Nursing Professional Development Specialist; NPDS; Cecil Campus

Emergency Department, Progressive Care Unit, Clinical Decision Unit, Short Stay Unit, and Behavioral Health Unit

The Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) provides leadership and oversight for the education, onboarding, professional development, and competency management of nursing staff and interprofessional team members within Christiana Care's Emergency Department, Progressive Care Unit, Clinical Decision Unit, Short Stay Unit, and Behavioral Health Unit at Union Hospital at our Cecil Campus in Elkton, Maryland. The NPDS serves as a key partner in fostering clinical excellence, supporting role transition, advancing evidence-based practice, and ensuring staff are prepared to provide safe, high-quality care across diverse clinical settings.

In this role, you will support a highly flexible and dynamic workforce that serves multiple specialties and care environments. Through collaboration with nursing leadership, clinical teams, and organizational stakeholders, the NPDS promotes professional growth, workforce readiness, and exceptional patient outcomes.

• Make a meaningful impact on patient care by supporting clinicians who provide staffing coverage across multiple inpatient and specialty practice areas.
• Partner with leaders to develop innovative educational strategies that support workforce flexibility, competency, and retention.
• Contribute to system-wide initiatives that advance nursing excellence, evidence-based practice, and clinical quality.
• Join a four-time Magnet recognized health system committed to professional growth and nursing excellence.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, generous paid time off, tuition assistance, and a 403(b) retirement plan.

• Facilitates onboarding and role transition for team members, ensuring successful integration into the organization and clinical practice environment.
• Develops, coordinates, implements, and evaluates individualized orientation plans designed to support competency attainment and professional growth.
• Creates and delivers educational programs utilizing adult learning principles and evidence-based instructional design methodologies.
• Assesses learning needs through analysis of quality metrics, performance data, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities.

• Develops, coordinates, and evaluates competency validation programs for staff practicing across multiple units and specialties.
• Identifies competency gaps and implements targeted educational interventions to promote safe, effective care delivery.
• Ensures ongoing compliance with organizational, regulatory, and specialty-specific competency requirements.

• Promotes clinical inquiry through participation in nursing research, evidence-based practice initiatives, and dissemination of best practices.
• Mentors and coaches staff in quality improvement projects that align with departmental and organizational goals.
• Evaluates educational outcomes through quality indicators, staff performance metrics, and patient care outcomes to drive continuous improvement.

• Collaborates with nursing leaders, educators, interdisciplinary teams, and key stakeholders to support operational and strategic objectives.
• Partners with Professional Governance Councils and shared decision-making structures to advance nursing practice and system-wide initiatives.
• Supports succession planning, mentorship programs, and leadership development opportunities for nursing staff.
• Serves as an educational resource and consultant for our Cecil Campus personnel and their leaders.