Clinical Nurse Educator - Freeman Springdale Education Department

Freeman Health System • Springdale, AR

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About The Position

The Clinical Nurse Educator is a registered professional nurse who advances nursing practice as an educator, facilitator, consultant, change agent, collaborator, mentor, and clinical resource. The role assesses practice and learning needs; designs, coordinates, and evaluates orientation and professional-development programs; validates competency; and supports both new and existing team members. Using current evidence, clinical expertise, adult-learning principles, and professional judgment, the educator translates research, regulatory requirements, quality priorities, and professional standards into safe and effective bedside practice. The role partners with nursing and interdisciplinary leaders to align education with patient safety, quality improvement, workforce development, and organizational goals.

The educator supports learning-needs assessment and program design; nursing orientation, onboarding, and transition-to-practice programs; competency management and clinical practice; evidence-based practice, quality, and safety; regulatory readiness and documentation; professional development and consultation; and education-program operations. The position is full time, scheduled for 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.
• Three years of recent direct patient-care or acute clinical nursing experience.
• Current, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Arkansas; multistate privilege or additional licensure may be required based on assigned responsibilities.
• Current BLS, ACLS, NIHSS, and hospital-designated de-escalation training certification, or obtain these within 30 days of employment.

Responsibilities

• Assess learning and practice needs using quality data, regulatory findings, competency results, direct observation, learner feedback, and operational priorities.
• Design, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based education through classroom, virtual, simulation, skills-validation, coaching, and just-in-time methods.
• Develop measurable learning objectives, course content, competency tools, facilitator guides, and supporting materials aligned with current standards and Freeman Health System policy.
• Distinguish education needs from workflow, communication, resource, or performance issues and recommend appropriate interventions with leadership.
• Plan, implement, and improve nursing orientation and onboarding for new hires, transfers, return-to-practice nurses, and staff entering new specialties.
• Coordinate unit- and role-specific learning pathways, clinical experiences, preceptor assignments, and competency milestones with nursing leadership.
• Support nurse residency, fellowship, internship, student, and specialty-transition programs as assigned.
• Identify learner progress, barriers, and support needs; communicate objective findings and partner with leaders on individualized learning plans.
• Develop, maintain, and evaluate initial and ongoing competency-validation processes for nursing roles within the assigned scope.
• Validate competencies or prepare qualified validators using standardized criteria and documentation requirements.
• Maintain clinical credibility and currency in relevant nursing practice, technology, equipment, medications, procedures, and standards.
• Round in clinical areas to observe practice, reinforce standards, coach staff, and identify emerging education needs.
• Promote consistent application of policies, procedures, clinical standards, and escalation pathways.
• Translate current evidence, professional guidance, and clinical literature into practical education and bedside application.
• Collaborate with Quality, Patient Safety, Risk Management, Infection Prevention, Nursing Leadership, and other partners on education supporting improvement priorities.
• Participate in quality-improvement, evidence-based practice, research, shared-governance, and professional-practice initiatives within the role’s scope.
• Evaluate educational interventions and revise programs based on their effects on knowledge, skills, behavior, clinical practice, quality, safety, or other defined outcomes.
• Promote inquiry, psychological safety, clinical judgment, and continuous learning.
• Monitor applicable accreditation, regulatory, state, organizational, and specialty requirements affecting nursing education and competency.
• Maintain accurate, complete, retrievable education records, competency records, rosters, evaluations, and supporting documents in approved systems.
• Support survey readiness and provide education records or competency evidence as requested.
• Assist with education related to new or revised policies, standards, equipment, technology, and clinical processes.
• Coach nurses, preceptors, charge nurses, and other clinical team members in clinical judgment, communication, teaching, and leadership.
• Support certification, academic progression, career development, professional advancement, and continuing nursing education initiatives.
• Consult with leaders and staff on educational design, clinical competency, preceptor development, and professional-practice concerns.
• Build collaborative relationships with subject-matter experts, schools of nursing, clinical partners, and interdisciplinary teams as assigned.
• Manage assigned education calendars, communications, supplies, equipment, learning spaces, and program resources responsibly.
• Use learning-management and other approved systems to assign, track, document, and report education and competency completion.
• Monitor participation, completion, evaluation, and outcome data and provide leadership with updates and recommendations.
• Participate in councils, committees, workgroups, and special projects as assigned.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the role, scope of practice, and organizational needs.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Retirement with employer match
• Wellness program with discounts to health insurance or a cash bonus for participation
• Milestone payments based on longevity of employment
• Paid time off (PTO) or flex time off (FTO)
• Extended sick pay
• Career opportunities and a supportive work culture

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level