RN Education Coordinator, Operating Room / Surgical Services

Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois•Rockford, IL

About The Position

The Operating Room RN Education Coordinator leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational initiatives for perioperative nursing staff. This role promotes clinical excellence by supporting new staff onboarding, validating competencies, and fostering continuous professional growth within the surgical services department. This position will support the Operating Rooms / Surgical Services departments for the Javon Bea Hospital campus in Rockford, IL, the Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville, WI and the Mercyhealth FHN hospital in Freeport, IL.

Requirements

ADN or BSN from an accredited BSN Completion Program required.
Two or more years RN experience, or one or more years RN experience in area of specialty.
Licensed as an RN in state of practice
Approved BLS certification required within 90 days (Other certification per unit requirements: ACLS, PALS, PEARS, NRP)
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Database software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
The employee is frequently required to stand and walk.
The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Frequently requires near and color vision.
The Special Physical Demands are considered Essential Job Functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nice To Haves

MSN preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as primary educator for new staff in their entity and coordinates with each unit preceptor
Participates in education as appropriate for the Electronic Medical Record, especially as it relates to clinical content
Is a mentor for new employees and new graduate nurses by supporting the new employee through programs such as the new grad support group and the preceptor group.
Conducts periodic educational needs assessments and develops educational programs based on the identified needs.
Identifies clinical learning needs through use of a variety of methods including observation, staff meetings, occurrences, unit-based data and partner input
In collaboration with unit leadership, creates an annual calendar of planned educational offerings and updates throughout the year
Enhances partner growth through promoting clinical ladder level advancement and attainment of national certification.
Assists partners in portfolio development and in attaining education required to achieve national specialty certification
Participates in unit-based meetings including Nurse Practice Council, Professional Development Council and routine staff meetings, sharing upcoming learning opportunities along with identified needs within the department
Implements innovative instructional methods for use in meeting the educational needs of all nursing department personnel.
Coordinates outside consultants and trainers who conduct training on specific topics (i.e. vendors whose new products have been selected for use within the hospital).
Maintains class evaluations of instructors, consultants, and trainers.
Assists directors and clinical nurse specialists in maintaining unit bulletin boards.
Obtains CEU's for programs as appropriate
Collaborates with others in order to provide monthly newsletters
Facilitates Evidence Based Practice initiatives by providing resources and direction to nurses and dissemination of other entity research and best practice initiatives.
Assists in coordinating education as requested to all components of the health system (i.e. Harvard, Walworth, clinics).
Participates as a member of the Education Team for house wide education and dissemination of information.
Collaborates with Clinical Nurse Specialists and system education coordinators in coordinating annual nursing documentation and skills fair.
Plans and hosts unit-based skills validations as appropriate to the department
Coordinates and participates in teaching programs as appropriate for areas of expertise such as EKG Class, CCRN review, monthly nursing education classes.
Participates in writing and updating policies/procedures as appropriate
Maintains records for mandatory certifications of staff as appropriate for their units