Nurse Aide Program Instructor (RN)

Elderwood•Lake Placid, NY

About The Position

Elderwood is seeking a Registered Nurse to serve as a Nurse Aide Program Instructor. The role prepares aspiring nursing assistants for healthcare careers and supports learning, clinical readiness, and professional growth among existing employees. The instructor leads orientation and onboarding, develops and delivers clinical education, coordinates competency testing and certifications, and supports nursing assistant training. The position also includes direct nursing responsibilities: accepting resident assignments as scheduled or needed, administering medications and treatments, assessing residents, documenting care, and supporting CNAs. Additional duties include coordinating mandatory education, tracking compliance, conducting employee health activities, and supporting emergency preparedness and facility readiness.

Requirements

Current license and registration to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State.
At least one year of experience in a long-term healthcare facility.
Experience providing in-service education or demonstrated skill in clinical teaching.
Current clinical confidence in medication administration, treatments, assessment, documentation, and change-in-condition management.
Willingness and ability to accept a resident assignment and work as a cart nurse when scheduled or operationally necessary.
Ability to teach, coach, mentor, and communicate effectively with employees at different experience levels.
Ability to work cooperatively with frontline employees, preceptors, managers, department leaders, and senior facility leadership.
Strong verbal, written, organizational, and documentation skills.
Ability to manage education, orientation, competency, compliance, and direct-care responsibilities.
Ability to use electronic medical records, learning-management systems, and standard computer applications.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at the level necessary for safe care and effective workplace communication.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing or another relevant baccalaureate degree.
Previous experience as an RN Educator, Staff Development Coordinator, Nurse Educator, preceptor, RN Supervisor, Unit Manager, or clinical instructor.
Skilled nursing, subacute rehabilitation, or geriatric nursing experience.
Experience developing nursing competencies or supporting regulatory surveys.
Experience with IV therapy, wound care, enteral feeding, post-acute care, or other complex nursing services.
Experience supporting CNA training or Nursing Assistant Training Programs.
Experience as an electronic-medical-record super user.

Responsibilities

Plan and coordinate general orientation with facility department leaders and lead orientation for licensed nurses, CNAs, and Support Aides based on hiring needs.
Partner with Unit Managers and Nurse Preceptors to strengthen department-based orientation, coach new nurses, evaluate orientation effectiveness, and identify employees needing additional support.
Plan, deliver, and evaluate nursing education based on clinical needs, quality priorities, regulatory requirements, and competency gaps.
Coordinate annual and ongoing clinical-skills competency testing for licensed nurses and collaborate on employee development.
Schedule and lead IV-certification programming; coordinate and teach BLS certification programming; maintain required equipment and records.
Serve as a clinical resource and develop education on clinical practices, procedures, equipment, policies, and resident-care needs.
Reinforce assessment, response to changes in condition, documentation, infection prevention, medication safety, and interdisciplinary communication.
Coordinate CNA and Support Aide orientation and serve as a primary instructor for the Nursing Assistant Training Program when applicable.
Coordinate program implementation, required documentation, and testing; assist with Prometric testing coordination when applicable; and ensure required nursing assistant in-service education.
Accept cart-nurse assignments as scheduled or needed, manage care for the assigned resident group, administer medications and treatments, assess residents, and respond to changes in condition.
Communicate clinical changes to providers, nursing leaders, residents, and families; complete timely and accurate documentation; and direct, support, and assist CNAs during the assigned shift.
Model expected clinical, communication, documentation, and infection-prevention practices, and use direct-care experiences to identify education and workflow-improvement opportunities.
Coordinate mandatory corporate and facility in-service education, maintain the monthly education calendar and required reports, and enroll employees in Learning Management System programs.
Track module completion, competency documentation, certification status, and required education hours; follow up on incomplete requirements.
Serve as an electronic medical record clinical super user and help employees use the system accurately.
Perform employee vaccinations, health screenings, and assigned medical testing.
Coordinate emergency-preparedness exercises, including fire, disaster, and Code Blue drills, and maintain required education, drill, screening, and competency records.
Support facility readiness for surveys, audits, emergencies, and clinical-quality reviews.