Nursing Transition to Practice Program Coordinator

Cottage Health•Santa Barbara, CA

About The Position

The Nursing Transition to Practice Program Coordinator provides leadership and oversight for Cottage Health’s nationally accredited RN Residency Program, preceptor and mentor development initiatives, and academic partnerships. The role works collaboratively with nursing leaders, educators, and academic institutions to advance clinical excellence, professional growth, workforce retention, and compliance with ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) standards. The coordinator leads the RN Residency Program, accreditation activities, curriculum and learning experiences, and continuous improvement. The role also designs and evaluates preceptor and mentorship programs, advises preceptors and educators, develops academic and workforce partnerships, supports program budgets and workforce planning, and contributes to centralized nursing education initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Education, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
At least five years of clinical nursing experience.
Basic understanding of Microsoft Suite and presentation platforms.
Knowledge of adult learning theories and psychological safety for the learner.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Nursing, Education, Healthcare Administration, or a related field.
Nursing Professional Development Certification within two years.
Experience in nursing professional development, transition-to-practice programs, residency programs, or academic partnerships.
Experience leading educational programs or complex projects.
Experience with ANCC PTAP accreditation standards and residency program accreditation processes.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and continuous evaluation of the ANCC PTAP-accredited RN Residency Program across practice settings.
Lead PTAP accreditation and re-accreditation activities, including self-study preparation and submission, annual reporting, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement.
Oversee residency curriculum design, program structure, organizational enculturation, goal development, and outcome evaluation.
Direct practice-based learning, including competency validation, preceptor and mentor programs, simulation, residency seminars, and consideration of specialty training scope and standards of practice.
Collaborate with nursing leaders, practice setting coordinators, and NPD practitioners to align the program with clinical standards, organizational priorities, and workforce needs.
Design, implement, and evaluate preceptor and mentorship programs supporting clinical excellence, professional development, engagement, and retention.
Establish standards and processes for preceptor selection, preparation, competency validation, evaluation, recognition, and ongoing development.
Provide consultation, coaching, and guidance to preceptors, residency facilitators, and NPD practitioners on learner assessment, feedback, and development strategies.
Partner with nursing leadership on preceptor and mentor capacity, succession planning, program sustainability, and evidence-based educational practices.
Establish and maintain partnerships with academic institutions and workforce development stakeholders to strengthen workforce pipelines and recruitment.
Collaborate with Academic Clinical Coordination on clinical placements, affiliation agreements, onboarding, and compliance with organizational, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
Act as a liaison among workforce development teams, nursing leaders, faculty, and students to align educational experiences with workforce priorities and employment pathways.
Evaluate partnership effectiveness and identify opportunities to expand student engagement, academic collaborations, and workforce development initiatives.
Contribute to budget oversight and resource management for transition-to-practice, preceptor, and mentorship programs.
Evaluate and project FTE expenses related to residency, preceptorship, and mentorship programs.
Use analytics, outcome measures, and strategic planning to assess program effectiveness, support workforce planning, and drive continuous improvement.
Develop reports, recommendations, and presentations for executive leadership and stakeholders while ensuring organizational, accreditation, and regulatory compliance.
Contribute to policy development and represent Cottage Health through professional organizations, academic partnerships, advisory councils, and workforce development initiatives.
Participate in centralized education initiatives, including central nursing orientation, simulation offerings, and life support training.
Contribute to dissemination of information about new products and policies.
Maintain internal websites for RN Residency and Preceptor and Mentor Programs.
Lead review and revision of initial competency documentation.