RN II-Nurse Preceptor

Western State Hospital; Staunton (VA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

Western State Hospital in Staunton, Virginia, seeks an experienced RN II Nursing Preceptor Coordinator to lead the hospital’s preceptorship program. You will provide instruction, coaching, and assessment of new nurses, while coordinating curriculum and shadowing activities with Nursing Leadership, HR, and Staff Development.

The role blends program oversight with hands-on clinical coaching, performance feedback, and development planning.

Qualifications

• Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in Virginia/Compact.
• BSN preferred and advanced nursing degrees encouraged.
• Ability to delegate, supervise, and communicate effectively (written, verbal, sign).
• Experience with training materials and nursing staff development.
• Experience as Nurse Supervisor or in a training role.
• Familiarity with trauma‑informed, person‑centered care.
• Ability to work overtime during staffing emergencies in a 24/7 psychiatric hospital.
• BLS certification for Healthcare Providers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the Nursing Preceptorship and shadowing program.
• Provide direct instruction, supervision, coaching, and mentorship to newly hired nursing staff throughout the preceptorship process.
• Conduct morning huddles, classroom instruction, on-unit training, guided reflection, skills activities, quizzes, and end-of-day debriefings.
• Assess preceptees' clinical knowledge, skills, professional behaviors, and progress toward independent practice and provide timely, constructive feedback.
• Develop individualized learning plans based on each orientee's experience, demonstrated competencies, learning needs, and progress.
• Assist new nursing staff with integrating clinical knowledge into practice while reinforcing safe patient care, medication administration, documentation, communication, time management, and hospital/unit procedures.
• Conduct rounding and observations to evaluate the effectiveness of the preceptorship experience and identify opportunities for additional education or intervention.
• Coordinate additional unit-based or specialty training when needed to support successful completion of orientation.
• Serve as a positive professional role model and promote a supportive, inclusive learning environment that encourages professional development, confidence, and belonging.
• Collaborate with Nursing Leadership and the Staffing Office regarding preceptor assignments, shadowing schedules, training needs, and orientee progress.
• Establish and facilitate a facility-based preceptorship community of practice and support the continued development of staff serving as preceptors.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and prepare reports regarding preceptorship activities, outcomes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support nursing recruitment, retention, staff development, and career advancement initiatives.
• Maintain clinical competency and provide direct patient care, including medication administration, when required by hospital or departmental needs.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Staff development

Clinical instruction

Coaching

Communication skills

Education

BSN preferred

Master's degree in nursing or higher

RN licensure (VA/compact)

Tools

Training material creation

Program coordination

Preceptorship programs

Job description

Contact InformationName: Elizabeth Weber

Title: RN II-Nurse Preceptor State Role Title: RN II/Nurse Prct I/Phy Asst Hiring Range: Minimum salary of $87,373- Maximum salary of $107,000 Pay Band: 5 Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop Location: Western State Hospital Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/wsh/ Recruitment Type: Agency Employee Only - A Job DutiesWestern State Hospital is seeking an experienced and motivated Registered Nurse to serve as an RN II – Nursing Preceptorship Coordinator. This position provides leadership, coordination, education, and hands‑on clinical support for the hospital’s Nursing Preceptorship Program and plays an important role in the successful onboarding, development, and retention of newly hired nursing staff. The RN II Nursing Preceptor Coordinator works collaboratively with Nursing Leadership, unit managers, Human Resources, Staff Development and Training, and other key stakeholders to provide a structured and supportive preceptorship experience. The position combines program coordination with direct clinical instruction, coaching, mentoring, and evaluation of newly hired nursing staff.

Primary Responsibilities Include

• Coordinate and support the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the Nursing Preceptorship and shadowing program.
• Provide direct instruction, supervision, coaching, and mentorship to newly hired nursing staff throughout the preceptorship process.
• Conduct morning huddles, classroom instruction, on-unit training, guided reflection, skills activities, quizzes, and end-of-day debriefings.
• Assess preceptees' clinical knowledge, skills, professional behaviors, and progress toward independent practice and provide timely, constructive feedback.
• Develop individualized learning plans based on each orientee's experience, demonstrated competencies, learning needs, and progress.
• Assist new nursing staff with integrating clinical knowledge into practice while reinforcing safe patient care, medication administration, documentation, communication, time management, and hospital/unit procedures.
• Conduct rounding and observations to evaluate the effectiveness of the preceptorship experience and identify opportunities for additional education or intervention.
• Coordinate additional unit-based or specialty training when needed to support successful completion of orientation.
• Serve as a positive professional role model and promote a supportive, inclusive learning environment that encourages professional development, confidence, and belonging.
• Collaborate with Nursing Leadership and the Staffing Office regarding preceptor assignments, shadowing schedules, training needs, and orientee progress.
• Establish and facilitate a facility-based preceptorship community of practice and support the continued development of staff serving as preceptors.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and prepare reports regarding preceptorship activities, outcomes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support nursing recruitment, retention, staff development, and career advancement initiatives.
• Maintain clinical competency and provide direct patient care, including medication administration, when required by hospital or departmental needs.

This position requires strong clinical nursing knowledge, leadership ability, communication skills, sound professional judgment, and a demonstrated ability to educate, coach, and support nursing staff. The successful candidate will be committed to developing others and promoting safe, recovery-focused, trauma-informed, person-centered care.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia/Compact licensure.
• Graduation from an accredited nursing program (BSN preferred).
• Ability to delegate and supervise nursing staff. Effective communication (written, verbal and sign).
• Ability to participate in interdisciplinary team. Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care.
• Experience with creating training material and maintaining training program is preferred.
• Prior experience as a Nurse Supervisor or training.
• Familiarity with Nursing philosophy of care, to include trauma-informed, person-centered, and relationship-based tenancy.
• Ability to work overtime due to staffing emergencies in a 24 hour 7 day per week psychiatric hospital which at times may mean working a 16-hour shift if and when necessary.
• Complete all annual competency training to include TO III with physical restraints
• Complete and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers with the American Heart Association
• Demonstrates knowledge of recovery/trauma informed care.

Additional Considerations

• Bachelor's and master's degree in nursing from an accredited institution or higher education.
• Psych Nursing and nursing leadership experience is preferred.
• Veteran or Veteran Spouse
• Bilingual in Spanish

Equal Opportunity: The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.

Veteran Preference: DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We strongly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply to the state application and respond accordingly.

Contact Information Name: Elizabeth Weber Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019. Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.