Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) - Emergency Department

ChristianaCare•Newark, DE

2d•$94,578 - $151,362•Onsite

About The Position

ChristianaCare is seeking an experienced Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) to support its Emergency Department teams. The NPDS provides leadership and oversight for education, onboarding, professional development, and competency management for nursing staff and interprofessional team members. The role partners with nursing leadership, clinical teams, and organizational stakeholders to foster clinical excellence, support role transition, advance evidence-based practice, and prepare staff to provide safe, high-quality care. The specialist serves as a clinical educator, mentor, consultant, and change agent. The position leads and supports three Emergency Department Nurse Residency cohorts annually and primarily supports the Newark Emergency Department, while collaborating with colleagues to provide educational support across other Emergency Department settings, including Wilmington. Occasional travel to Wilmington and Middletown, and potential periodic travel to community-based practice settings throughout Delaware, may be required. The role includes developing and evaluating educational and competency-based programs, creating individualized orientation plans, identifying learning needs, mentoring staff in quality improvement, translating evidence into practice, and supporting professional governance and organizational standards. The annual compensation range is $94,577.60–$151,361.60; the actual offer depends on factors including skills, relevant experience, and qualifications. ChristianaCare describes its employee benefits as including health insurance, paid time off, retirement, and an employee assistance program, with details available for eligible positions.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Master's degree in Nursing or a related field, or current enrollment in an MSN/MS program with completion within three years.
Hospital-based clinical and educational experience.
Demonstrated involvement in performance improvement.
Demonstrated involvement in regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated involvement in educational program development and delivery.
Demonstrated involvement in interprofessional collaboration.
One of the following specialty certifications: CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse), TCRN (Trauma Certified Registered Nurse), SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner), CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse), or CPEN (Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse).

Nice To Haves

Experience in emergency, trauma, critical care, or pediatric emergency practice.
Skill in adult learning principles and curriculum design.
Experience in evidence-based practice and quality initiatives.
Ability to lead change and influence practice improvements.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills across organizational levels.
Passion for developing others and building strong clinical teams.
Commitment to professional growth and nursing excellence.

Responsibilities

Provide direction, oversight, and facilitation for Emergency Department nurse residency programs.
Support and mentor new graduate nurses through transition-to-practice experiences.
Coordinate and evaluate educational programming for three residency cohorts each year.
Design, implement, and evaluate competency-based educational programs.
Develop individualized orientation plans that support onboarding and long-term retention.
Identify learning needs using performance data, quality metrics, and practice gap analyses.
Facilitate ongoing professional development opportunities for staff.
Promote clinical inquiry and research utilization.
Mentor nurses in quality improvement initiatives aligned with organizational priorities.
Translate evidence into practice to improve patient and nursing outcomes.
Measure educational effectiveness and continuously improve learning strategies.
Partner with nursing leaders, physicians, educators, and interdisciplinary teams.
Support Professional Governance and shared decision-making councils.
Serve as a consultant and resource for practice change, role development, and succession planning.
Champion organizational initiatives and standards, including Magnet principles, regulatory compliance, and patient safety.
Provide educational support primarily to the Newark Emergency Department and collaborate across Emergency Department settings, including Wilmington.
Travel occasionally to Wilmington and Middletown as business needs require, with potential periodic travel to community-based practice settings throughout Delaware.