Nursing Professional Development Practitioner (Educator, Harding Hospital)

Scope of Position: The Nursing Professional Development (NPD) practitioner provides ongoing and constant support to the transforming healthcare landscape. The NPD practitioner functions as a nurse leader in an interprofessional environment applying evidenced based practice, clinical expertise, and patient values to improve patient outcomes. The NPD practitioner engages in environmental scanning to continuously assess potential professional practice gaps. By using various sources of data, the NPD practitioner identifies learning needs that include but are not limited to emerging issues, new or updated evidenced based guidelines, comparison of current performance and/or outcomes with national data bases and use of new tools and techniques. (Harper amp;Maloney, 2016 pg.7)
Position Summary: The NPD practitioner is a masters prepared registered nurse who influences professional role competence and professional growth of learners in a variety of settings. This NPD practitioner maintains lifelong learners in an interprofessional setting that facilitates continuous development and learning for the healthcare team. The NPD practitioner demonstrates expertise in the identified roles: learning facilitator, change agent, mentor, leader, champion for scientific inquiry, advocate for NPD specialty and partner for practice transitions. Responsibilities include: onboarding/orientation, competency management, education, professional role development, collaborative partnerships, research, evidenced based practice and quality improvement. (Harper amp; Maloney, 2016, pgs.12-13)
Reference: Harper, M.amp; Maloney. Nursing professional development: scope amp;standards of practice, 3rd ed, 2016
Duties and Responsibilities
95% Professional Development
Orientation/Onboarding
Develops an individualized program to guide the new hire towards job competency
Identifies the requirements of the regulatory bodies to which the organization reports
Identifies new equipment, processes, policies, procedures, etc. that require staff education (responds to
stakeholder's requests)
Uses evidence-based assessment techniques or instruments to define potential issues, problems, and needs
Coordinates implementation of an educational plan, including activities and resources necessary to achieve
desired outcomes
Creates and implements strategies for seamless transitions to practice and between practice settings
Interacts with new hire, preceptors, and unit leadership team to enhance personal practice and enculturation to the
organization
Competency Management
Assesses knowledge, skill, and practice gaps within the micro and mesosystem
Assesses knowledge through methods such as testing, case studies, discussion, etc.
Assesses skills through observation of practice, simulation, report from peers/supervisors, etc.
Assesses practice through observation, managerial report, self-report, etc.
Creates and conducts initial and ongoing assessment of competence
Ensures use of evidence-based clinical guidelines for competence validation
Adheres to requirements of regulatory and accrediting bodies
Collaborates with key stakeholders to identify meaningful, relevant competencies for ongoing assessment
o Assessment of practice gaps
o Identification of learning needs
o Outcome identification
o Planning
o Implementation
o Coordination
o Facilitation of positive learning and practice environments
o Evaluation
Education
Develops educational activities to address practice gaps for identified target audiences, which may include
continuing nursing education (CNE), interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) and education for nonlicensed
healthcare personnel
Facilitates education of learners to meet their professional development needs
Participates in micro, meso, and macrosystem structures such as committees and councils to maintain awareness
of needs
Applies the educational process in a responsible, accountable, and ethical manner
o Assessment of practice gaps
o Identification of learning needs
o Outcome identification
o Planning
o Implementation
o Coordination
o Facilitation of positive learning and practice environments
o Evaluation
Professional Role Development
Participates in educational activities related to the NPD practitioner specialty
Demonstrates initiative to find specialty-specific educational content online, in journals, through conferences, etc.
Acquires knowledge and skills appropriate to the specialty area, practice setting, role, and learner diversity
Seeks experiences to develop, maintain, and improve competence in nursing professional development
Seeks a mentor to facilitate personal professional development
Interacts with peers and colleagues to enhance personal practice and role performance
Takes action to achieve goals identified during the professional practice evaluation process
Participates in systematic peer review
Mentors colleagues, other nurses, students, and others as appropriate
Leadership
Demonstrates emotional intelligence in decision-making
Demonstrates energy, excitement, and a passion for quality work
Supports a culture of innovation and risk-taking
Supports a just culture
Promotes the professional development programs mission, goals, action plans, and outcome measures
Implements program and project plans
Maintains records to comply with regulatory bodies standards
Research/Evidence-based Practice/Quality Improvement
Uses the best available evidence to guide practice decisions
Uses evidence to guide NPD practice as well as clinical practice
Supports research activities that align with the organizational strategic plan
Participates in research activities at various levels appropriate to the NPD practitioners education and role
Participates in quality initiatives
Disseminates research findings through educational programs, courses, and other activities
Collaborative Partnerships
Collaborates with partners to share expertise in planning and decision making to achieve the desired results
Works with other disciplines to identify problems and solutions
o Presents identified problems in a constructive manner
o Considers feasibility of solutions in terms of organizational culture and required resources
o Embraces meaningful change
o Serves as a role model in supporting meaningful change
o Communicates the vision for change
o Maintains positive tone in communications
o Uses listening skills to provide staff opportunity for feedback
Communicates with healthcare personnel and key stakeholders regarding educational programs and activities
Partners with others to effect change and generate positive outcomes
Collaborates with others in the planning and implementation of lifelong learning activities for individuals and groups of learners
5% Performs related and additional job duties as required

Minimum Qualifications
For Hire
Masters degree (Nursing preferred)
Current clinical experience or clinical instruction experience
Strong leadership skills, effective communication, problem-solving, and strong organizational skills
Interest in learning and teaching new skills
Recent teaching experience through employment or community activities
Experience with, commitment to, and competence in dealing with diverse adult populations
Strong facilitation and presentation skills
Ongoing
Demonstrates competence in technical, interpersonal, educational, and cognitive skills required to meet essential job functions
Maintains current Ohio RN license
Meet mandatory educational and health requirements
Maintains and seeks new knowledge related to patient care issues, quality improvement and cost reduction, current policies, procedures, and protocols
Patient Population