Nursing Professional Development Specialist

To apply for this Nursing Professional Development Specialist, position, you may use the Candidate Self-Service (CSS) online application. After submitting your application, you may also have the opportunity to upload a cover letter, a resume, and references. You MUST have these documents available at the time of application. To complete an application, please click on Apply for this position.

The University of Connecticut Health Center is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EEO and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found ics.state.ct.us.

UConn Health is searching for a Centralized Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) to join our patient-focused team. Gain experience in a world-class facility located in John Dempsey Hospital (Farmington, CT), as part of the Professional Practice and Clinical Excellence Department.

This role functions in a centralized capacity, leading key organizational programs, and supporting professional nursing practice through education, orientation/onboarding, collaboration, competency management, role development, and evidence-based practice. Responsibilities include designing, planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating initiatives associated with the Age Friendly Care Program, AHA programs, and others in order to assist in achieving the nursing department's goals.

The Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) is a Registered Nurse with NPD practice judgement and expertise who influences professional role competence and growth of learners in an interprofessional healthcare environment. The NPDS is responsible for supporting learners within the context and framework of the Nursing Professional Development Scope & Standards of Practice as approved by the American Nurses Association.

SCHEDULE: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday with hours predominantly 8am-4:30pm, 30 minute unpaid meal break.

• Registered Nurse with a current license.
• Ability to plan, develop, deliver, and evaluate educational programs.
• Leadership skills and a commitment to education as a methodology for promoting continuous quality improvement in the delivery of patient care and services.
• Knowledge of the principles/theories of adult learning.
• Knowledge of nursing orientation and onboarding plans.
• Strong skills in the process of educational needs assessments.
• Considerable knowledge of nursing interventions and current clinical literature.
• Ability to incorporate research findings and best practices into standards of care.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Working knowledge of high reliability strategies.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills.

• Registered Nurse with a current license to practice nursing in the State of Connecticut.
• Master's degree in Nursing or Education and a minimum of two (2) years of experience in an acute care environment (or related clinical experience). This can be substituted with current enrollment in a Master's Degree program (in Nursing or Education) and five (5) years of experience in an acute care environment (or related clinical experience).

• Minimum one (1) year in education or nursing professional development.
• Five (5) or more years of relevant clinical nursing experience, with 3 of those years including relevant teaching experience.
• Certification in Gerontological Nursing (GERO-BC), Nursing Professional Development Certification, or clinical certifications. If not certified at the time of hire, required to become certified within one year of employment.
• If currently enrolled in a Master's degree program, preference will be given to candidates expected to complete the degree within six months of hire.
• BLS Certification.

• Serves as expert resource in the care of older adults.
• Reviews current nursing practice in the care of older adults.
• Recommends, designs, and implements evidence based practices and programs.
• Creates and establishes protocols, policies, forms and tools.
• Engages leaders and members of the care team to build a consensus and gain cooperation in the reliable use of an evidence based framework such as the Age Friendly Health System 4
  
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• Facilitates the Age-Friendly action community steering group in assessing the current practice in the care of older adults at UConn Health, identifies gaps and opportunities for improvement, and establishes a plan to improve the care of older adults.
• Establishes key performance outcome measures, collects data, and evaluates effectiveness of implementations.
• Collaborates interprofessionally in quality improvement projects.
• Chairs the Age Friendly Care Committees.
• Provides oversight of Purposeful Visitor Program including orientation of volunteers and…