consults, and partners with the department's leadership team.

The NICU Clinical Education Specialist may be expected to provide direct patient care. Specifically, under general supervision, assumes 24-hour accountability and demonstrates the ability to plan and provide direct professional nursing care for specified patients throughout the entire episode of service delivery as defined by the population and unit. Provides nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the standards of practice of a professional nurse, Connecticut Children's policies and procedures, the Joint Commission, and State and Federal regulations.

A key concept of the position is twenty-four hour accountability for assessing and meeting the learning needs of clinical employees. Reports to Nurse Manager.

Responsibilities

Role Responsibilities

1. Analyzes issues, trends, and supporting data to determine the needs of individuals, organizations and communities in relation to health care.
2. Collects data and information to validate an identified gap in professional practice and to determine the specific knowledge, skill or practice deficit or opportunity.
3. Identifies desired outcomes of the educational plan.
4. Establishes a plan that prescribes strategies, alternatives, and resources to achieve expected outcomes.
5. Implements the identified plan.
6. Coordinates educational initiatives and activities.
7. Employs strategies to facilitate positive learning and practice environments.
8. Provides consultation to influence plans, enhance the abilities of others, and effect change.
9. Evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes.
10. Integrates ethics in all areas of practice.
11. Maintains current knowledge and competency in nursing and professional development practice.
12. Acts as a champion of scientific inquiry, generating new knowledge and integrating best available evidence into practice.
13. Systematically enhances the quality and effectiveness of nursing professional development practice.
14. Acts as a change agent within all settings.
15. Provides leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.
16. Collaborates with interprofessional teams, leaders, stakeholders, and others to facilitate nursing and positive outcomes for consumers.
17. Evaluates personal practice in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines and relevant statues, rules, and regulations.
18. Considers factors related to quality, safety, effectiveness and cost regarding professional development activities and expected outcomes.
19. Advances the profession and the specialty through mentoring and contributions to the professional development of others.
20. Demonstrates support for the mission, values, and goals of the organization through behaviors that are consistent with the Connecticut Children's standards.
21. Demonstrates ownership and accountability to department and organization outcomes (ex. Nursing retention rates, Patient & Family Experience measures, etc.).
22. Demonstrates flexibility in schedule in order to provide off-shift visibility.

Position Specific Role Responsibilities

Clinical Education Specialist:
1. The aforementioned responsibilities are focused in scope, but not limited to, the department of hire.

Direct Patient Care:
CLINICAL PRACTICE - On a daily basis, demonstrates clinical expertise and uses the nursing process to provide safe, appropriate patient care to a defined patient population according to Connecticut Children's and unit policies and standards.

POPULATION SPECIFIC - Demonstrates knowledge of the differences and needs of patients in appropriate, specific populations from neonate through adolescence and applies them to practice. Demonstrates cultural sensitivity in all interactions with patients/families.

UNIT LEADERSHIP - Delegates duties and tasks associated with patient care to clinical staff according to hospital policy and their scope of practice. As assigned, contributes to the leadership of the unit by functioning as the Resource Nurse and/or by participating in the professional development of others through preceptor/mentor activities. Supports the unit's/department's work productivity and resource management activities.

DOCUMENTATION/COMMUNICATION - Completes all required documentation in a timely manner, according to CCMC policies and standards; necessary information is effectively communicated to all members of the health care team.

PATIENT/FAMILY PARTNERSHIP & EDUCATION - Partners with child and family in evaluating outcomes. Monitors, trends, and evaluates patient/family responses to treatment. Provides appropriate education to patients and families regarding all aspects of care according to Connecticut Children's policies and standards; supports the organization's efforts to patient/family education.

CCMC STANDARDS - Demonstrates support for the mission, values and goals of the organization through behaviors that are consistent with the Connecticut Children's Standards.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Plays a role in the selection of new employees. Collaborates with nursing leadership team to support employees' clinical practice and professional development. Provides mentoring and coaching to employees. Provides feedback to nursing leadership team to support the Performance Management Process.

Qualifications

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor's Degree in nursing required. MSN or higher in nursing preferred, but matriculation in program required within 18 months of hire and completion of program required within four years of hire date.
• Education and experience in Professional Development/education is strongly preferred
• Experience in Adult Learning and program development
• Minimum two years of acute care nursing experience, preferably in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

LICENSE and/or CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

• Current State of Connecticut Registered Nurse Licensure required and maintained thereafter
• For Clinical Education Specialists hired after 11/1/16, current certification in Nursing Professional Development preferred but required within three years of hire
• American Heart Association, or American Red Cross, Healthcare Provider CPR/BLS certification required upon hire and maintained thereafter
• Current certification as a PALS Instructor preferred but required within one year of hire
• Specialty license/certification preferred but required within 1 year of hire.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Adult instructional methods and theories, learning concepts, and evaluation
• Nursing and professional development practice
• Regulatory/Compliance/Joint Commission standards
• Theory, principles, techniques and practice of professional nursing
• State regulations regarding nursing practice
• Clinical standards of care; documentation and patient record policies and standards
• Teaching techniques; identification of learning needs and provision of patient/family education
• Developmental and population-specific patient & family assessment techniques and how to apply to practice
• Accreditation and certification requirements and standards

SKILLS:
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational and presentation skills, as well as an ability to communicate effectively within a team, across disciplines, and with patients and families
• High level customer service skills to establish and enhance positive relationships with others.
• High Emotional Intelligence
• Positive attitude and engaging personality
• Strong instructional design/training skills
• Must be comfortable facilitating training or presenting information in front of a large group.
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Leadership and management skills or potential to learn, including communication, conflict resolution, team building, problem solving and decision making
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite products and the ability to learn and use the organization's Learning Management System

ABILITY TO:
• Function independently, prioritize and manage time
• Have a flexible schedule to best meet employee learning needs. Including the ability to work approximately 25% off shift
• Demonstrate all of the Connecticut Children's Leadership core behaviors, values and code of conduct or demonstrate the potential to do so
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Act in a professional capacity and serve as a professional role model
• Contribute to quality assurance programs, and enforce organizational and unit policies, procedures and
standards
• Make clinical and procedural decisions using the nursing process
• Maintain confidentiality of information
• Delegate appropriately to ancillary staff

About Us

Connecticut Children's is the only health system in Connecticut that is 100% dedicated to children. Established on a legacy that spans more than 100 years, Connecticut Children's offers personalized medical care in more than 30 pediatric specialties across Connecticut and in two other states. Our transformational growth establishes us as a destination for specialized medicine and enables us to reach more children in locations that are closer to home. Our breakthrough research, superior education and training, innovative community partnerships, and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion provide a welcoming and inspiring environment for our patients, families and team members.

At Connecticut Children's, treating children isn't just our job - it's our passion. As a leading children's health system experiencing steady growth, we're excited to expand our team with exceptional team members who share our vision of transforming children's health and well-being as one team.

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