Clinical Nurse Educator

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Clinical Nurse Educator to oversee and deliver staff education across clinical and outpatient units. The role emphasizes adult learning principles, instructional design, and evidence-based curricula to meet organizational needs.

The educator will coordinate orientation, assess learning needs, and develop targeted training plans while guiding staff through Redi certification and nurse residency programs in a dynamic VA healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency
• Registered nurse license in good standing
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by ACEN or CCNE
• BSN or higher degree preferred for education roles
• State licensing prior to permanent appointment for bridge programs
• Foreign nursing education evaluated for equivalency when applicable
• Full, active, unrestricted nursing registration in the U.S. or territory
• GNT exception allows temporary appointment while pursuing licensure
• VA qualification standards guidance referenced for grade-level expectations

Responsibilities

• Provide expert evidence-based education to nursing staff
• Deliver instructional training in clinical and outpatient units
• Design, implement, and evaluate education programs
• Perform learning needs assessments and develop learning plans
• Orient new employees and evaluate progress in orientation
• Serve as trainer for Redi program including BLS instructor certification
• Support nurse residency programs with curriculum development
• Develop coaching and mentoring skills for staff
• Evaluate practice and outcomes within area of expertise

Skills

Adult learning

Nursing education

Instructional design

Staff training

BLS instruction

Education

Registered nurse license

BSN or higher

ACEN/CCNE accreditation

GNT exception awareness

Job description

Summary

Become a part of a dynamic team! The Clinical Nurse Educator is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising staff education. Delivers a fundamental understanding of adult learning principles and a lifelong learner that can practice with flexibility to adapt or change learning strategies based on the assessment of learning needs within the healthcare organization.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13068616
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• The full performance level of this vacancy is Nurse III
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Nurse I to Nurse III
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing
• clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures - or home settings
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who"" are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete- annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles
• Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated.
  

Duties

• Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: The Clinical Nurse Educator is responsible for providing expert - evidence-based education to staff
• Provides educational instruction and training for nursing staff in clinical and outpatient units
• The Clinical Nurse Educator understands instructional design - implementation - and application related to education and training
• Performs learning needs assessments - develops educational trainings for clinical staff within organization
• Assists with the orientation of new employees - evaluation of their progress in the orientation process - and development and implementation of a learning plan for improving identified deficiencies
• Serves as a trainer and consultant for Resuscitation Education Initiative (Redi) Program including certification as Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor
• Supports nurse residency programs including the development of curriculum utilizing strategic learning methodologies such as simulation - lecture case studies and virtual reality
• Develops expert level coaching and mentoring skills
• Systematically evaluates current practice - formulates outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within area of expertise