Registered Nurse_ Clinical Nurse Educator For Surgical Specialty Clinic/Specialty Procedure Unit

Veterans Health Administration • San Diego, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peri-op Surgical Clinic and Procedures Clinical Nurse Educator RN provides high-quality, evidence-based education and clinical support to nursing staff in Surgical Specialty Clinics and Special Procedures. The role uses specialized knowledge of the diverse populations served by the VA and provides education, guidance, clinical leadership, and consultation to support staff nurses and promote high-quality patient care.

The educator collaborates with nursing education leaders, clinic and procedure-unit management, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and other educators to develop and deliver strategic education. The position plans and evaluates orientation, competency validation, continuing education, simulation training, and professional development; promotes evidence-based practice and quality improvement; and supports policy development and standards of care. The role also mentors staff, preceptors, nursing students, and residents, and evaluates educational outcomes using performance data, feedback, and unit metrics.

The position is with the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 0700–1530. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change-of-station authorization are not available.

Requirements

• Graduate of an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying equivalent education as described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the grade and level sought, as specified in the announcement.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless appointment of a qualified non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Complete required pre-employment screening, including urinalysis for applicants selected for testing-designated positions, a background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the online onboarding and application requirements; a two-year probationary period is required.
• Be able to meet the stated physical requirements, including heavy lifting of 45 pounds or more; pulling, pushing, walking, standing, repeated bending, reaching above shoulder, and prolonged keyboarding and screen reading; specified vision, hearing, coordination, and emotional/mental stability capabilities.
• Submit transcripts when relying on education to qualify; foreign education requires the stated equivalency documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
• AACN certification.
• Formal experience as a Clinical Educator.
• Three years of current surgical specialty clinical or preprocedural clinical experience.
• Documented ability to plan and execute orientation programs for all levels of staff.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and improvement principles, with demonstrated ability to mentor staff in this process.
• Documented ability to develop competencies, policies, standards of practice, and procedures.
• Experience collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with nursing education leadership, Peri-Op program management, clinic and special-procedure management, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and other educators to design and implement the nursing education strategic plan.
• Provide clinical leadership and consultation to establish, maintain, and evaluate standards of care and clinical practice.
• Develop and maintain strategic educational plans and evidence-based programs aligned with facility goals, professional standards, and national benchmarks.
• Design, coordinate, and evaluate orientation, annual competencies, and ongoing education; validate competencies and promote continuous learning.
• Implement and manage competency assessment processes, including the Donna Wright competency methodology, in collaboration with management.
• Lead simulation-based training, workshops, and clinical skill labs as appropriate to the work areas and facility requirements.
• Mentor nursing staff in critical thinking, prioritization, evidence-based decision-making, documentation, and professional communication.
• Promote evidence-based practice and quality improvement projects, mentoring staff in research utilization and practice innovation.
• Collaborate on policy and procedure development, review, and implementation to align with best practices and regulatory expectations.
• Provide education and updates on clinical changes, code management, emergency response, infection prevention, standards of care, and competency validation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to assess learning needs, deliver targeted education, and promote patient-centered, high-quality care.
• Lead and support performance-improvement projects aimed at improving outcomes in designated areas.
• Evaluate and report educational outcomes using performance data, staff feedback, and unit metrics.
• Develop and sustain preceptor and mentorship programs that support onboarding, professional development, and leadership growth.
• Instruct and support nursing students and residents, coordinating with academic affiliates and supporting programs such as RNTTP, VA-STEP, and PB-RNR.
• Collaborate with management to conduct quality and safety rounds, assess practice standards and patient outcomes, and identify staff development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the VA San Diego Healthcare System and Nursing Education & Research Department.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, comprising 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree