Clinical Nurse Educator, Inpatient Behavioral Health

Eastern Connecticut Health Network•Manchester, CT

43d

About The Position

Provides clinical expertise, education, consultation, leadership, and research in selected clinical areas to benefit patients, staff, and the organization. Serves as a resource to staff and management. Allocates available resources to promote efficient, effective, and compassionate patient care throughout the organization. Facilitates the development of collegial relationships. Visible, accessible, and committed to communicating effectively with staff. Promotes the profession of nursing and professional practice. Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.

Requirements

Must be a graduate of an accredited School of Nursing and hold and maintain current a Registered Nurse license in the State of Connecticut.
Must hold a BSN from an accredited University.
Master's Degree in Nursing preferred. Matriculation required after one year in position.
Must have certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support upon hire or receive certification within the new employee introductory orientation period and maintain clinical competency during employment within this role.
Must have at least five (5) years or more of progressive experience in clinical practice, nursing education, and/or nursing management in an acute care setting.
Three (3) years of Behavioral Health experience required.
Maintains clinical competency required for area of assignment.
Must be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Basic Computer skills are necessary.

Nice To Haves

Basic certification in area of specialty is preferred: Nursing/Education/Behavioral Health.

Responsibilities

Participates in regular or episodic high quality, competent direct patient care in area of expertise. Assesses the quality of care for a specific patient population. Creates an environment in which high quality care can be provided.
Coordinates and implements orientation of BHU nursing staff. Collaborates to develop individualized orientation programs and monitors orientee's progress. Collaborates with Nurse Manager to address orientee concerns/problems. Ensures accurate completion of orientation paperwork.
Coordinates and implements continuing education for BHU Staff. Develops programs to ensure that educational standards are met.
Plans and implements annual BHU competencies through collaboration with the Nurse Manager and Medical providers. Assists with documenting staff completion of nursing competencies.
Uses a comprehensive approach, a high level of discriminative judgment, advanced knowledge, and expert skill to identify problems and issues that interfere with patient care and that may require intervention.
Provides clinical practice interventions that result in improvements in clinical outcomes, patient /family satisfaction, resource allocation, staff knowledge and skills, health care team collaboration, and organizational efficiency
Provides indirect patient care through delegation and guidance to staff nurses and collaboration with members of the healthcare team to develop standards of care, clinical procedures, or quality improvement plans. Implementation and adherence are evaluated to compare outcomes, refine guidelines, improve clinical management, and further promote consistent adherence. Participates in system evaluation of technology and its impact on patients and resources
Acts as an expert resource that provides pertinent information which enables nurses and others to make decisions based on a wide range of relevant and appropriate alternatives. Supports the Clinical team in their ability to care for this patient population.
Participates in both formal and informal teaching and coaching of staff nurses, graduate nursing students, other healthcare professionals and patients/ families. Demonstrates commitment to career development and professional practice of self and staff.
Fosters a spirit of inquiry by documenting problems to determine research needs or by generating or refining identified research problems. Interprets and applies research findings. Analyzes and evaluates the appropriateness of research and applies research findings to advance clinical practice and patient care delivery. Evaluates outcomes.
Authors and actuates clinical practice guidelines and procedures; designs and directs quality performance improvement initiatives; chairs interdisciplinary committees or manages clinical projects; influences and guides institutional healthcare policy decisions.
Collaborates with nurses, nurse educators, physicians, and other healthcare providers and patients and their families to result in teambuilding, synergism, and integrative solutions.
Acts as positive role model for nurses demonstrating practical integration of theory and evidenced based practice.
Utilizes evidence based practice in clinical procedures, administrative policies and educational materials for patients, staff, and others.
Acts as a change agent to provide a link between a variety of resources and staff and asserts clinical and professional leadership in the practice setting or healthcare system, in health care policy and delivery decisions, or in the administration of direct care programs. Acts as a knowledgeable, strong, risk taking nurse leader. Conveys a strong sense of staff advocacy and support.