Director Nursing Education, Research, and Professional Practice

The mission of the Nursing Education Center (NEC) is to promote and support the overarching nursing strategic plan and initiatives originated by the CNO and the Center for Nursing Excellence. We accomplish this through the development and implementation of programs based on adult learning theories and best practice for nursing education. Our work includes initial onboarding, clinical area orientation, competence assessment (initial and ongoing), preceptor excellence program, and ongoing professional development for nurses throughout their career journey at D-H.

The centralized department structure will facilitate the development of skills in critical thinking, clinical reasoning, effective communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration for D-H nurses. We collaborate with subject matter experts and ancillary departments in creating educational programs and annual competence plans to meet the needs of practice settings for ambulatory, emergency, inpatient, perioperative, and procedural. We utilize evidence-based concepts and programs related to patient safety and quality process improvement throughout our nursing education programs.

We support the successful transition to professional practice for nurses through a nurse residency program. We foster transition to clinical practice in desired specialty areas with experiential learning activities including simulation education. We facilitate in the development of nurses as preceptors through evidence-based curriculum

1. Directs nursing onboarding, education, research and the associated portfolios of work for D-H Nursing.
2. Provides leadership and oversight to inpatient and ambulatory nursing groups to establish competency, staff development and education outcome measures related to nursing practice, quality, patient safety practices and nursing performances standards.
3. Directs the development, tracking and evaluation of the annual Nursing Competency and Education Plan including the program description, evaluation and work plan.
4. Establishes a collaborative and effective working relationship with clinical and operational departments, including Nursing Shared Governance and Clinical Systems and Nursing Informatics Teams to represent and ensure alignment to the nursing education, competency and staff development agenda.
5. Identifies current and emerging education, practice, and research trends.
6. Acts as an organizational resource for nursing education and competency methodologies, tools, and techniques.
7. Maintains current knowledge of national, regional and local nursing practice and nursing practice issues.
8. Provides leadership and oversight for Nursing Research Programs and Fellowships.
9. Promotes, supports and facilitates individuals engaging in nursing research, activities to advance research in practice, evidence based practice, the conduct of research, research utilization and dissemination of research results.
10. Identifies and conducts research to establish evidence-based practice standards.
11. Standing member and liaison to the IRB Institutional Review Board to ensure the Protection of Human Subjects, oversees ongoing research studies to ensure proper measures are taken to comply with all regulatory requirements.
12. Actively seeks innovative strategies to fund nursing research activities and pursues available funding
13. Supervises assigned personnel. Selects, counsels, prepares performance evaluations, and terminates according to policy.
14. Develops and manages relevant budgets.
15. May function in a clinical capacity.
16. Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Graduate from an accredited Nursing Program required.
● Masters of Nursing Education or practice and Doctoral degree required.
● Demonstration of a research program including peer reviewed publications, presentations and funding.
● 5 years of experience with evidence of leadership, operations, project management, and consultative skills in nursing required.
● Experience conducting, reporting and/or publishing research on nursing or nursing education or related topics desired.
● Experience in educational program design and organizational implementation.
● Experience developing evaluations and outcome measures for educational interventions.
● Academic appointment at a local university or college preferred.
● Prior experience developing and managing budgets and supervising staff required.
● Demonstrated ability to function independently.
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and concisely both verbally and in writing with individuals
and groups at various levels and various disciplines desired.

● Licensed RN with NH Elig