Nurse Educator

Full Time – Education Department

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the #1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth for the fifth consecutive year, we invite you to continue your healthcare career with us at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. You’ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for learning and advancement into leadership roles.

Job Summary

Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Practitioner is an umbrella term that includes graduate prepared nurses with or without certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD). NPD practitioner competencies are outlined in the Nursing Professional Development: Scope & Standards of Practice (current edition).

NPD practitioner uses and/or develops tools, theories, skills and knowledge of NPD to improve the practice of the nursing and other healthcare staff that care for University Hospital/Clinic patients. Works under supervision of Clinical Education Professional Development (CEPD) Education Manager.

At UT Southwestern, the possibilities to explore your interests and advance your nursing career are limitless. We would love the opportunity to have you join the UT Southwestern nursing community!

Job Duties

1. NPD practitioner functions in the following roles:

• Learning facilitator: uses the educational design process to bridge the knowledge, skills, and/or practice gaps identified through needs assessment.
• Change agent: actively works to transform processes at micro-, meso-, and macrosystem levels using project management and improvement processes.
• Mentor: contributes to the professional development of others and supporting life-long professional development.
• Leader: influences interprofessional practice and learning environments, the NPD specialty, the profession of nursing, and healthcare.
• Champion for scientific inquiry: promotes the generation and dissemination of new knowledge and use of evidence to advance NPD practice, guide clinical practice, and improve patient care.
• Advocate for NPD specialty: supports, promotes, and demonstrates nursing professional development as a nursing practice specialty.
• Partner for practice transitions: supports the transition of nurses and other healthcare team members across learning and practice environments, roles, and professional stages.

2. Uses the educational design process:

• Assesses practice gaps
• Identifies learning needs
• Develops expected outcomes that reflect competence, learning, and change
• Plans educational activities in accordance with best practice evidence
• Implements planned educational activities facilitating positive learning and practice environments
• Evaluates educational activities using valid, reliable and relevant methods

3. NPD practitioner is responsible for orientation/onboarding, competency management, education, professional role development, research/evidence-based practice/quality improvement, and collaborative partnerships.
4. Performs other duties as assigned:

Nurse Planner:

·       The Nurse Planner supports the delivery of Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) and is part of the UT Southwestern Medical Center Accredited Provider Unit (PU)

·       The PU is led by the Program Manager, Nursing Professional Development

·       Assess learners’ needs and plan, implement, and evaluate Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) activities in accordance with ANCC criteria.

Experience and Education

• Licensure as a Registered Nurse by Texas Board of Nursing with a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing upon hire. 
• Must have a Master’s Degree within 3 years of hire
• Certification in Nursing Professional Development, required within 18 months of hire
• Four (4) years’ experience in the healthcare field, preferably in a hospital setting
• Psych and Rehab experience strongly preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC)
• Preferred:  2 years of experience as an Educator

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Self-directed and able to organize and manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously.
• Work requires high level of effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Work requires interdisciplinary collaboration between nursing, physicians and allied health professionals to develop evidence-based education

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in a general office setting.

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimum require prior approval of Vice President for Human Resources Administration or his/her designee.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code §51.215.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community.  As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.