Clinical Nurse Educator

DCH Health Care Authority • Tuscaloosa, AL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse Educator assumes a leadership role in assessing, planning, developing, coordinating, delivering, and evaluating educational programs for licensed and unlicensed nursing staff. The educator serves as the clinical expert for the assigned area and maintains the clinical expertise needed to carry a staff nurse assignment. Programs include orientation, continuing education and in-services, assigned innovative programs, and competency management.

The role assesses staff learning needs and performance trends, develops and delivers education using evidence-based teaching strategies and technology, and routinely rounds on staff to identify needs and address learning or performance issues. The educator supports other departments and teams, assists with staff education on new equipment, contributes to policies and competency development, and maintains records and reports of educational activities. The position also provides Nurse Managers with staff performance updates and promptly escalates clinical and safety concerns.

The role requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, intranet, and other relevant computer and educational technologies. Physical presence onsite is essential. The work may involve exposure to body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, or cleaning solutions, and requires common protective equipment. Physical demands include medium work, prolonged standing and walking, reaching, kneeling, bending, sitting, stooping, lifting, and the ability to run in an emergency.

Requirements

• Current Alabama RN license.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• At least 3 years of RN experience in the department(s) served.
• Ability to provide direct patient care on the nursing unit in the area of expertise by carrying out a typical staff nurse assignment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer skills and knowledge of relevant software and educational technology.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training, plus all additional minimum training required for the nursing area of expertise and assignment.
• Ability to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership, speak publicly, delegate to team members and students, address conflict and stressful situations, communicate with different personalities, and participate in face-to-face discussions.
• Ability to work in groups and perform structured and unstructured work while meeting time pressures and deadlines.
• Ability to use electronic mail, telephone, and texting.
• Ability to tolerate possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, laboratory chemicals, hazardous materials, and cleaning solutions, and to wear common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, masks, and gowns.
• Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 30 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
• Ability to tolerate prolonged standing and walking; reach reasonable distances in any direction; stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit, stoop, and lift; and run in an emergency.
• Ability to move fingers in a coordinated manner and perceive temperature, texture, shape, and size with fingertips.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Teaching and leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge of Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, Excel, and other software and educational technology preferred.
• Affiliation with professional organizations is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Assess ongoing staff educational needs using formal and informal input from staff, nursing leaders, stakeholders, performance data, safety issues, and trends.
• Plan, develop, coordinate, and teach clinical education programs, including orientation, continuing education and in-services, and competency management.
• Ensure orientation and ongoing training for new and current educators.
• Serve as the clinical expert for the assigned area and maintain the clinical expertise needed to carry a staff nurse assignment.
• Serve as an educational resource to other departments and participate on teams as needed.
• Use evidence-based teaching strategies, techniques, and technology to promote positive learning and practice environments.
• Round on staff during their shifts to assess learning needs, troubleshoot learning or performance issues, and provide education.
• Participate in unit staff meetings as needed and assist with ongoing collection of data about staff education needs.
• Participate in the ongoing development, revision, and validation of staff competencies.
• Develop and deliver general and unit-specific continuing education based on identified learning needs; design, implement, evaluate, and keep records of programs.
• Develop and maintain electronic records and reports documenting educational activities, including program evaluations, and maintain accurate, organized records.
• Participate in the development, education, and interpretation of policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Integrate ethics, regulatory requirements, and best practices into educational activities as applicable.
• Coordinate and assist with staff education related to new equipment.
• Maintain current knowledge and competency in nursing professional development practice and instructor status for AHA courses.
• Ensure CNE education is documented according to ABN guidelines and stay informed about industry standards applicable to the area of practice.
• Achieve continuous, measurable improvement in areas of responsibility and provide Nurse Managers with updates regarding staff performance.
• Escalate clinical and safety concerns appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Maintain technical skills to operate clinical equipment and serve as a resource for staff.
• Meet DCH performance, patient satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and financial standards; comply with Employee Handbook requirements, DCH policies and procedures, and DCH Behavioral Standards.
• Perform essential job functions in a manner that supports safety, identify and reduce unsafe practices, and take appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time