305440 Clinical Educator and Practice Specialist

Penn Medicine; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Employee benefits program

Job summary

Penn Medicine is seeking a Clinical Educator and Advanced Practice Specialist within Clinical Nutrition Support Services (CNSS). This role leads education, competency development, and practice evaluation, guiding staff through evidence-based nutrition care and program development.

It collaborates with leadership to implement education initiatives and uphold high clinical standards. The educator maintains advanced clinical expertise, mentors dietitians and trainees, and contributes to policy

Qualifications

• Master’s or higher in a relevant field plus required licensure/credentials.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics required.

Responsibilities

• Direct Patient Care: perform nutrition assessments and develop care plans.
• Professional Performance: maintain ethics, leadership, and accountability in practice.
• Clinical Practice Activities: develop and update evidence-based guidelines and mentor staff.
• Clinical Education Contributions: deliver education, present sessions, and support staff training.
• Lead and participate in department research and practice improvements.

Education

Master of Arts or Science (Required)

Bachelor of Arts or Science (Required)

ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (Required)

Job description

Description

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines. Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Summary

• The Clinical Educator and Advanced Practice Specialist is an advanced practice clinician responsible for clinical education, competency development, practice evaluation, and evidence-based practice within Clinical Nutrition Support Services (CNSS).
• This role provides leadership in staff training, professional development, quality improvement, and clinical practice advancement. In.
• In collaboration with the departmental leadership team, this role develops, implements, and evaluates initial and ongoing competency programs for clinical staff, including annual competency assessments. Responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating clinical mentoring programs, departmental nutrition support rounds, continuing education activities, and educational programs for dietitians, trainees, and professional visitors.
• The specialist assists in the review and development of nutrition education resources and programs used throughout the organization.
• The educator role monitors practice trends, evaluates emerging evidence, and contributes to the development and revision of evidence-based policies, procedures, protocols, and practice guidelines. The role participates in quality assurance performance improvement projects and other initiatives designed to evaluate and enhance clinical practice. In partnership with the Clinical Manager and/or Director, the specialist conducts practice-based clinical audits and supports implementation and evaluation of practice changes.
• The educator maintains advanced clinical expertise in nutrition care, including the management of complex and specialized patient populations and patients receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition support. Responsibilities may include providing direct patient care during staff orientation and training activities and to maintain clinical competency. The specialist performs comprehensive nutrition assessments, develops specialized nutrition care plans, and provides nutrition education to patients and caregivers.
• As a clinical leader and role model, the educator demonstrates advanced clinical judgment, applies evidence-based practice to nutrition care delivery, and promotes excellence in patient outcomes. The role represents CNSS on hospital committees, workgroups, and professional organizations; delivers lectures and educational presentations both within UPHS and externally; and supports interdisciplinary collaboration as a member of the Clinical Nutrition Support Service team. The specialist leads practice change initiatives, assists leadership in implementing evidence-based improvements, and facilitates the dissemination, adoption, and ongoing evaluation of best practices across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Direct Patient Care Expertly performs nutrition assessments, identifies nutrition diagnosis, develops nutrition interventions/plan of care, monitors and evaluates outcomes of nutrition care/interventions. Communicates with the Health care team to effectively implement nutrition care plan. Applies department evidence based practice guidelines to the routine care of patients. Demonstrates patient-centered care, compassion, sensitivity and respect in all interactions with patients, visitors and other hospital personnel. Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to assure that nutrition assessment, treatment and care is appropriate based on the unique chronological issues and needs of the adolescent, young adult, adult and older adult patient.
• Professional Performance
• expertly performs the following: Provides quality services using a systematic process with identified ethics, leadership, accountability and dedicated resources. Demonstrates competence in and accepts accountability and responsibility for ensuring safe, quality practice and services. Provides safe, quality services based on patient expectations and needs and the mission, vision and values of the organization. Applies, participates in, and/or generates research to enhance practice. Demonstrates evidence-based practice which incorporates available research and information in the delivery of nutrition care. Applies knowledge and expertise in communications. Uses resources effectively and efficiently. Demonstrates leadership through strategic management of time, finances, facilities, supplies, technology, natural and human resources. Displays a high level of professional conduct at all times. Balances multiple priorities independently and is expected to manage competing demands. Maintains patient/client confidentiality. Demonstrates teamwork by displaying a cooperative relationship with co-workers, consistently treating others with respect and using open and honest communication. Is a member of at least 1 professional organization
• is encouraged to participate in the organization or consider participation in a local, state or national committee. Displays a commitment to research through literature review and evidenced based practice, provides leadership and guidance to peers in the interpretation of research and application to practice.
• Clinical Practice Activities Leads the development and implementation of department evidence based practice guidelines both within specialized area of practice and across practice areas, identifies new national guidelines or research and proactively reviews and updates department evidence based practice guidelines to reflect updates in the literature. Serves as a primary reviewer of all department practice guidelines. Investigates current research to address unique clinical situations and identifies practice variations and opportunities for practice standardization and/or education of CNSS staff or other health care providers. Serves as a local expert for peers within their area of practice and across practice areas. Organizes and facilitates a clinical mentoring program to support staff professional growth. Serves as an expert resource and support to clinical and management staff. Teaches and mentors staff to effectively communicate and interact during patient care rounds. Actively identifies, defines and develops independent clinical projects to support department practice initiatives, leads projects independently. Provides leadership and support for practice or clinical operations initiatives within department. Active member in a department, hospital committee, unit-based leadership councils or workgroup. Provides coordination and support of department research initiatives.
• Clinical Education Contributions Retains Registration and licensure through attainment of continuing education. Responsible for developing education related to department or hospital practice changes and delivering education to staff. Is an active participant in CNSS education program, serves as a presenter and provides leadership in moderating education sessions. Serves as a resource/educator for clinical nutrition testing. Supports hospital public relations and media requests (publications, interviews, community outreach projects). Takes a lead role in the education of other health care professionals (Pharm residents, visiting scholars, medical students, RD peers)
• through clinical observation experiences, case presentation, lectures, special projects. Develops training/education materials for these groups. Provides education to nursing staff through inservices, lectures
• provides education to housestaff via formal lecture. Develops, reviews educational programs prepared by others and assures evidence based content.

Credentials

• Lcnsd Dietician-Nutritionist (Required)
• Registered Dietitian (Required)
• CDE or CNSC or CSG or CSO or CSOWM or CSR or RDN-AP (Required)

Education or Equivalent Experience

• Master of Arts or Science (Required)
• Education Specialization:Equivalent Experience:•And 7+ years Internal candidates preferred, with at least at least 7 years experience as RD at HUP (2+ years as an Advanced Practice Clinical Dietitian Specialist prior to assuming this role preferred). If external candidate, 10 years’ experience as an RD with comprehensive nutrition support experience preferred.
• Bachelor of Arts or Science (Required)
• Education Specialization:Equivalent Experience:•Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited didactic program in dietetics.
• Other (Required)
• Education Specialization:Equivalent Experience:•Accredited Dietetic Internship Program, Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) or integrated supervised practice training to meet accreditation standards.

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.