JOB TITLE: REGISTERED NURSE INSTRUCTOR

JOB CODE: 30610

DEFINITION: This is professional nursing educational work in teaching employees nursing theory, skills, and methods involved in the physical, rehabilitative or habilitative care of individuals/patients/residents at a Commonwealth facility for individuals with a mental or physical injury or illness, a dysfunctional behavior and/or a developmental disability.

An employee in this class assesses employees' direct nursing care educational needs, researches, plans, organizes, develops, presents and evaluates orientation and in-service classroom and clinical instruction in nursing theory and practice. Considerable independent judgment is used in designing, developing, adapting, and/or selecting subject matter materials and instructional methods, and in applying professional nursing theories to meet classroom and clinical instructional needs and problems. Employees participate in continuing education programs to further enhance professional nursing and instructional skills. Work is performed in accordance with established facility and departmental goals, objectives, rules, and regulations, and the appropriate standards of nursing practice. Work assignments are received in the form of oral or written instructions and accomplishments are reviewed by a Registered Nurse Instructor Supervisor or by another professional or administrative supervisor, as appropriate, through observation, reports, and conferences for quality and adherence to established standards.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Teaches elementary and advanced nursing theory, skills, methods and techniques to Aide Trainees, Psychiatric Aides, Restoration Aides, Residential services Aides, ID, Youth Development Aides, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, and other direct care and facility staff.

• Designs and develops course objectives, course outlines, lesson plans, and teaches nursing care planning and/or treatment techniques and methods.

• Plans, schedules, conducts, and evaluates orientation and adult education and training programs for Aide Trainees and evaluates classroom lectures, discussions, and demonstrations, and provides relevant clinical follow-up training and supervision.

• Provides in-service training for staff requiring nursing expertise such as treatment planning, charting and documentation procedures, administering medicines and treatment, infection control, and quality assurance/improvement/risk management methods and techniques; and instructs staff assigned to direct nursing care areas such as, acute care, geriatric care, forensic care, mental health care, care and services for adjudicated delinquent youth, and/or the care and treatment of individuals/patients/residents with a mental or physical injury or illness, a dysfunctional behavior, and/or a developmental disability, regarding the proper utilization of professional nursing care and treatment techniques, procedures and methods, in the respective direct care areas.

• Coordinates on-site visits and/or orientation tours with student nurse affiliated nursing schools/universities and appropriate community groups; and arranges educational presentations by clinical specialists and/or other facility staff and outside

speakers on specialized nursing subjects. • Observes performance of trainees and/or direct nursing care employees in working situations; evaluates achievement in meeting work performance objectives, and provides remedial education as appropriate and/or directed.

• Participates in auditing and evaluating individuals'/patients'/residents' medical and/or program service documentation and records, and nursing care and treatment plans for compliance with established facility and nursing policies, procedures, and practices.

• Chairs and/or participates with departmental and other interdisciplinary staff and committees which influence or determine policies affecting nursing standards and practice; and assists nursing services supervisory and management personnel in assessing direct care employees' staff development and/or training needs, and providing or arranging for in-service and/or out-service training or continuing education programs, as appropriate.

• Participates in and evaluates staff development programs and workshops and conferences to further enhance professional nursing and instructional skills.

• Prepares and maintains documentation and reports on all education and training activities.

• Employees in this class may occasionally relieve other professional nursing direct care staff, consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories, standards, and practices of professional nursing, including, as appropriate, those in nursing direct care areas, such as acute care, mental health care, developmental disabilities care, geriatric care, forensic care, care and services for adjudicated delinquent youth, including dysfunctional behavior modification techniques and methods, as needed, and/or the care and treatment of individuals/patients/residents with a mental or physical injury or illness.

• Knowledge of current developments in the field of general and/or specialized professional nursing including the therapeutic and adverse effects of pharmacology, psychopharmacology, and medical treatments, and the human anatomy and physiology, clinical nutrition, personal hygiene, rehabilitative/habilitative care, infection control, and quality assurance/improvement/risk management; and the individual/patient/resident nursing care and treatment documentation and records maintenance requirements.

• Knowledge of teaching methods, and instructional aids applicable to nursing instruction, and the techniques and methods of conducting classroom training and education, and/or on-the-job training activities.

• Knowledge of licensing, certification and accreditation regulations and standards applicable to individuals/patients/residents being served.

• Knowledge of facility policies, practices, and procedures.

• Ability to teach and apply professional nursing theories and practices.

• Ability to guide and instruct direct care professional and non-professional nursing services personnel in the application of professional nursing practices, methodology and standards.

• Ability to prepare and maintain records and reports.

• Ability to acquire new knowledges, skills, and techniques in nursing theory and practices by participating in out-service, in-service, staff development and continuing education programs, as appropriate.

• Ability to design, develop, select, or adapt materials to meet nursing services staff training needs; and to prepare and conduct pertinent lesson plans, audio-visual aids, and other instructional materials.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees of the facility.

• Ability to evaluate patterns and trends in the delivery of nursing care.

• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Three years of professional nursing experience; and a bachelor’s degree in nursing, nursing education, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university;

or

• One year of professional nursing experience and a master's degree in nursing, nursing education, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All positions require active authorization to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.

• All employees possessing an active temporary practice permit must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse within the one (1) year period defined by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.