Registered Nurse - Clinical Nurse Educator

Diversity Group; Fort Meade (SD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Black Hills Health Care System is seeking a Clinical Nurse Educator to strengthen nursing practice across inpatient and outpatient settings. The role focuses on adult learning, simulation, staff development, and resuscitation education to build clinical confidence, support new employee orientation, and advance evidence-based practice.

You will collaborate with leaders and interdisciplinary teams to improve care for Veterans and promote professional growth.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care per VA standards.
• Graduation from an ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program.
• State license as a registered nurse.
• Bridge program pathways for MSN with prior BSN equivalence may apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver clinical education for nursing staff across inpatient and outpatient care.
• Use adult learning principles, simulation, and learning technologies to improve clinical practice.
• Support nurse orientation and residency programs; lead resuscitation training and code reviews.
• Collaborate with nursing leaders and interdisciplinary teams to identify learning needs and drive improvements.
• Apply current nursing literature and evidence-based practices to education and care delivery.

Skills

English proficiency

Adult learning

Simulation

Staff development

Resuscitation education

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

ACEN/CCNE accredited nursing program

State RN licensure

Bridge program BSN option

Foreign nursing education evaluation

Job description

Summary

Join the VA Black Hills Health Care System as a Clinical Nurse Educator and help strengthen nursing practice across inpatient and outpatient settings. Use your expertise in adult learning - simulation - staff development - and resuscitation education to build clinical confidence - support new employee orientation - advance evidence-based practice - and collaborate with leaders and interdisciplinary teams to improve care for Veterans and professional growth.

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/13070696
• 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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You may be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination/evaluation.

Duties

• Make a lasting impact on Veteran care by helping nurses build the knowledge - confidence - and clinical skills needed to deliver safe - high-quality care
• As a Clinical Nurse Educator - you will partner with nursing staff - leaders - and interdisciplinary teams to identify learning needs and create engaging educational experiences that strengthen clinical practice
• This role offers opportunities to support new employee development - advance resuscitation readiness - contribute to nurse residency programs - incorporate innovative teaching methods such as simulation and virtual reality - and promote evidence-based improvements across the organization
• Duties include - but are not limited to: - Develop and deliver clinical education and training for nursing staff across inpatient and outpatient care settings using adult learning principles and effective instructional strategies
• - Assess organizational and staff learning needs and design targeted educational programs that strengthen clinical knowledge - critical thinking - and decision-making
• - Support new employee orientation by evaluating progress - identifying learning needs - and developing individualized learning plans to address skill or knowledge gaps
• - Serve as a trainer and consultant for the Resuscitation Education Initiative - provide Basic Life Support instruction - and track Basic and Advanced Life Support compliance throughout the organization
• - Coordinate and evaluate mock codes and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to strengthen staff preparedness and responses to clinical emergencies
• - Support nurse residency programs by developing curriculum and incorporating learning approaches such as simulation - lectures - case studies - and virtual reality
• - Collaborate with Clinical Nurse Educators - nursing leaders - and interprofessional teams to provide in-services - training - competency assessments - and evaluation of nursing skills for current and newly hired staff
• - Apply current nursing literature and evidence-based research to evaluate practice outcomes and propose improvements to clinical practice - education - and documentation
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: ADHOC-May be authorized (Employee who telework on an occasional - episodic - or short-term - and have completed required telework training and telework agreement)
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.