Nurse Education Safety Specialist [Acute Care Clinical Decision Unit], 24 Hours Days, University Campus

UMass Memorial Health•Worcester, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse Education Safety Specialist is responsible for assessing, planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating staff development and educational activities that address identified or anticipated learner needs in assigned areas. The specialist supports the quality of patient care and progression of clinical practice by assessing, coaching, and developing nursing staff in collaboration with interdisciplinary care teams. This work encompasses clinical practice, patient care, workplace safety, and patient outcomes, and includes contributing to educational programs for the Nursing Department. The role supports clinical practice and patient experience through staff education, clinical guidance, practice monitoring, and collaboration with unit leadership. It develops and evaluates orientation, in-service, and continuing education; promotes evidence-based educational methods; supports patient education; and identifies policies or practices that need revision. As a member of the nursing leadership team, the specialist supports competency requirements, staff orientation and precepting, communication, regulatory compliance, and educational planning. The specialist promotes a culture of safety and high reliability, reviews and investigates Safety Intelligence Reports, escalates serious reportable events, rounds on patients, and contributes to patient safety and experience outcomes. Standard staffing responsibilities include coordinating task assignments, helping resolve operational issues, providing staff direction, attending required meetings, supporting quality improvement, and maintaining reliable attendance. The role is based on a nursing unit and in normal office and classroom environments, with possible off-shift or weekend work. For the Care Coordination role, the specialist reports to the Director of Care Coordination and contributes to performance evaluations and staff scheduling. That role also requires three years of direct hospital care management experience within the past eight years. For the Employee Health Services role, the specialist reports to the Nurse Manager; work may include off-site locations such as the Medical School.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Education, or a related healthcare field.
Active Massachusetts RN license.
Current BLS certification.
At least 3 years of clinical nursing experience, including at least 1 year in a clinical preceptor and/or charge nurse role.
Demonstrated leadership experience.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
Ability to frequently use a computer, keyboard, printer, educational equipment, and read printed materials.
For the Care Coordination role: three years of direct hospital care management experience within the past 8 years.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Nursing, Education, or a related healthcare field.
At least 3 years of teaching experience.
Process improvement experience.
For the Care Coordination role: current Case Manager Certification.
For the Employee Health Services role: Occupational Health certification.

Responsibilities

Assess, plan, organize, implement, and evaluate staff development and educational activities for assigned areas.
Support quality patient care and clinical practice progression through assessment, coaching, and development of nursing staff in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
Participate in developing departmental goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
Coordinate team huddles with unit-based leadership to review admissions, patient progression, and discharge plans.
Communicate, educate, and monitor changes to clinical practice and expectations; review documentation, support staff, and report ongoing non-compliance to management.
Collaborate with leadership on systems that support nursing staff competence, autonomy, and accountability, including nursing standards, practices, and educational needs.
Create a learning environment that supports practice in accordance with nursing standards.
Conduct regular educational needs assessments for areas of responsibility.
Design, organize, implement, and evaluate staff orientation, in-service, and continuing education programs.
Provide clinical support and demonstrate expertise in nursing care for patients and patient populations in coverage areas.
Promote evidence-based educational methods and technologies and help nurses apply educational principles to patient education.
Identify policies, standards, and practices that do not comply with current standards and communicate needed revisions.
Participate in nursing leadership activities, interview panels, orientation, and annual regulatory and clinical competency requirements; report unprofessional or unsafe practice to the Nurse Manager.
Help ensure compliance with hospital policies, regulatory requirements, quality assurance programs, safety policies, and infection-control procedures.
Serve as a role model, coach, and facilitator, and foster collaboration with departments, staff, physicians, and managers.
Participate in staff meetings and communicate system-wide goals and objectives to frontline staff.
Ensure staff meet annual and unit-based competencies; develop staff nurses' precepting skills and oversee charge nurse orientation for nurses new to the role.
Consult with or facilitate committees planning formal and informal learning activities, serve as faculty for Nursing Department programs, and participate in educational strategic planning.
Maintain effective communication within coverage areas and with other departments; maintain educational program records, data, and statistics for administrative, regulatory, and evaluation purposes.
Promote a culture of safety and a zero-harm approach using high-reliability principles.
Report on Safety Intelligence Reports, conduct initial review and investigation, and immediately escalate serious reportable events to the Nurse Manager.
Support patient safety and patient experience outcomes, use communication tools to enhance patient experience, and round on patients for experience and risk assessment.
Identify issues and resolve problems using analytical and critical thinking aligned with organizational objectives.
Coordinate task assignments, help resolve technical and operational problems, and evaluate whether solutions achieve goals.
Provide direction and leadership to staff, support teamwork and motivation, and integrate efforts with system-wide initiatives.
Comply with departmental and hospital policies, quality assurance, safety, and infection-control procedures; demonstrate quality improvement in daily work.
Attend required meetings, conferences, and seminars; maintain regular, reliable, and predictable attendance; perform other similar duties as required.
For the Care Coordination role, contribute to performance evaluations and staff scheduling in collaboration with the Director.
For the Employee Health Services role, perform possible off-site work.