Nursing Professional Development Specialist

Hospital for Special Care•New Britain, CT

19d•Onsite

About The Position

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day! Position Summary: The Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Specialist is responsible for enhancing nursing competencies and advancing clinical practice and nursing research. Through skill development, the NPD Specialist ensures clinical competence and professional growth in a specialized disciplines throughout the organization. We are seeking Professional Development Specialists to support Acute Care, Continuing Care, Behavioral Health, and Pediatrics. These roles will partner with clinical teams to assess educational needs, develop and deliver training programs, support onboarding, and promote clinical excellence across their assigned service line. Candidates should be experienced educators with strong clinical backgrounds in one or more of these specialties. This role combines clinical knowledge with performance improvement to drive patient outcomes. The NPD Specialist supports HFSC’s mission by promoting evidence-based practice, improving patient outcomes, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and excellence in nursing care.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) or related field required. DNP preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) with relevant experience may be considered.
Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in CT.
Certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) or Clinical Specialty preferred.
BLS, PALS and ACLS
Minimum of 3–5 years of clinical nursing experience in Pediatrics.
Strong clinical knowledge and teaching skills.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal abilities.
Proficient in adult learning principles, educational technology, and competency-based education.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing healthcare environments.
Ability to collaborate with nursing units, multidisciplinary departments across multiple hospital departments.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in staff education, clinical instruction, or leadership preferred.
Previous experience working in Magnet designated organization(s) preferred.

Responsibilities

Education & Training Assess learning needs and develop educational plans for nursing and ancillary staff.
Design, coordinate, and deliver orientation, competency programs, and continuing education.
Facilitate clinical skills training, simulation sessions, and workshops.
Serve as a resource for nurses in clinical practice, policies, and evidence-based care.
Serve as a PALS Instructor Program Development & Evaluation Develop and update educational materials, curricula, and clinical guidelines.
Evaluate effectiveness of educational interventions through assessments, feedback, and outcome measures.
Ensure all programs comply with hospital policies, accreditation, and regulatory standards.
Assists with the design, implementation and evaluation of the Nurse Residency Program to support the successful transition of new graduate nurses into professional practice.
Clinical Support & Leadership Collaborate with Clinical Directors/ Managers and interprofessional teams to identify performance gaps and training priorities.
Support staff in clinical settings through mentoring, coaching, and role modeling best practices.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives and patient safety projects.
Supports career ladder and succession planning initiatives within the nursing division.
Participates in committees, taskforces, and quality improvement projects to enhance patient outcomes and nursing practice.
Acts as a change agent and role model, supporting the implementation of evidence-based practice and nursing research.
Professional Development Maintain current knowledge of nursing practices, education strategies, and healthcare technologies.
Promote lifelong learning and professional certification among staff nurses.
Participate in professional organizations and continuing education activities.
Other: Other duties as assigned