Job Abstract

JOB SUMMARY:

The Clinical Educatoris accountable for assessing and managing nursing and support staff’s competencies by continually assessing and monitoring methods for improving patient care. Serving as a role model, the Clinical Educator provides clinical and professional guidance, makes ethical decisions in practice and conducts needs assessments. S/he provides education programs that meet the needs of the patients, staff, and the organization.  The Clinical Educator serves as a professional practice and clinical expert at the bedside and in the classroom. S/he will participate in independent and collaborative research activities that align with the mission/vision/values, identifying quality/performance improvement opportunities, and addressing staff development issues as needed throughout the organization.

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 3 years in specialty area of practice, in acute care setting.
• Effective communication skills including speaking, enunciating, and writing.  Able to receive and give information in person, by telephone, and in writing

EDUCATION:

• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing, Education or related field

• Masters in Nursing, Education or related field

LICENSURES/CERTIFICATION:

• Current licensure with the California Board of Registered Nursing
• Current BLS certification, ACLS in adult care units, PALS in units caring for children,

• Women/Children Services: ACLS, PALS, and/or NRP equivalent as appropriate to specialty.
• LA City Fire Card certification at the time of hire or within the first 30 days of employment
• ANCC certification in specialty area preferred.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES(These are the essential job functions for this position. The essential functions of this job include, but may not be limited to those listed in this job description. Employees hired for this position must be able to perform the essential function of this job without imposing significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of themselves or others):

Patient Care

• Assures the stages of the patient care process occur, including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation through mentoring and policy/standards development
• Orients new staff to their  physical environments, safety requirments, and patient care areas as identified in the competency checklists and performance appraisal tools.
• Demonstrates advanced clinical skills, and independent judgment.
• Assures appropriate patient education and assists staff, as appropriate, in adhering to the professional and clinical standards
• Assists the staff in accommodating special patient needs by serving as a consultant and/or providing alternative materials or resources
• Serves as a resource in utilizing hospital wide documentation tools and technology (electronic health record) according to professional standards, regulatory requirements and hospital policies
• Functions as a patient advocate through independent intervention, as deemed appropriate, and through assuring adherence to required standards initiated by the Patient Representative and Ethics Committee when necessary.
• Facilitates bedside educational needs and care conferences on complex patients/families.

Education

• Identifies learning needs through employee and patient needs assessments
• Demonstrates sound knowledge of Adult Education Principles and educational theories, principles and methods.
• Designs educational activities/programs, based on adult education principles, that align with standards/program objectives and goals
• Implements educational activities/programs relevant to learning needs of participants and goals of the organization
• Evaluates the effectiveness of educational activities/programs
• Collaborates with nurse leaders in preparation of 90-day evaluation of Nurse Residents and orientees.
• Completes documentation for class presentations in a timely manner; prepares education documents/education files/staff development tools according to standardized methods/tools
• Contributesto policy development and evaluation
• Understands Administrative, Patient Care and Departmental policies and procedures at an expert level.
• Contributes to preparation and monitoring of ongoing compliance with regulatory standards
• Conducts concurrent monitoring activities for documented competencies and makes appropriate changes in educational strategies.  Uses QI data in development of educational activities.
• Demonstrates ability to use appropriate independent judgment in the development and coordination of education and staff development programs. 
• Discusses issues of concern directly with others, reporting to Director only when attempts at resolution are not succeeding
• Actively serves on committees on a voluntary and appointed basis at hospital, medical, department and area level committees.
• Consistently remains aware of research/literature/evidence-based findings and utilizes in practice
• Conducts independent/collaborative P.I, and research with the goal of quality improvement

Operations

• Demonstrates awareness of and responsibility to legal issues in all aspects of professional and patient care
• Directs and implements an appropriate, effective response to emergency situations or other circumstances
• Demonstrates the ability to enforce policies and standards through appropriate disciplinary action and gives input in the performance appraisal process
• Serves as a workflow and information systems consultant when needed
• Evaluates products and promotes cost effective quality care in all aspects of the position.

Professional role model:

• Exhibits professionalism in appearance, conduct, communication, and behavioral appropriate to the situation.
• Imparts requirments of the Nurse Practice Act, Code of Ethics and Professional Standards into practice, policies and educational offerings.
• Promotes advanced education and certifications.
• Demonstrates and validates self-directed learning and participates in continuing education to meet own professional development

The following job accountabilities are not unique to this particular job but are common to all jobs at VPH:

Complies with VPH policies and procedures on customer satisfaction and service excellence.  Demonstrates professionalism and cultural sensitivity in coordinating activities and communicating with all customers, peers, and the community at large.  Conducts self in a professional, respectful and courteous manner during all interactions.  Works effectively and collaboratively with others toward common goals.

Communicates accurately, honestly, supportively and in a timely manner with department and interdepartmental team members.  Demonstrates effective business writing and oral communication skills, handwriting is clear and legible.

Participates in operational aspects of the department, and maintains/participates in performance improvement activities within the department.

Participates in all departmental specific training, Environment of Care (injury/illness prevention, fire/life safety, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, utilities management, medical equipment management, safety and security management), infection control (standard precautions, TB Exposure Control Plan, Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan).

Demonstrates knowledge of and follows safety practices.  Understands the importance of safety, including patient safety in the work place.  Maintains a safe environment for self and others.

Actively participates in the Patient Safety Program, including event reporting.  Identifies sentinel events/near misses and responds per defined organization processes.  Participates in education activities and process implementation.  Demonstrates advocacy for the patient/customer and appropriately acknowledges patients, customers and visitors.

The above statements reflect the essential functions considered necessary to describe the principle content of the job. They are not intended to be a complete statement of all work requirements or duties that may be inherent in the job.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Primarily an inside building/office environment, well lighted and ventilated, which may consist of multiple treatment and/or work sites.
• Fast and continuous work pace with variable workload.
• Frequent contact with staff and public under a variety of circumstances.  Requires ability to communicate clearly (in English) verbally and in writing for effective communication with other staff members, physicians, vendors, community members, patients and patient families, employees and applicants of all socio-economic levels from a diverse cultural and ethnic population.
• Subject to many interruptions from multiple calls and inquiries and potentially emotional situations involving accidents, injuries, illness and/or death.
• Handles emergency/crisis situations in accordance with Hospital policy.
• Answers phones or pages; may carry a beeper/pager, and/or use a two-way radio.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Potential risk of exposure to hazards from chemicals (toxic and non-toxic), flammable materials, gas or electrical or radiant energy or equipment with/without moving parts.
• Visual acuity to observe patient assessment data and use manual/automated documentation tools
• Auditory acuity to hear verbal communication and gather data using auscultory skills
• Manual dexterity to operate computers, calculators, and various other related equipment
• Physical strength necessary to perform occasional (0 to32% of the time) lifting, pushing, pulling (40-50 lbs.), frequent (33-65% of the time) sitting, walking/standing (6-8 hours), and occasional (0-32% of the time) twisting, squatting, turning, reaching, and stretching maneuvers in performing duties

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

   Patient Care

• Continuous standing/walking and occasional/intermittent sitting.
• Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and shoulder level to handle/operate medical equipment/devices.
• Frequent reaching above shoulder level and overhead.
• Frequent forward bending, twisting, squatting and kneeling; occasional climbing.
• Occasional repositioning and transferring patients weighing up to 200 pounds between bed, chair, and gurney.
• Occasional lifting and carrying equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional/intermittent pushing of gurneys, wheelchairs, bed and other medical equipment over tiled and carpeted surfaces.
• Continuous use of near vision to read medical equipment such as monitoring devices and reading documents and computer screens; hearing and verbal communication to interact with patients, co-workers, and other customers.

   Clerical/Administrative Patient Care

• Frequent sitting and standing/walking with frequent position change.
• Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and chest level.
• Occasional/intermittent reaching at or above shoulder level.
• Occasional/intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, twisting, and climbing.
• Occasional/intermittent lifting and carrying objects/equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Continuous use of near vision, hearing and verbal communication skills in handling telephone calls, interacting with customers and co-workers and performing job duties.

   Clerical/Administrative Non-Patient Care

• Frequent/continuous sitting with occasional, intermittent standing/walking.
• Continuous use of bilateral upper extremities in fine motor activities requiring fingering, grasping, and forward reaching between waist and chest level.
• Occasional/intermittent reaching at or above shoulder level.
• Occasional/intermittent bending, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, twisting and climbing.
• Occasional/intermittent lifting and carrying objects/equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Continuous use of near vision, hearing and verbal communication skills in handling telephone calls, interacting with customers and co-workers and performing job duties.

Salary Range: $57.24 - $73.26 per hour