GS Nursing Professional Development Specialist

Directs and plans the continuum of learning and professional development to support competence in role performance, improve patient care, and enhance quality outcomes. Advances clinical practice, professional growth, and organizational effectiveness through structured education and development initiatives aligned with departmental and organizational strategic goals.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive learning needs assessments by collecting and analyzing data from quality metrics, competency assessments, regulatory requirements, patient outcomes, practice gaps, stakeholder input, and organizational initiatives. Reassesses needs as competencies are achieved or new gaps emerge.
• Designs and develops evidence-based education and development programs with measurable goals, objectives, and outcomes aligned with organizational priorities, regulatory standards, and evidence-based practice. Creates curricula, competency frameworks, orientation programs, residency/fellowship programs, continuing education, and interprofessional education initiatives using adult learning principles and structured educational design processes.
• Implements education, orientation, and competency programs, including onboarding, in-service education, continuing education, competency assessments, practice transition (residency/fellowship) programs, and role-specific certification courses. Adjusts learning plans based on learner readiness, performance data, and demonstrated competence. Ensures required materials, documentation, and equipment are available and maintained.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and outcomes using reliable evaluation methodologies to measure changes in knowledge, skills, behaviors, clinical practice, and patient outcomes. Analyzes evaluation data, quality indicators, and feedback to determine effectiveness and implements revisions to improve educational and competency programs. Maintains required documentation for regulatory and accreditation compliance.
• Supports practice change and quality improvement initiatives by applying change management and quality improvement methodologies to advance patient care standards, policies, procedures, and care delivery processes. Participates in interdisciplinary committees and institutional initiatives impacting clinical practice, safety, efficiency, and quality outcomes. Facilitates implementation and adaptation of practice changes across departments.
• Provides consultation and clinical practice support as a resource to nursing leadership and interdisciplinary teams regarding competency concerns, practice standards, clinical decision-making, and professional development strategies. Collaborates to address complex clinical or system-level issues and supports remediation or performance improvement initiatives when indicated.
• Promotes evidence-based practice, research, and scientific inquiry by integrating current research, literature, and evidence into educational programming and practice standards. Supports quality improvement projects and research activities; analyzes findings for applicability to clinical practice; and disseminates outcomes through presentations, reports, or integration into practice guidelines.
• Ensures regulatory and professional standards compliance by incorporating applicable professional standards, accreditation criteria, and regulatory requirements into all education and professional development activities. Develops and maintains required program documentation consistent with accreditation and institutional standards and ensures readiness for audits or regulatory review.
• Integrates professional standards, evidence, and regulatory requirements into practice, including the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice, accreditation criteria (including ANCC standards as applicable), and relevant laws and regulations.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in nursing and at least 5 years of progressively responsible duties in clinical nursing practice required. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Licensed to practice professional nursing as a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Certification in a relevant specialty or practice area (or within 6 months of hire).

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous teaching experience.
• Role and unit-specific coverage.
• BLS/ACLS Instructor Status.
• Role-specific PALS and/or TNCC Instructor Status.
• National certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD) (or when eligible).

Skills

• Analyzing clinical, quality, and educational data to identify practice gaps, develop measurable objectives, and evaluate program outcomes.
• Developing and delivering educational programs and presentations for nursing and interprofessional audiences.
• Using computerized information systems to access, enter, analyze, and retrieve clinical, quality, and educational data.
• Organization and project coordination, including prioritizing multiple initiatives, managing timelines, and maintaining required documentation and program records.
• Supervising and evaluating clinical competence of probationary employees through direct observation, competency validation tools, and performance feedback processes.
• Written and verbal communication in English sufficient to prepare educational materials, reports, evaluations, and correspondence and to communicate effectively with interdisciplinary teams.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills appropriate to the patient population served (preferred).
• Functioning effectively in high-demand environments involving critical patient care issues, organizational change, and competing priorities.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and educational design processes used to develop, implement, and evaluate competency-based education programs.
• Flexibility in work hours to meet the needs of the organization.

Pay

Compensation range: $104,000.00 - $151,000.00. This range offers an estimate based on minimum job qualifications. Actual base pay considers education, experience, skills, certifications/licensures, business/organizational needs, internal equity, and market competitiveness.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy benefits.
• Discretionary annual bonuses and merit increases.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• 403(b) savings matches.
• Paid time off.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• Resources to support employee and family well-being.