Clinical Education Specialist

The Clinical Education Specialist is a registered nurse who influences professional role competence and professional growth of learners. The Clinical Educational Specialist supports lifelong learners in an interprofessional environment that facilitates continuous development. The Clinical Education Specialist serves as a Learning Facilitator, Change Agent, Mentor, Leader, Champion for Scientific Inquiry, Advocate for the Nursing Professional Development Specialty, and Partner for Practice Transition. Specific responsibilities include: onboarding/orientation, competency management, education, professional role development, research/evidence-based practice/quality improvement, and collaborative partnerships. A key concept of the position is twenty-four hour accountability for assessing and meeting the learning needs of clinical employees.

• Analyzes issues, trends, and supporting data to determine the needs of individuals, organizations and communities in relation to health care.
• Collects data and information to validate an identified gap in professional practice and to determine the specific knowledge, skill or practice deficit or opportunity.
• Identifies desired outcomes of the educational plan.
• Establishes a plan that prescribes strategies, alternatives, and resources to achieve expected outcomes.
• Implements the identified plan.
• Coordinates educational initiatives and activities.
• Employs strategies to facilitate positive learning and practice environments.
• Provides consultation to influence plans, enhance the abilities of others, and effect change.
• Evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes.
• Integrates ethics in all areas of practice.
• Maintains current knowledge and competency in nursing and professional development practice.
• Acts as a champion of scientific inquiry, generating new knowledge and integrating best available evidence into practice.
• Systematically enhances the quality and effectiveness of nursing professional development practice.
• Acts as a change agent within all settings.
• Provides leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.
• Collaborates with interprofessional teams, leaders, stakeholders, and others to facilitate nursing and positive outcomes for consumers.
• Evaluates personal practice in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines and relevant statues, rules, and regulations.
• Considers factors related to quality, safety, effectiveness and cost regarding professional development activities and expected outcomes.
• Advances the profession and the specialty through mentoring and contributions to the professional development of others.
• Demonstrates support for the mission, values, and goals of the organization through behaviors that are consistent with the Connecticut Children’s standards.
• Demonstrates ownership and accountability to department and organization outcomes.
• Demonstrates flexibility in schedule in order to provide off-shift visibility.
   

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides mentoring and coaching to learners. As needed and in support of the Performance Management Process, provides feedback to learners’ leadership teams.  
   

Education and/or Experience Required:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing required.
• Experience in adult learning and program development.
• Minimum two years of acute care nursing experience, preferably in pediatrics. 

Education and/or Experience Preferred:

• Master’s Degree or higher in nursing preferred, but matriculation in program required within 18 months of hire and completion of program required within four years of hire date.
• Education and experience in Professional Development/education is strongly preferred.

License and/or Certification Required:

• Current CT RN Licensure.
• For Clinical Education Specialists hired after 11/1/16, current certification in Nursing Professional Development preferred but required within three years of hire. 
• Current certification in BLS.
• Current certification as a PALS Instructor preferred but required within one year of hire.
   

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Adult instructional methods and theories, learning concepts, and evaluation. 
• Nursing and professional development practice.
• Regulatory/Compliance/Joint Commission standards.
• Theory, principles, techniques and practice of professional nursing.
• Accreditation and certification requirements and standards.

Skills:

• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational and presentation