Educator, RN - Prep and Recovery

About the role

The Nursing Clinical Educator plays a critical role in elevating practice, advancing quality outcomes, and supporting the development of high performing staff. They are responsible for planning and providing educational offerings for all nursing staff, assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating educational needs and initiatives to enhance patient care.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates current, evidence-based clinical knowledge and best practices in nursing care.
• Uses evidenced-based practice to guide decisions and develop new initiatives, practices changes, and implement them.
• Identifies learning needs for patient care staff through research including a needs assessment. Assesses learner competence and adapts instruction to reinforce safe, effective practice.
• Collaborates with the nursing leadership team on educational programs and required updates. Recommends orientation, training, and education programs that will enhance employee performance, satisfaction, and continued development.
• Provides education in an organized manner to all staff. Uses diverse teaching strategies (classroom, simulation, bedside coaching, e-learning etc.) to meet varied learning needs. Educates and updates staff on policy changes, new equipment, and process changes within departments and the organization.
• Coordinates and oversees unit-level orientation and onboarding activities for new employees in collaboration with nursing leadership and the central nursing education department. Serves as a learning resource and consultant to preceptors by supporting effective clinical teaching, role transition, and onboarding consistency. Conducts scheduled developmental check-ins with new staff and preceptor(s) to monitor learning progression, identify support needs, and provide formative feedback. Contributes and participates in the evaluation of new employees.
• Ensures orientation and all continuing education, preparation, and implementation meet all regulatory requirements including: The Joint Commission, NYS Department of Health, all department specific requirements and regulatory requirements for the specific area.
• Affirms staff adherence to applicable policies, evidence-based practices, and clinical protocols in collaboration with unit leadership. Provides structured feedback and coaching to support competency development and practice consistency. Collects, documents, and tracks competency-related data to support compliance with organizational and regulatory expectations. Identifies learning needs and practice gaps and partners with unit leadership to support remediation and ongoing competency development and accountability.
• Participates in unit-based, Division of Nursing, Department of Education, and Medical Center committees as needed. Supports Nursing Division Orientation and the Nurse Residency Program through curriculum delivery, mentorship, and facilitation of new staff and graduate nurses' transition to clinical practice. Participates in the staff interview process.
• Identifies and monitors potential quality, nursing-sensitive indicators, and risk-related trends through data review and practice observation. Communicates emerging issues and integrates relevant findings into staff education, learning activities, and professional development programs to support quality improvement and safe practice.
• Responsible for updates and renewals of nursing division policies, including unit-based policies, in collaboration with Providers, Nursing Leadership Team, and all necessary stakeholders.
• Collaborates with other departments and as needed to facilitate high quality, cost-effective care. Collaborates and facilitates clinical/academic partnerships.
• Upholds evidenced-based and best practice protocols and processes per department specialty area (i.e., ENA for Emergency Room, AORN for the Operating Room).

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in nursing
• Minimum 3 years clinical experience
• BLS
• See below grid for additional requirements

Qualifications

• Master's degree or clinical Nurse Specialist preferred
• 3 years program leadership or education experience desired
• Experience in program management and managing health care programs

Physical Requirements

• Repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., Use of computer keyboard)
• May require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 40 lbs), including boxes, equipment, IV solutions and stooping and kneeling (e.g., to pick up items from the floor, to remove and replace items on lower shelves and to file documents in lower file drawers)
• Sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time may be necessary
• Must be able physically to operate the equipment used for the job.