Job Summary

A unit based Practitioner with accountability for specialty and unit education. The Nurse Educator coordinates, elevates, and resolves problems and conflicts as they occur. He/She provides continuing education both formally and informally and is accountable for Clinical Staff development. The Nurse Educator is responsible for unit based skills and competency oversight. He/She facilitates and supports orientation activities. He/she has expert knowledge of a specific patient population. Promotes and establishes criteria for the delivery of quality nursing care. Proficient in providing and managing complex patient care; implementing patient and family teaching; and facilitating learn experiences for staff and students and assisting in the orientation of new staff. Provides direct patient care as needed. Assists other like units as indicated with educational needs. This position will care for patients in the adolescent, adult, and geriatric age groups. Employee performs clinical duties in accordance with population specific guidelines and adheres to National Patient Safety Goals as outlined in policy and procedures. The Nurse Educator assists in the advancement of the professional practice environment by communicating the NGHS nursing strategic direction and focusing on activities that support the nursing strategic direction. Provides nursing involvement support for shared governance and the NDNQI quality teams including coaching team members in their professional participation. Assists with overall clinical governance and other projects as assigned.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications: Licensed to practice as an RN in Georgia. Professional certification in either a clinical or education specialty within two (2) years of hire.

• Educational Requirements: Bachelors Degree in Nursing. If ADN, must obtain BSN within two (2) years of hire.

• Minimum Experience: Three (3) years of direct care RN nursing experience with a minimum of one (1) year is an acute care facility.  Previous staff development and education experience. Relevant clinical experience for specific unit.

• Other: Professional organization membership within one month of hire into the role.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:  CNOR

• Preferred Educational Requirements: A Masters Degree (Nursing or other if possessing a BSN) within five (5) years.

• Preferred Experience:

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good interpersonal skills

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Knowledge of audiovisual equipment and computers

• Effective organizational skills

• Good clinical knowledge and skills as demonstrated by competency assessment

• Ability to teach and give verbal and written instruction in a comprehensive manner

• Maintains required competencies specific to units/areas providing education

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Utilizes the nursing process to assess, plan and evaluate patient care.  Guides students and staff in the development and implementation of a interdivisional plan of care. 

• Performs and documents assessments and makes recommendations regarding the nursing care of patients with complex and/or special needs.

• Promotes effective discharge planning through collaboration with other disciplines and Case Management

• Serves as a liaison between patients/families, physicians, and other health care members.

• Assists and monitors the development, implementation and compliance of clinical pathways.

• Evaluates the appropriateness of patient’s response to nursing treatment and recommends continuation or modification of prescribed plan of care

• Assesses the learning needs of patients and families; provides teaching as indicated. Provides ongoing evaluation of effectiveness of teaching and revision of interdivisional teaching plans as indicated

• Participates in appropriate hospital and Community committees and activities to assure relevant and accurate information is communicated to all staff and Nurse Manager.

• Utilizes clinical expertise in assisting nursing staff, students and/or orientees with difficult or unusual procedures.

• Evaluates the effectiveness of patient care conferences, interdisciplinary conferences and staff development programs given by staff.  Provides feedback to appropriate staff members and Nurse Manager or Director. 

• Conducts staff development programs frequently, which includes unit specific infection control information.

• Evaluates the technical skills of staff nurses utilizing the skills checklist and provides feedback to Nurse Manager or Director for performance reviews.

• Supports quality assurance activities as demonstrated by compliance with established PI standards/program and assistance with monitoring or conducting chart review.

• Assesses the number and skill level of personnel needed to provide quality patient care utilizing patient classification, and makes staff assignments based on scope of practice, patient acuity, infection control measures, and unit specific modality of care.

• In collaboration with shift supervisors, adjusts staff levels to reflect the workload of the unit; for current and following shift.

• Monitors shift personnel for compliance with established unit routines, nursing and patient care standards.

• Addresses shift problems/concerns (e.g., patient  physician complaints, disciplinary problems of staff, etc.) and reports interventions to Nurse Manager quickly and accurately.

• Assists with orientation of new personnel; instructing and supervising delivery of care as required.

• Provides impromptu instruction and demonstration of techniques, products and procedures

• Successfully completes mentoring class. Assists with mentoring of Registered Nurses when other mentor resources have been assigned. May mentor more as desired.
   

Department Specific Essential Functions: Operating Room

• Provide education on a full spectrum of operating room procedures, including but not limited to main OR surgeries and robotic-assisted cases.

• Maintains knowledge of current research and incorporates research findings into education programs.

• Designs, implements and evaluates individualized programs for each staff member according to experience, job description, and educational needs.

• Partners with other unit educators to facilitate onboarding and orientation for new operating room staff.

• Conducts audits, skills assessments, and simulations specific to operating room competencies

• Collaborate with surgeons to align clinical education with current standards.

• Partner with leadership in any process improvement projects.

• Serve as a resource for all regulatory compliance and actively participate in surveys.

• Assist in administering the Periop 101 program, including curriculum management, staff orientation, clinical mentorship, and competency assessment.  

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 100 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 50 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Vision: Heavy, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Frequently 31-65%

• Standing/Walking: Frequently 31-65%

• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%

• Intensity of Work: Frequently 31-65%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding, Driving