POSITION SUMMARY: The Clinical Nurse Educator collaborates with the administrative team, medical providers, and interdisciplinary care teams in the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, updating, and delivery of clinically-oriented training and educational curricula for the Health Services staff, ensuring compliance with policies, regulations, best practices, quality standards, and scope of nursing practice; oversees the orientation of all newly hired nurses; develops systems to ensure that ongoing competency assessment and education are provided; initiates clinical skill development programs; monitors trends in care delivery; and provides ongoing assessment and measurement of outcomes to validate that staff training programs positively impact the clinical quality of care to our individuals.
The nurse practices within the scope of New Jersey's Nurse Practice Act and in accordance with Elwyn New Jersey's policies and procedures and those of Elwyn New Jersey's regulatory agencies.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Orientation, Education, Training & Competency Assessment
- Oversees medical/nursing content education from development to training to assessment
- Collaborates with Staff Development and assists with new employee orientation as needed regarding nursing care
- Orients new nursing staff to organizational protocols and procedures
- Assesses the individualized learning needs of staff through direct observation and subjective/objective feedback; develops and provides in-service training designed to meet the specific learning needs identified
- Educates staff in the use of new equipment, supplies, and instruments; coordinates in-service training and workshops, as needed
- Assists with the training and education to all levels of staff regarding routine health needs as well as the unique health maintenance and disease prevention needs of the Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) population
- Develops nursing competency assessments and evaluates competency skills of nurses and CNAs; such competency skills include, but are not limited to, validating vital signs, proper application of oxygen, etc.
- Ensures nurses meet mandatory educational requirements and maintains an online data base for tracking compliance
- Assists nursing staff with needed continuing education units (CEUs) and continuous education and development of nursing skills
- Interfaces with local nursing schools and universities to arrange nursing student orientation and clinical practicums
- Manages assigned caseload based on resident census and case management needs:
- Review ongoing medical, dental, and psychiatric treatment with the treatment team to ensure recommendations are addressed in a timely manner
- Assist in identifying health care needs and provide site staff with individual training that focuses on general health conditions, treatments, and interventions specific to each individual's health needs and consistent with standards of care
- Review all Medical Appointment Forms, lab data, and diagnostic test results with the Treatment Team
- Provide continuity of care through timely follow up with physicians and other health care providers to ensure that agency and licensure requirements are met
- Monitor individuals' weights and vital signs on a monthly basis and more frequently as needed; identify changes from baseline and report abnormal findings to the Primary Care Physician and Treatment Team.
- Summarize Medical Appointment Forms, telephone contacts, and ongoing health care follow up in the nursing progress notes
- Monitor individuals receiving services immunization status and ensure that each consumer remains up to date and current (as per NJ State regulatory guidelines)
- Monitor individuals receiving services for potential safety risks and the need for adaptive equipment, monitor all adaptive equipment to ensure that it remains in good working order and facilitate repair/replacement when equipment issues are identified
- Complete a monthly review of medication boxes and Medications Administration Records for each site. Provide a written report summarizing any issues or discrepancies to the Director of Nursing, Program Director, Quality Improvement Specialist, and others as designated by the Supervising Director of Nursing
- Complete a general review of each residence on a monthly basis to validate that privacy, safety, infection control and general standards are met. Documents monthly exams into the electronic medical records as applicable
- Provide coordination of clinical services between Elwyn New Jersey's Community Living Program (CLP)/Enhanced Behavioral Support Program (EBSP) and hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, and other community-based providers and services
- When a consumer is admitted into a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or rehab center
- Collaborate with the facility's staff to ensure appropriate care and maintain active involvement in discharge planning throughout the consumer's stay
- Oversee the consumer's transition back Elwyn New Jersey by reviewing discharge recommendations, ensuring that medication/equipment is available and providing staff training related to ongoing care and treatment needs
- Monitor ongoing medical/safety needs during the transition back to Elwyn New Jersey
- Obtain and review all reports from all inpatient stays, Emergency Department visits, diagnostic procedures, and specialty appointments coordinating follow up health care needs as indicated
- Provide nursing-on-call coverage as required during evening and weekend hours, which may include travel to specific homes if the presence of an RN is needed to help resolve the presenting issue, completing on call progress notes, documenting in the site nursing note, and forwarding to administration and the treatment team to ensure timely communication
- Participate in meetings, committees, and seminars to ensure that nursing practice remains current with emerging trends in the care of individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and Developmental Disabilities (DD)
- Complete all annual mandatory educational requirements as assigned by Elwyn New Jersey within the designated timeframe
- Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), safety care techniques, and medication administration using agency-trained protocols
- Maintains current state-mandated training and certifications
- Follows all current policies and procedures of Elwyn New Jersey
- Cooperates with Elwyn New Jersey and the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, or any other authorized investigating body during an inspection or investigation
Clinical Supervision
- Provides clinical education and information to the nursing staff. Works collaboratively with program and nursing leadership to ensure that individual learning needs are met
- Understands regulations as they apply to nursing and communicates them effectively in both oral and written form
- Functions as a staff resource and clinical expert when issues related to the health care needs of the individuals arise
- Encourages professional interactions with individuals and families via modeling, feedback, and clinical supervision
- Provides direct nursing care as needed
Nursing Policy & Procedure Updates
- Promotes continuous quality improvement in all aspects of health care delivery
- Advises regarding the adaptation of current health care/nursing research and educational trends for use at Elwyn New Jersey; develops and provides training and education to meet the associated goals and objectives
- Collaborates with the administrative, operations, and nursing teams to identify changes required in clinical practice, develops training and in-service programs, and facilitates the implementation of recommendations
- Identifies existing and potential improvements needed in individual care, clinical and operational procedures, and ongoing maintenance of equipment and supplies, and proactively addresses
- Leads the organization writing, revising, and implementing medical and nursing policies and procedures, while working collaboratively with the Nursing Directors in this effort
- Monitors workplace safety and reports individual/staff incidents, treatment errors, or unsafe conditions; provides direct feedback to the appropriate leadership and safety committee
- Collaborates with Nursing Directors as needed to provide in-services for areas of identified as a health and safety risk by Risk Management
- Serves on designated organizational committees as assigned
Professional Practice Requirements
- Obtains a minimum of 24-hours of in-service training per year; attends nursing meetings and in-services as requested
- Attends external conferences to maintain knowledge of current IDD health care/nursing practice
- Maintains current state-mandated training and certifications
- Follows all current policies and procedures of Elwyn New Jersey
- Cooperates with Elwyn New Jersey and the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, or any other authorized investigating body during an inspection or investigation
- Performs other duties as assigned
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Director of Nursing
DIRECT REPORTS: None
CONTACTS: Elwyn New Jersey individuals receiving services, Elwyn New Jersey staff, families/guardians, physicians, health care providers, and service agencies such as pharmacies, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice program personnel
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:
- Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey; bachelors in nursing preferred
- Three (3) years of general nursing or Adult Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) experience
- Behavioral health experience preferred
- One (1) year of staff development or nursing administrative experience
- Experience using electronic medical records preferred
- Excellent planning, communication, customer interaction, collaboration, and documentation skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities
- Ability to work independently and productively with all departments and levels of staff
- Demonstrated knowledge of emergency procedures and equipment
- Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Must be able to perform CPR and crisis intervention techniques using agency-trained protocols
- Demonstrated intermediate experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Must have current, valid driver's license in state of residence, three (3) years driving experience in the United States, and an acceptable driving record
- Availability to rotate between all three (3) shifts and work at different locations to meet nursing training and development needs.
- Demonstrated knowledge of nursing/medical policy development and implementation
- Must submit to a criminal background check and be determined to be not disqualified by the New Jersey Department of Human Services prior to working with individuals served
- Must agree to have their name checked against the New Jersey Central Registry of Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and NJ Child Abuse Registry (CARI)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE: See Physical Demands Checklist below which represents the general physical demands and environment conditions to which the employee holding this position must meet, in addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Elwyn New Jersey will engage otherwise qualified candidates for this position whose disabilities may require reasonable accommodations to enable an individual to perform the essential functions.
Elwyn New Jersey reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as needed. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of duties and responsibilities of the job nor does it constitute a written or implied contract.
Elwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and identity, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, genetic information, disability status, military or veteran status, marital or family status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, and federal law.#SHA123
