Consistent with the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Professional Development (2010), under general supervision of Clinical Service Director and in collaboration with the Clinical Service Leadership Team is accountable for advancing and maintaining clinical staff competence, enhancing professional nursing practice, and supporting achievement of career goals, building on the educational and experiential base of nurses across the novice to expert continuum for the ultimate objective of ensuring delivery of efficient, effective, ethical, safe, quality, and compassionate patient care. Cultivates an environment that promotes an appetite for lifelong learning by supporting the development of effective, quality, innovative, creative, and fun continuing education activities, implementing evidence-based practice innovations, and continuously evaluating further learning needs and/or practice changes. Supports a shared leadership philosophy and advances the professional practice model for patient care services. Demonstrates core competency in key clinical service areas.

What the Professional Development Specialist - Nursing will do:

• Collects data and information related to educational needs and other pertinent situations
• Analyzes issues, trends, and supporting data to determine the educational needs of individuals, organizations and communities
• Identifies the target audience, general purpose and educational objectives, and desired outcomes for each learning activity.
• Establishes plans that describe the strategies, alternatives, and resources to achieve expected outcomes
• Ensures that the planned educational activities are implemented.
• Conducts a comprehensive evaluation of each educational activity. Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing professional development activities.
• Coordinates educational initiatives and activities
• Employs strategies and techniques to promote positive learning and practice environments
• Provides consultation to influence plans, enhance the abilities of others, and effect change
• Evaluates progress toward attainment of outcomes
• Systematically enhances the quality and effectiveness of nursing professional practice
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge and competency in nursing professional development practice.

What the Professional Development Specialist - Nursing will need:

• Minimum: Graduation from an accredited Nursing Program. BSN required.
• Preferred: MSN, or related Master’s Degree.
• Minimum: Current Registered Nurse licensure in the state of Michigan. CPR or BCLS Certified.
• Preferred: Certification in specialty completed or active plans to pursue.
• Minimum: One year of teaching experience with validated opportunities to apply principles of adult education. Ability to develop new and innovative education opportunities to meet the changing needs of the learner. Demonstrated excellence in assuming the various roles of a nursing professional development educator: educator, facilitator, change agent, consultant, researcher, and leader. Demonstrated extensive theoretical knowledge and practical expertise in clinical specialty.
• Preferred: Two years of clinical nursing experience in identified or related specialty.