RN - Clinical Nurse Educator

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Marion (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Marion VA Health Care System is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse to serve as the Clinical Nurse Educator within Education Services located in Marion, IL.

You will deliver evidence-based staff education, orientation, and competency assessments; lead BLS/ACLS training and mock codes; support residency programs through simulation and teaching; and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to uphold accreditation and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an approved nursing program with active RN license in the United States.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in a U.S. State or Territory.
• Preferred: 2+ years of critical care (ICU/ER) and educator experience.
• BLS and ACLS certifications required; ability to lead curriculum development and simulation-based training.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and coordinate evidence-based staff education, orientation, and competency assessments.
• Lead BLS/ACLS training, compliance monitoring, and mock code activities.
• Support nurse residency programs through simulation and advanced teaching methods.
• Promote evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and policy updates.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to committees and system-level initiatives.
• Maintain accreditation readiness, safety, infection control, and emergency preparedness.

Skills

English language proficiency

Nursing licensure

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master's in Nursing (MSN) or related field with BSN

Job description

Summary

The Marion VA Health Care System is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse to serve as the Clinical Nurse Educator within Education Services located in Marion - IL.

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/13089669
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Two (2) years of critical care (ICU and/or ER) and Medical Surgical experience - two (2) years of expertise as an educator - including curriculum development - simulation-based training - and competency evaluation - two (2) years of experience leading evidenced-based practice initiative and quality improvement projects - two (2) years of critical teaching experience and ability to teach high-acuity concepts - one year of BLS instructor experience - two (2) years of preceptor experience and BSN or MSN preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

• The Clinical Nurse Educator delivers and coordinates evidence-based staff education - orientation - and competency assessments
• leads BLS/ACLS training - compliance monitoring - and mock code activities
• supports nurse residency programs through simulation and other advanced teaching methods
• promotes evidence-based practice - quality improvement - and policy updates
• collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and contributes to committees and system-level initiatives
• and maintains accreditation readiness - safety - infection control - and emergency preparedness standards
• PLEASE NOTE: These positions require Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications
• If selected - Applicants will provide proof of current certifications prior to employment
• Only BLS certification which included Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and ACLS certification obtained from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or the Military Treatment Training Network (MTN) will be accepted
• 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 through Friday - 7:00 a.m
• to 3:30 p.m. - excluding Federal holidays
• Telework: Ad hoc only to meet the needs of the department at the Supervisors discretion
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.