Registered Nurse Professional Practice & Development Specialist - Full Time

The professional practice and development specialist uses knowledge and skills in education theory and application, Caring Science theory, career development, servant leadership, the practice environment and program management to support lifelong nursing professional development. This position demonstrates an expertise in nursing education while influencing the professional role competence and professional growth of nursing in a variety of settings. The specialist leads change both at the unit and organizational level. This position will inspire and develop creative and innovative approaches to addressing challenges and problems.

This position will exemplify the components of the Magnet® model, including the elevation of the image of nursing and the promotion of professional development. The specialist will serve as a transformational leader role model who promotes professional practice, while serving as an expert resource to support the organization's goals. The specialist will promote structural empowerment by establishing the relationships and address issues of concern with the nursing care team.

The professional practice and development specialist identifies educational needs and responds through the development and implementation of appropriate programs for the specialty, resulting in exemplary professional practice. This position possesses expertise in competency assessment and will develop, coordinate, administer, facilitate, conduct and evaluate competency assessment programs. The specialist teaches the care process and develops, interprets and teaches the appropriate standards of practice and standards of care. The specialist develops standards of performance and assists staff to work within policies and procedures. This position is an expert in the development of policies to support professional practice and the practice environment. The specialist is a resource for the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of programs in compliance with the AtlantiCare provider unit policies and procedures.

The professional practice and development specialist fosters an attitude relating to the benefit and opportunities of lifelong learning. This position will facilitate the proactive integration of technology to support clinical practice while maximizing the efficiency of existing resources to deliver quality patient care.

The professional practice and development specialist supports organizational and unit-specific goals by providing quality customer service, participating in performance improvement efforts and demonstrating a commitment to continuing education, teamwork and cooperation. The specialist demonstrates an active and engaged commitment to diversity by working to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates and promotes respect for diversity of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation or citizenship in the organization. This position will actively participate in quality improvement activities through the development and support of unit-based PDCAs. The specialist will assist the clinical staff in achieving exemplary patient outcomes.

The professional practice and development specialist is actively involved in investigating, implementing and evaluating evidence-based practice, which enables and educates nurses to appropriately explore the safest and best practice for their patients and the practice environment and to generate new knowledge. This positon is also a leader in nursing research activities and promotes and supports organizational research activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• EDUCATION: Current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of New Jersey. Bachelor's degree in nursing required. Master's degree in nursing required or actively enrolled in an accredited doctoral program with credit hours equivalent to a master's degree.
• LICENSE/CERTIFICATION: BLS required. Additional requirements as identified by the unit (ex: ACLS PALS, etc.).
• EXPERIENCE: 5-7 years of clinical experience required. Expert knowledge of and ability to teach adult teaching principles required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as leadership skills, required. Proficiency in clinical applications preferred at time of hire. Incumbents within position will be trained appropriately and then skill will be required for this position within 30-60 days from date of hire.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Demonstrates the technical competencies as established on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

Career Development

• Accepts personal responsibility for own professional development.
• Demonstrates effective oral and written skills.
• Uses effective interpersonal skills.
• Fosters critical thinking.
• Links nurses to professional development and other relevant resources.

Education

• Functions in the role of both teacher and facilitator.
• Creates an effective learning environment.
• Demonstrates proficiency in use of technology.
• Develops, implements and evaluates teaching strategies for a specific patient population in collaboration with staff and management.
• Develops, conducts and evaluates unit education based on specific unit need.
• Plans, designs, implements and evaluates education programs in compliance with the NJSNA provider unit policies and procedures.
• Designs, implements and evaluates unit-level orientation programs in consultation with management and staff.
• Serves as a resource for continued learning and professional self development for staff and peers.
• Participates in organizational professional education.
• Implements and evaluates teaching strategies for a specific patient population in collaboration with staff and management.
• Applies nursing and learning theoretical and conceptual foundations as a basis for developing programs.

Leadership

• Advocates for Nursing Professional Development programs that support the needs of the learner and the organization.
• Demonstrates a sensitivity to ethical, cultural and spiritual inclusion.
• Engages in ethical decision-making.
• Effectively facilitates group process.
• Functions as a change agent and leader.
• Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Promotes problem solving.
• Interprets and uses research in practice.
• Participates in evaluation of staff regarding knowledge, skills and competencies.

Practice

• Utilizes advanced clinical knowledge to assess the needs of patients/family with complex problems.
• Provides guidance and direction in planning, implementing and evaluating total patient care, based on the assessment of patient's physical, psychosocial and cultural needs, age and functional status.
• Actively participates in the ongoing evaluation of patient care delivery.
• Facilitates the development, implementation and evaluation of standards/guidelines of nursing care/practice.
• Analyzes unit-specific quality data and creates PDCAs on relevant variances.
• In collaboration with management, evaluates nursing practice in accordance with standards of nursing care and assists with implementation of measures directed at improving quality care.
• Serves as a facilitator, innovator and problem solver regarding exemplary nursing care with direct involvement in techniques equipment and standardizing care.
• Participates in efforts to promote problem solving of professional practice issues, professional development of staff and performance improvement activities.
• Participates in clinical mock rounds and simulation activities to identify any safety issues related to medications, restraints, falls and the environment.
• Provides guidance and direction in planning, implementing and evaluating simulation in the nursing practice environment.

Program/Project Management

• Plans and implements programs and projects, using innovation and creativity.
• Consistently uses planning methodologies when implementing, facilitating and evaluating various programs and projects.
• Implements evaluation plan for programs and projects.
• Participates in andsupports all regulatory and survey-readiness activities.

Advanced Practice Nurse

• Identifies nursing research problems.
• Participates in research efforts.
• Serves as an expert clinician to both nursing and interprofessional peers.
• Serves as a consultant regarding new and challenging clinical issues and projects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Potential for exposure to blood-borne pathogens, along with infectious diseases. Physical demands include, but are not limited to, considerable stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing heavy equipment and excessive standing and walking. Lifting approximately 25-50 lbs. frequently; lifting 50-100 lbs. with assistance occasionally.

Essential functions for this position are listed on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
This position reports directly to department leadership and my supervise incumbents as assigned.

The above statement reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position.