This position is a Registered Nurse with clinical practice expertise in providing expert care to the patient population in NICU. This position will work at the bedside supporting nursing education and professional development from orientation through the continuum of learning. 

The Nursing Practice Specialist is a registered nurse who exercises the knowledge, skills, and behaviors which reflects specialty practice judgment and expertise to influence professional role competence and growth of learners in a variety of settings. Works collaboratively with the Nursing Professional Development Practitioner, the inter-professional healthcare team, stakeholders, and the learner with the desired outcomes of increased clinical competency development and confidence, leading to improved patient outcomes. Responsible for applying knowledge and skills detailed in specialty and Nursing Professional Development Scope and Standards of practice. Supports the organizational and nursing strategic plan by helping ensure goals and priorities align with patient care, staff needs, and organizational objectives to guide decision making and priority setting.

Essential Job Functions

Onboarding/Orientation
• In collaboration with NPDPs coordinates and implements development plans for onboarding/orientation using established standardized tools. Evaluates individual orientation outcomes and seeks support and guidance from NPDPs as needed.
• Works collaboratively with the NPDP’s to develop individualized education/professional development plans.
• Works closely with preceptors to ensure consistency in onboarding of new staff.

Competency Management
• Supports competency management through measuring, documenting, and supporting the competency process using established standardized tools.
• Evaluates learner competence and works collaboratively with NPDPs as needed to revise professional development plans.
• Responsible for ongoing review and analysis of specialty education practice to ensure care is best practice patient outcomes continue to improve.
• Observes nursing and inter-professional health care team practice and provides real time feedback and coaching for knowledge, judgment, and skill development.

Education
• In collaboration with the NPDP the Nursing Practice Specialist uses the education design process for planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating educational activities that address gaps in knowledge, skills, and/or practice for the target audience to achieve specific outcomes.
• Continuing nursing education - supports awarded continuing education contact hours based on the regulations and standards of the accrediting body.
• Inter-professional continuing education - promotes collaboration with other healthcare professionals to design, manage, implement, coordinate, and evaluate education when appropriate.
• Assists in implementing and/or facilitating educational activities to continue building the foundation of clinical knowledge, judgement, practice skills, and confidence of nurses and other inter-professional healthcare team members.
• Provides just in time learning opportunities to be a support and a resource to staff.
• Uses a variety of teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes to enhance clinical judgement necessary in identifying at-risk patient populations.
• Provide education and guidance in compliance of safety tools and safe practice.

Role Development:
• Assists staff by coaching, coordinating, facilitating, conducting, and evaluating activities to navigate role transitions, role integration, skill acquisition, and succession planning (examples include the RN becoming a preceptor, charge nurse, leader, or joining a transition to practice program.)
• Serves as a mentor to staff in the professional development as an RN.

Collaborative Partnerships:
• Fosters internal and external relationships with content experts that support learning opportunities for staff in the specialty setting.
• Collaborates with charge nurses to make patient assignments that provide development of knowledge, skills, and/or clinical judgement of the growing nurse.
• Partner for practice transitions:
Supports the transition of nurses and other healthcare personnel across learning and practice environments, roles, and professional stages.

Personal Professional Role Competence and Growth
• Demonstrates competence and is an expert in knowledge, skills, practice, and clinical judgement in patient population served.
• Identifies personal needs and sets goals for own growth and development in collaboration with department manager.
• Supports, promotes, and demonstrates nursing professional development as a nursing practice specialty.
• Role model teamwork, caring practices, advocacy, and conflict resolution.

General
• Documents specific outcomes and interventions that support professional growth.
and processes drive desired outcomes.
• Facilitates discussions leading to clinical forethought and recognition of early changes in patient conditions requiring intervention.
• Advances the nursing profession and the Nursing Practice Specialist role by contributing to the professional development of others and supporting ongoing learning as individuals develop across practice, professional, and educational settings.
• Promotes the generation and dissemination of new knowledge and the use of evidence to advance Nursing Practice Specialist practice, guide clinical practice, and improve the quality of care for the healthcare consumer/partner.
• Promote staff to identify self-care strategies.
• Escalates all practice concerns to the unit manager or NPD-Practitioner.
• Meets with leadership and NPDPs regularly and provides feedback on new staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Education
• Bachelors degree in Nursing
• Masters in Nursing required at hire, or currently enrolled in a masters program at hire.

Experience
• 5 years successful working practice experience as an RN.
• 2 years successful experience facilitating adult learning..

Certifications and Licenses
• Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC), preferred
• Certification required at hire.
• Current Montana licensure as a Registered Nurse at hire
• MT Driver License or the ability to obtain one