Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) - HVIS & CSSU

Christiana Care; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 95,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Generous PTO

Tuition assistance

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Delaware seeks a Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) to lead education, onboarding, professional development, and competency management across Heart & Vascular Interventional Services, Cardiac Prep & Hold, and Cardiac Short Stay Unit.

The NPDS partners with nursing leadership to advance evidence-based practice, support role transition, and promote workforce readiness for safe, high-quality patient care in a Magnet-recognized system.

Qualifications

• BSN required; MSN/Ed degree or current enrollment for completion within three years.
• Minimum of three years of recent acute care nursing experience.
• Current Delaware RN licensure or eligibility; board specialty certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates onboarding and role transition for team members and integrates into clinical practice.
• Develops and evaluates orientation plans to support competency and growth.
• Creates educational programs using adult learning principles and evidence-based design.
• Assesses learning needs via quality metrics, regulatory requirements, and priorities.
• Develops competency validation programs across units and specialties.
• Identifies gaps and implements targeted educational interventions for safe care.
• Promotes evidence-based practice and mentors staff in quality improvement projects.
• Evaluates outcomes using indicators and performance metrics to drive improvement.
• Collaborates with nursing leaders and teams to support objectives; mentors leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Education

Onboarding

Education

BSN

MSN or Ed Degree

Delaware RN license

Board Certification (CCRN or CV) is a plus

Job description

Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) – HVIS, Prep & Hold, Non-Invasive Lab and Cardiac Short Stay Unit

The Nursing Professional Development Specialist (NPDS) provides leadership and oversight for the education, onboarding, professional development, and competency management of nursing staff and interprofessional team members within ChristianaCare's Heart & Vascular Interventional Services, Cardiac Prep & Hold and Cardiac Short Stay Unit. The NPDS serves as a key partner in fostering clinical excellence, supporting role transition, advancing evidence-based practice, and ensuring staff are prepared to provide safe, high-quality care across diverse clinical settings. Through collaboration with nursing leadership, clinical teams, and organizational stakeholders, the NPDS promotes professional growth, workforce readiness, and exceptional patient outcomes.

Highlights

• Make a meaningful impact on patient care by supporting clinicians who provide staffing coverage.


• Partner with leaders to develop innovative educational strategies that support workforce flexibility, competency, and retention.


• Contribute to system-wide initiatives that advance nursing excellence, evidence-based practice, and clinical quality.


• Join a four-time Magnet® recognized health system committed to professional growth and nursing excellence.


• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, generous paid time off, tuition assistance, and a 403(b) retirement plan.

Key Responsibilities

Professional Development & Education

• Facilitates onboarding and role transition for team members, ensuring successful integration into the organization and clinical practice environment.


• Develops, coordinates, implements, and evaluates individualized orientation plans designed to support competency attainment and professional growth.


• Creates and delivers educational programs utilizing adult learning principles and evidence-based instructional design methodologies.


• Assesses learning needs through analysis of quality metrics, performance data, regulatory requirements, and organizational priorities.

Competency Management

• Develops, coordinates, and evaluates competency validation programs for staff practicing across multiple units and specialties.


• Identifies competency gaps and implements targeted educational interventions to promote safe, effective care delivery.


• Ensures ongoing compliance with organizational, regulatory, and specialty-specific competency requirements.

Evidence-Based Practice & Quality Improvement

• Promotes clinical inquiry through participation in nursing research, evidence-based practice initiatives, and dissemination of best practices.


• Mentors and coaches staff in quality improvement projects that align with departmental and organizational goals.


• Evaluates educational outcomes through quality indicators, staff performance metrics, and patient care outcomes to drive continuous improvement.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Collaborates with nursing leaders, educators, interdisciplinary teams, and key stakeholders to support operational and strategic objectives.


• Partners with Professional Governance Councils and shared decision-making structures to advance nursing practice and system-wide initiatives.


• Supports succession planning, mentorship programs, and leadership development opportunities for nursing staff.


• Serves as an educational resource and consultant for team.

Education and Experience Requirements Required

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).


• Master's degree in Nursing, Education, Healthcare Administration, or related field required, or current enrollment with completion within three years of hire.


• Minimum of three years of recent acute care nursing experience.


• Board Specialty Certification required. (CCRN or CV is a plus.)


• Demonstrated clinical expertise across multiple patient care settings.


• Current Delaware RN licensure or eligibility for Delaware licensure.

Annual Compensation Range $94,577.60 - $151,361.60

Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.