Nursing Professional Development Practitioner

General Summary

Provides nursing staff with professional development expertise as an educator, change agent, leader, consultant, and facilitator. Educates clinical staff and fosters empowerment through knowledge and achievement of excellence through delivery of evidence-based clinical practice. This occurs through facilitation of the educational process including assessment, development, planning, implementation, and evaluation of all educational programs at WellSpan. The NPD Practitioner is responsible for facilitating competency assessment, onboarding training, and continuing education of nursing staff. The NPD Practitioner continually assesses learning needs of clinical staff, leads and maintains clinical programs and courses, while evaluating the impact of outcomes. Possesses the ability to deliver information thoroughly and effectively utilizing a variety of teaching styles and techniques.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Directs the education process for clinical staff (RNs, LPNs, NA's, MA's, and other roles as identified) within WellSpan including assessing all educational needs, planning, developing, and delivering appropriate education and training, and evaluating education outcomes in accordance with regulatory agencies.
• Functions as an educational advisor and may serve as subject matter expert for the development of learning solutions for clinical staff aligned with designated area of expertise.
• Conducts annual learning needs assessments using a variety of strategic tools. Provides educational programs and curricula as identified from the learning needs assessment. Programs/curricula may be specific to specialty/unit or applicable to the system.
• Develops, implements, maintains, and evaluates individual educational programs that include a variety of delivery methods. (E.g., instructor led in-person trainings, virtual trainings, train the trainer sessions, hands-on demonstrations, LMS modules, and videos)
• Develops and maintains all clinical competencies. Completes competency development on an on-going and as needed basis for new procedures and equipment introduced into clinical practice.
• Assists in implementing, supporting, and continually monitoring the orientation and onboarding process for newly hired clinical staff. Meets with preceptors and new hires regularly to monitor progress, identify barriers, and facilitate support as needed.
• Implements and continually monitors the training of preceptors to verify orientation content and schedule as appropriate for achieving role independence of the newly hired clinical staff.
• Collaborates regularly with nursing leaders on the units, practices, and within the system to identify educational needs and to ensure educational plans coincide with the operational goals of WellSpan.
• Tracks staff education requirements quarterly and as needed and facilitates opportunities for clinical staff to meet these requirements.
• Promotes evidence-based practice and teaches content to facilitate orientation, staff development and safe clinical practice.
• Promotes and facilitates participation in evidence-based practice and nursing research and actively seeks out opportunities for staff to participate in these activities on the unit/practice/department/system.
• Works in collaboration with Organizational Learning & Development Instructional Design to maximize delivery of alternative methods of instruction while serving as subject matter expert.
• Functions in the role of Nurse Planner for nursing continuing professional development activities, ensuring ANCC standards for NCPD activities within the WellSpan Approved Provider Unit are upheld.

Common Expectations:

• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment and safety standards.
• Enhances and maintains professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, seminars, workshops, current literature and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends in field of expertise.
• Supports shared decision-making structure at both the practice and system level through active involvement as appropriate and encouraging staff professional development.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.

Required for All Jobs:

• Performs other related duties as identified.
• WellSpan Health has adopted and implemented a compliance program to support WellSpan's values and standards for professionalism, integrity, and ethics. Expected to support and meet the values and standards of the organization and the performance expectations of the job, the department, and the compliance program.
• WellSpan Health has adopted and implemented a privacy program to safeguard the patient information and the business and operational information of the organization. Expected to support and meet the values and standards of the organization to safeguard patient and business/operational information.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Physical Demands:

• Standing - Frequently
• Walking - Frequently
• Sitting - Occasionally
• Carrying/Lifting - Occasionally (50lbs)
• Pushing/Pulling - Occasionally (50lbs)
• Kneeling/Crouching - Occasionally
• Reaching - Occasionally
• Talking - Frequently
• Hearing - Frequently
• Repetitive Motions - Occasionally
• Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination - Occasionally

Working Environment:

• Occupational Hazards - Occasionally
• Bloodborne Pathogen - Exposure

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

• Bachelors Degree Required
• Masters Degree Preferred

Work Experience:

• 3 years In an acute care setting or ambulatory setting. Required
• Previous teaching experience; teaching and learning strategies, learning styles, curriculum, and design. Preferred

Licenses:

• Licensed Registered Nurse Upon Hire Required or
• Registered Nurse Multi State License Upon Hire Required and
• Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required

Courses and Training:

• Professional certification in area of clinical specialty/professional development/nursing education. Upon Hire Preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal/communications skills.
• Models teamwork.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Experience with presentations and public speaking.
• WORD, Excel, PowerPoint, Epic experience a plus.