Professional Development Specialist-RN - Joint and Spine

The Professional Development Specialist (PDS) is a self-directed, professional registered nurse with advanced knowledge and expertise specific to his/her clinical area. The PDS serves as an educator, change agent, researcher, servant leader role model and mentor.  The PDS role is developed in relationship to responsibilities and specialty population of practice.  The PDS will be centrally based/department based and may have additional responsibilities within the department as the need arises. 

Follows Standards of Practice

Standard 1: Assessment of Practice Gaps

• The nursing professional development specialist analyzes issues, trends and supporting data to determine the needs of individuals, organizations, and communities in relation to health care.

Standard 2: Identification of Learning Needs

• The nursing professional development specialist collects data and information to validate an identified gap in professional practice and to determine the specific knowledge, skill, or practice deficit or opportunity.

Standard 3: Outcomes Identification

• The nursing professional development specialist identifies desired outcomes of the educational plan.

Standard 4: Planning

• The nursing professional development specialist establishes a plan that prescribes strategies, alternatives, and resources to achieve expected outcomes.

Standard 5: Implementation

• The nursing professional development specialist implements the identified plan.

Standard 5a: Coordination

• The nursing professional development specialist coordinates educational initiatives and activities.

Standard 5b: Facilitation of Positive Learning and Practice Environments

• The nursing professional development specialist employs strategies to facilitate positive learning and practice environments. 

Standard 6: Evaluation

• The nursing professional development specialist evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes.

Standard 7: Ethics

• The nursing professional development specialist integrates ethics in all areas of practice. 

Standard 8:  Education

• The nursing professional development specialist maintains current knowledge and competency in nursing and professional development practice.

Standard 9:  Evidence-based Practice and Research

• The nursing professional development specialist acts as a champion of scientific inquiry, generating new knowledge and integrating best available evidence into practice.

Standard 10: Quality of Nursing Professional Development Practice

• The nursing professional development specialist systematically enhances the quality and effectiveness of nursing professional development practice.

Standard 11: Change Management 

• The nursing professional development specialist acts as a change agent within all settings.

Standard 12:  Leadership

• The nursing professional development specialist provides leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.

Standard 13: Collaboration

• The nursing professional development specialist collaborates with interprofessional teams, leaders, stakeholders and others to facilitate nursing practice and positive outcomes for consumers.

Standard 14: Professional Practice Evaluation

• The nursing professional development specialist evaluates personal practice in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines, and relevant statutes, rules, and regulations. 

Standard 15: Resource Utilization

• The nursing professional development specialist considers factors related to quality, safety, effectiveness and cost regarding professional development activities and expected outcomes. 

Standard 16: Mentorship/Advancing the Profession

• The nursing professional development specialist advances the profession and the specialty through mentoring and contributions to the professional development of others. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities: Onboarding:

Assessment

1. Communicates with new employee before start date to make introductions, identify learning style, provides an overview of the orientation process and attempt to alleviate fears and apprehensions.

Diagnosis

1. Collaborates with the Clinical Manager when a ne