Orientation & Competency Specialist RN

Salary range: $108,500 - $162,00/year

ST. CHARLES HEALTH SYSTEM

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Orientation & Competency Specialist RN

REPORTS TO POSITION: Clinical Education Leader

DEPARTMENT: Clinical Education

DATE LAST REVIEWED: September 2025

OUR VISION: Creating America's healthiest community, together

OUR MISSION: In the spirit of love and compassion, better health, better care, better value

OUR VALUES: Accountability, Caring and Teamwork

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Clinical Education Department is a system-wide support service that provides education, clinical practice support, and professional development opportunities for nursing, allied health, medical staff, and community partners at St. Charles Health System.

This integrated department delivers services across multiple domains, including:

• Clinical Practice & Professional Development (CPPD): Onboarding/Orientation, Competency Management, Continuing Education, Professional Role Development, Collaborative Partnerships, and American Heart Association Training Center.
• Medical Education: Graduate and undergraduate medical education, residency and fellowship programs, student clinical rotations, and partnerships with academic institutions.
• Continuing Medical Education (CME): Accredited continuing education programming for medical staff, ensuring alignment with national standards and maintenance of licensure requirements.
• Medical Library: Provision of evidence-based resources, research support, and clinical information services.
• Area Health Education Center (AHEC): Collaboration with community partners to strengthen the healthcare workforce pathway in Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Orientation & Competency Specialist RN facilitates orientation for new clinical staff, ensuring foundational competencies are met through structured training and support. Collaborates with unit leaders and advanced educators to deliver standardized education and track compliance with required competencies.

The role supports in collaboration with subject matter experts and leadership, the following programs: Clinical Orientation (in person and online), Competency Management, and Just in Time training. This position supports leadership to ensure that all clinical caregivers are meeting regulatory, legal, and accreditation standards and requirements are met.

This position does not directly manage other caregivers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Conducts nursing and allied health specific orientation and clinical skills training to ensure all caregivers are fully prepared and compliant with all state, federal, organizational, and accrediting‐body requirements at St. Charles Health System.

Supports allied health onboarding with clinical context and safety emphasis.

Works with leaders to fulfill "just-in-time" education and training requests using appropriate modalities while assigning appropriate credit types.

Collaborates with nurse leaders to align education with practice standards.

Works in collaboration with leaders and subject matter experts to implement, track, and ensure that competencies for each clinical role within the organization are up-to-date and completed within the required timeframe.

Maintains current knowledge of regulatory, legal, and accreditation requirements for initial and ongoing competencies and trainings.

Regularly reviews data and program outcomes to identify areas for improvement.

Supports the vision, mission and values of the organization in all respects.

Supports the Lean principles of continuous improvement with energy and enthusiasm, functioning as a champion of change.

Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.

Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.  Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures, supporting the organization's corporate integrity efforts by acting in an ethical and appropriate manner, reporting known or suspected violation of applicable rules, and cooperating fully with all organizational investigations and proceedings.

Delivers customer service and/or patient care in a manner that promotes goodwill, is timely, efficient and accurate. 

May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

EDUCATION:

Required: Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university.

Preferred: Master's degree in nursing or nursing education from an accredited college or university.

Certificate in Nursing Education or equivalent preparation or experience in nursing education.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

Required: Current license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Oregon by the OR State Board of Nursing. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Provider BLS or obtain certification within 90 days of hire.

Preferred: ANPD or Clinical Nursing specialty certification.

EXPERIENCE:

Required: Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in clinical setting is required. Two (2) years of experience as a clinical educator, trainer, or equivalent role at the unit, departmental, or health system level is required. Experience applying a variety of teaching methodologies, working with accrediting bodies for clinical or professional excellence, and supporting shared governance and professional advancement systems.

Preferred: Five (5) years' experience in higher education or clinical professional development. Working knowledge of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Specialty Medical Boards, The Oregon Health Authority, Joint commission and physician credentialing rules and regulations, and how to apply them appropriately. Familiarity with adult learning theories. Experience in project management and content creation.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Must be able to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

ADDITIONAL POSITION INFORMATION: 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

General
Apply the nursing code of ethics, professional guidelines, and Nursing Professional Development Specialist standards.

Serve as a resource and function as an educator, consultant, mentor, and change agent.

Plan, implement, and evaluate professional development and continuing education programs for nursing and allied health staff.

Design curricula that incorporate sound education principles, evidence-based practice, measurable outcomes, and accreditation requirements.

Assess and document clinical competency, identifying strengths, needs, and opportunities for improvement.

Apply adult learning theories, instructional methods, and evaluation techniques.

Maintain knowledge of nursing and allied health standards, emerging practices, and relevant regulations.

Demonstrate understanding of medical terminology, patient care principles, medications, and safety standards.

Use computer systems, software, and project management tools effectively.

Collaborate with internal departments and external partners to meet clinical education needs.

Communication/Interpersonal

Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact with a diverse population and professionally represent SCHS. 

Ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels within SCHS and external customers/clients/potential employees

Strong team working and collaborative skills

Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment

Organizational

Ability to multi-task and work independently.

Attention to detail.

Excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication and customer service skills, particularly in dealing with stressful personal interactions.

Strong analytical, problem solving and decision making skills.

Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.

Computer

Demonstrated ability and experience in computer applications, use of electronic medical record keeping systems and MS Office, Database management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Continually (75% or more): Use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.

Frequently (50%): Sitting, standing, walking, lifting 1-10 pounds, keyboard operation.

Occasionally (25%): Bending, climbing stairs, reaching overhead, carrying/pushing or pulling 1-10 pounds, grasping/squeezing.

Rarely (10%):  Stooping/kneeling/crouching, lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling 11-15 pounds, operation of a motor vehicle.

Never (0%):  Climbing ladder/step-stool, lifting/carrying/pushing or pulling 25-50 pounds, ability to hear whispered speech level.

Exposure to Elemental Factors

Never (0%):  Heat, cold, wet/slippery area, noise, dust, vibration, chemical solution, uneven surface.

Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category

No Risk for Exposure to BBP

Schedule Weekly Hours:

40

Caregiver Type:

Regular

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Is Exempt Position?

Yes

Job Family:

NON CONTRACT RN SPECIALIST

Scheduled Days of the Week:

Monday-Friday

Shift Start & End Time:

8:00am - 5:00pm

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