Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Educator - Brockton Behavioral Health Center (Full-time)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Educator provides clinical, educational, and programmatic leadership for the psychological care of hospitalized patients by developing clinical and practice expertise among nursing staff. The PCNE working with all appropriate members of the health care team ensures coordination of patient care through the development and use of patient care and practice standards. The role of the Clinical Nurse Educator provides education, mentorship, and role modeling through employee orientation, development, coordination and implementation of a variety of educational programs; assessment, and maintenance of staff competency, and involvement in quality improvement and research utilization to enhance patient care and outcomes.

Position: Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Educator  (PCNE)       

Department: Brockton

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Clinical Practice

• In collaboration with the nurse manager and physician-partners participates in the assessment, implementation and evaluation of the clinical care and outcomes of psychiatric patient populations.
• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team in the development and implementation of patient care policies, procedures, protocols, clinical guidelines, and standards of care.
• Collaborates with physician, administration, nursing and ancillary support in cost containment initiatives and practices.
• Ensures clinical nursing staff can identify actual or potential illnesses that may impact the course of hospitalization, make an evidence based plan to minimize the impact of the illness(s) for the patient, and evaluates and revises the plan as necessary.
• Ensures that clinical nursing staff is prepared to function effectively, efficiently in emergency/crisis situations.
• Ensures that the nursing staff can demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age groups of patients who are regularly served. Consults appropriate resources when patients outside regularly served age populations are present.
• In collaboration with the Nurse Manager and the healthcare team, role models professional practice behaviors through assisting with direct patient care, clinical decision making, counseling, and teaching to patients and families with complex or specialized care needs.
• Mentors and models leadership behavior
• Effective communication
• Effective collaboration
• Effective decision making
• Unit-based leadership (eg, committees)

Staff Development

• In collaboration with the nurse manager, participates in the design and implementation of methods to increase staff involvement with unit governance and goals.
• In collaboration with the nurse manager determines employee proficiency for patient care assignments.
• Provides staff/Nurse managers with timely constructive feedback regarding staff nurse performance, professional growth and development through clear, concise, and effective written and verbal communication
• In collaboration with the nurse manager, conducts/ participates in the investigation of employee incidents involving clinical practice, and development of a performance improvement plan.
• In collaboration with the nurse manager, recommends employees for promotion or non-promotion.
• In collaboration with the nurse manager, evaluates probationary employees’ work performance and recommends employment continuation or discharge.
• Maintains open communication with Vice President of Nursing, Nursing Directors, Nurse Managers, and Medical Chiefs of designated service.

Consultation

• Develops professional relationships within the community through effective networking and professional service that fosters a positive image for the nursing department, specialty service, and the institution as a whole.
• Available for nursing consults in areas of specialty for all nursing clinical areas and the organization.
• Consultant and change agent to BMC divisions regarding patient population, new procedures, complex patient problems, advanced technology, etc.
• Consultant to professional organizations in areas of specialty promoting a standard of excellence in nursing practice.
• In a consultative model, identifies efficient and fiscally responsible practices that impact Boston Medical Center.

Education

• Conducts formal and informal staff education for new and continuing employees related to clinical practice guidelines/standards, critical pathways, and quality improvement findings.
• Establishes, leads, and/or participates in appropriate educational forums to provide programs, teaching information, and evaluates and improves programming based on participant evaluation and quantitative measures (eg, posttest, risk management trends).  Evidence based practice and Benner model included as appropriate.
• Develops and delivers specialty education to nurses, nursing students, physicians and other health care disciplines. Uses multiple venues to meet diverse learner preferences, such as face-to-face, programmed learning, web-based programs.
• Maintains and updates database of educational programs, staff competencies, (Healthstream) etc.
• Collaborates with the Nurse Manager to assess and identify the ongoing learning needs and competence level of nursing staff.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates outcomes of the nursing department and unit based competency program.
• Conduct ongoing assessment of patient population/client learning needs.
• Plans and provides appropriate educational programs to achieve identified patient population/client needs.
• Evaluates impact of educational sessions on patient care outcomes and/or professional development of staff.
• Assumes a leadership role in the development, use, and evaluation of patient educational materials.
• Stimulates clinical inquiry and critical thinking of staff as evidenced by formulation of quality improvement and research utilization projects.
• Disseminates research based nursing knowledge appropriate to patient populations served through incorporation of appropriate research and/or quality.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates outcomes of staff orientation program for probationary employees and/or assists with the precepting of the new employees.
• Acts as mentor for staff

Research

• Expands specialty practice base by utilizing, disseminating, and conducting nursing research to maximize high quality, cost effective patient outcomes
• In collaboration with nursing colleagues utilize evidence to formulate and revise nursing practice standards.
• Directly/indirectly participate in clinical research in specialty area.
• Publishes/presents research to inter/intra hospital and professional community.
• Stimulates interest in developing research participation among staff/colleagues.

Academic

• In collaboration with BU School of Medicine and Nursing leadership, identifies an academic model or nursing education and practice
• Utilizes the Benner model in association with BU faculty positions: clinical educator, Associate professor, full professor with appropriate doctoral credentials for full Professor position
• Incorporates translational research into nursing practice and fosters an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity.
• Initiates nursing research grants in the clinical and academic settings
• Supports the concept of life-long learning, critical inquiry and nursing excellence.

Quality Improvement

• In collaboration with the Nurse Manager, Chief of Service analyzes systems, trends, and clinical pathway variances, and implements strategies to improve patient care/outcome.
• Maximizes efficiency of operational systems by:
  • Identifying opportunities for intra/inter departmental operational process improvement
  • Evaluating efficiency and cost-effectiveness of educational efforts.
  • Evaluating the specialty service’s clinical practice in relation to patient/family satisfaction.
  • Participates in committees/task forces and organizational strategic planning committees to define, implement and communicate strategies for improvement.

Cost Effective Educational Programs and Clinical Practice

• Assists/participates in the planning and implementation of strategies to improve cost benefit for the hospital
• Assists/participates in the evaluation of products/practice before and after planned changes occur.
• Identifies educational programming utilizing cost efficient strategies and cost saving features
• Collaborates with Directors of Nursing and Chiefs of Services to assure timely and appropriate training programs focusing on safe clinical practice.

Professional Development

• Communicates clinical specialty knowledge through publication, role modeling, and sharing expertise with the professional community.
• Identifies own learning needs and assumes responsibility for maintaining current knowledge, competency, and expertise in area of specialty. 
• Completes annual mandatory educational requirements, e.g., safety review, infection control standards, departmental/specialty competencies, and maintains appropriate credentialed status.
• Chairs and /or participates in various nursing and hospital committees, councils, or task force when requested or the need identified.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job.  The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

Graduate of an accredited baccalaureate program and MSN or equivalent health related degree required, preferably a CNS or a Nurse Practitioner

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

None

EXPERIENCE:

Must have 5-7 years clinical experience including recent experience in psychiatry.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment
  of patients in psychiatric settings
• Knowledge of social, psychological, and physical factors of psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of psychotropic medications and their side effects
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations that apply to the care of patients in inpatient psychiatric settings
• Knowledge of principles of crisis prevention and de-escalation
• Provides effective leadership in high-stress situations with sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy
• Basic Cardiac Life Support certification required.
• Demonstrated ability as an effective teacher/mentor. Able to communicate effectively with hospital employees at all levels, including members of the health care team, staff nurses, nursing leadership, and other organizational members.
• Experience in educational program design, delivery and measurement of learning outcomes.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills in a multidisciplinary environment and appropriate to the patient populations served.
• Self-directed, self-starter and able to implement new programs.
• Demonstrated ability as an effective leader.
• Ability to provide education to staff, physician, and auxiliary staff.
• Organizational skills to set priorities and efficiently complete assigned workload.
• Physical ability to meet core job responsibilities in accordance with practice setting demands for the patient populations regularly served.
• Ability to manage stress due to critical patient care issues, changing organizational climate    and personnel issues.
• Ability to promote the change process.
• Application and promotion of problem solving and creative thinking skills.
• Ability to critique development of staff and provide meaningful feedback.
• Prioritizing and meeting competing demands/requirements of setting.
• Computer skills in word processing, e-mail, internet access.
• Expert clinical judgment to function independently in an advanced clinical role.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans