Reporting to the Senior Clinical Program Director Oncology and Endoscopy Program, the Clinical Educator - Nursing for Inpatient Oncology/Medicine Unit and Outpatient Chemotherapy Clinic/Treatment area serves as a role model and leader to support nursing care that optimizes patient outcomes and experiences while enhancing the safety, efficiency, effectiveness and accessibility of patient care by:
- Planning, implementing and evaluating education for nursing and the inter-professional team
- Being change agents and roles models that advocate for and create learning/education environments that enhance clinical and professional practice and life-long learning
- Working with other nurse leaders to support the development of nursing staff including participation in nursing and corporate education and other initiatives
- Collaborating with inter-professional teams and external partners to influence and advance best practices in education and evidence based nursing practice
Responsibilities:
The primary role of the Clinical Educator - Nursing is to facilitate a learning environment where evidence-based knowledge is translated via education to optimize the patients' outcomes and experiences. This includes developing educational plans and activities aimed at improving nursing/clinical knowledge, skills and competencies and in collaboration with others, supporting the ongoing professional development of unit/program staff.
The Clinical Nurse Educator has 3 main areas of responsibility.
Education: - Ensure staff complete training required for OHCCO standards e.g. chemotherapy certification
- Education and staff development, particularly in relation to nurses and their support staff
- Support of all staff on the unit for education, quality initiatives and professional development
- Assess learning needs of unit staff (Both units)
- Design and deliver education that is tailored to specific needs of unit/program
- Incorporates evidence, best practices, and relevant research findings
- Incorporates inter-professional core competencies where applicable
- Incorporates best practices in education
- Evaluates the effectiveness of education, revises education and learning activities to support changes
- Provides timely feedback to nursing staff on their learning and application to their practice competence
- Demonstrates Professional Standards and guidelines
- Supports development of Quality Improvement Initiatives.
Consultation/Collaboration:- Collaborates and participates with Professional Practice to identify and support Corporate nursing\practice initiatives
- Engages members of the intra and interdisciplinary team, management team, Professional Practice and across hospital departments in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating Corporate and other educational initiatives
- Participates in the hospital's network of Clinical Educators and works with other Clinical Educator colleagues
- Collaborates with the hospital's Student Centre, Patient Care Managers/Clinical Leader Managers to facilitate nursing and other student placements
- Collaborates with Patient Care Managers in interviewing, hiring and contributing to the evaluation of unit staff
- Participates in hospital and corporate committees and other groups to represent the Educator perspective and serves as a bridge to the unit/program and Clinical Educator - Nursing Network by disseminating committee information and decisions
Research and Quality Improvement:- Participates in research projects that contribute to nursing and/or interprofessional practice and education pertaining to their unit/program and the Corporation
- Supports and participates in the implementation of evidence based practice (best practice guidelines and other forms of evidence) and quality improvement initiatives on unit/in programs including Corporate initiatives
Qualifications:
- Registered in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario in the General Class
- Master's degree in nursing or education, required or currently enrolled with anticipated completion in two (2) years.
- CNA certification in a related specialty area an asset
- Minimum 3 to 5 years of recent clinical experience in Oncology and Medicine, including demonstrated knowledge of current best practices.
- Standardized Provincial Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Administration Certification is an asset.
- Knowledge of Cancer Care Ontario's strategic directions is an asset.
- Completion of a Basic Cardiac Life Support (B.C.L.S.) program, Level II: Basic Rescuer certification, required. ACLS certification preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with nurses and interprofessional teams to improve patient care and outcomes, required.
- Demonstrated leadership in committee work, education, quality improvement, and knowledge translation initiatives.
- Demonstrated competence in the design, delivery and evaluation of innovative educational programs for staff in a health care environment.
- Demonstrated competence in adult education.
- A track record of ensuring evidence based research, and evolving recognized standards are used to guide practice changes.
- Demonstrated ability to develop a system to validate learning, and ensure that practice changes are measured, sustained and improve outcomes.
- Strong commitment to life-long learning and professional development.
- Strong leadership and communication skills (writing, active listening, conflict resolution, ability to inspire others, delegation, mentoring, coaching, goal setting etc.), required.
- Demonstrated ability in applying quality improvement principles to enhance practice.
- Proven strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office computer software applications.
- Membership in a relevant professional organization (i.e. RNAO) is an asset.
- Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of Unity Health Toronto
- Excellent attendance record.
