Clinical Educator I - Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Only in pediatrics can you save a lifetime.

The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) provides subspecialty care for critically ill patients with congenital, acquired cardiovascular or related diseases. The 26-bed unit integrates the latest technology in a family friendly environment. The multidisciplinary team is dedicated to improving outcomes for children through innovation and research.

The CICU staff includes an integrated cardiac team with all sub-specialists readily available and accessible. The unit-based staff includes a dedicated pharmacist, respiratory therapist, social worker, nurses, as well as physicians from the divisions of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, cardiology and cardiac surgery. Children's CICU is home to an Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) center of excellence for ECMO services in children. The CICU also has VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) and heart transplant programs.

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, CNMC Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and
accountable for their own practice. CNMC supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large. The Clinical Educator I will work independently with minimal supervision of an advanced Educator and Nurse Manager. Assess unit's learning needs and participate in the development of a unit based educational plan to delineate education standards for patients/families and nursing staff. Demonstrate leadership in the development of educational programs/projects for patients and families/staff. Implement evaluation plan for unit based education programs. Present and/or coordinate the presentation of unit in services which follow educational principles and processes. Assist preceptors in their role and provide guidance and supervision to staff as they develop educational programs or projects. Demonstrate advanced clinical and communication skills. Use multidisciplinary collaboration to meet the complex care needs of patients.

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow up stronger. Today, it is one of the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. The Children's National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Children's National has been designated four times in a row as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children's National is home to the Children's National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. In 1987, Children's National founded Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit dedicated to reducing unintentional injuries among children through comprehensive national and global education, research and advocacy. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need.

Minimum Education
BSN (Required)

Minimum Work Experience
2 years related clinical nursing experience in a comparable setting (Required)
1 year pediatrics experience (Preferred)

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse in District of Columbia . (Required)

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) .

Functional Accountabilities
Professional Practice

• Support Shared Leadership.

• Contribute to CNMC's Magnet Journey .

• Ensure nursing practice is based on evidence of best practice.

• Accountable to participate in the Division of Nursing's Performance Improvement process (division or unit level).

• Participate in community Activities.

Plan of Care

• Assess by the related overt and subtle needs of the patient; make proficient clinical assessments; supplement the database; identify continuity of care issues; anticipate problems associated with changing patient status.

• Plan judicious, careful and deliberate goal setting designed to assist the patient and family in meeting their needs; serve as a role model for others to integrate data obtained from a range of sources in the development and revision of comprehensive interdisciplinary care plans with outcomes.

• Implement and initiate and complete actions necessary to meet assessed needs of the patient and family; independently perform and coordinate nursing and multidisciplinary activities to execute plans of care.

• Evaluate with a goal directed and recurrent appraisal to determine the patient and family responses; act as a role model for the evaluation of patient care by and analyze the patient and family physical and emotional responses to therapies and nursing interventions; verify with the patient and family the effects of care and make recommendations to revise the plan of care; and update the interdisciplinary plan of care as needed.

Communication

• Utilize communication skills to assist others to modify their communication in working with patients and families.

• Act as a role model for others by communicating responsively, respectfully , and assertively with patients, families, peers, and members of the health care team.

• Provide constructive, sensitive and timely feedback to others concerning their performance in verbal and written form.

• Share pertinent educational information with staff, preceptors, Staff Development Staff and Nurse Manager .

Staff Patient Education

• Guide staff in the teaching process by ebing able to assist others to address the comprehensive learning needs of patients and families; develop teaching plans to include time frames; and act as a role model to teach patient/family based on a plan of care.

• Accountable to deliver services in a manner that is sensitive to diversity.

• Document the teaching process and outcomes.

• Routinely evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching plan in meeting patient goals and make recommendations for change as needed.

• Serve as an educational resource in the development, review or revision of patient and family education standards and materials.

Staff Education

• Assess educational needs of the unit and prioritize unit educational needs as evidenced by the following: incorporate needs into the unit educational plan; identify ways to meet educational needs and time frames; develop an annual educational plan.

• Coordinate and/or provide educational offerings/projects for staff based on educational plans.

• Evaluate effectiveness of educational plan to meet unit's educational needs and make recommendations for change.

• Assure adult teaching - learning principles are employed for educational plans.

• Take initiative in the review, evaluation and management of the unit's orientation problems as evidenced by performing early evaluation of orientation program with Staff Development Specialist and Nurse Manager .

• Accountable to deliver services in a manner that is sensitive to diversity.