RN Educator - IP Behavioral Health

Cross Creek Hospital Together with Ascension Seton•Austin, TX

About The Position

Registered Nurse Educator/Infection Preventionist Opportunity at Cross Creek Hospital. This full-time day shift position, Monday-Friday with occasional rotation to off shifts and weekends, is responsible for planning and delivering continuing education programs for nursing staff, enhancing clinical skills and professional development. The role also involves leading and managing the facility’s infection prevention and control efforts, promptly addressing and containing infectious outbreaks. The Nurse Educator plays a critical role in ensuring that behavioral health staff are well-equipped to provide safe, high-quality patient care. This hands-on position is responsible for developing and implementing education plans, identifying learning needs, and leading new hire orientation from a clinical perspective. The Nurse Educator facilitates ongoing training programs, ensures compliance with regulatory guidelines, and fosters a culture of continuous learning. By modeling best practices and engaging staff in evidence-based education, this role directly contributes to enhancing professional competency and patient safety within the facility. Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional approach while prioritizing patient safety and quality care.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or commensurate experience.
Minimum of three years as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Two years of behavioral health nursing experience.
Three years of registered nurse experience.
Two years of behavioral health experience as an RN.
Current state license.
CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
First aid may be required based on state or facility.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, Education or other clinical field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
Five + years registered nurse experience.
Inpatient psychiatry experience as an RN.
1+ years experience in Clinical Education/Training and Development.
Certification as an NPD Practitioner and/or clinical certification as recognized by American Nurse Credentialing Center.

Responsibilities

Facilitates orientation/onboarding program to promote employee retention.
Conducts orientation in a manner that fosters a positive learning environment.
Role models organizational and personal commitment to new employee success.
Participates in designing and identifying educational activities to address practice gaps for identified target audiences, which may include licensed and non-licensed healthcare personnel.
Identifies learning needs of staff and/or facility.
Role models competent practice through demonstration or simulation activities.
Assess practice gaps/Crosswalk competencies to practice.
Collaborates with Corporate Nursing Director /Educator to review outcomes data to evaluate and refine competency management activities.
Assist with development and/or instruction of didactic content and clinical skills for designated competencies.
Develops education plan according to gap assessment or quality data/safety outcomes.
Aligns educational programs with facility and/or organization policies and procedures.
Implement and deliver educational curricula as required by regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission, CARF, CMS and State agencies.
Creates engaging, evidence-based educational content to meet the specific needs of the intended audience.
Demonstrates exceptional instructional skills while maintaining learner engagement.
Act a general resource for nursing staff.
Collaborate with medical practitioners and CNO/DON to incorporate nursing processes into the plan of care for patients.
Provide educational leadership to patients and care providers to enhance specialized patient care within established clinical protocol.
Promotes safe, quality, and compassionate patient care.
Assist patient and caregivers with education needs, problem solution and health management across the continuum of care.
Educate direct patient care staff in the use of equipment, supplies, and coordinates in-service training for appropriate staff.
Supports new ideas and innovation in educational design.
Provides staff with resources and “just-in-time” education to implement immediate changes.
May serve in the role of infection preventionist for the facility with training.
May provide direct care as needed.
Provides expertise in identifying professional development needs of individual staff.
Assists staff to identify areas for individual growth in current role.
Identifies and provides opportunities for skill enhancement and mastery.
Utilizes novice to expert continuum when developing staff.
Promotes certification in areas of nursing specialty.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.