Clinical Nurse Educator - Freeman Springdale Education Department

Our Mission

To improve the health of the communities we serve through contemporary, innovative, quality healthcare solutions.

Schedule: Full Time (40hrs/week)

What You'll Do

The Clinical Nurse Educator is a registered professional nurse who advances nursing practice by serving as an educator, facilitator, consultant, change agent, collaborator, mentor, and clinical resource for nursing personnel. The role assesses practice and learning needs, designs and coordinates orientation and professional development programs, validates competency, and evaluates educational outcomes for new and existing team members. Using current evidence, clinical expertise, adult-learning principles, and sound professional judgment, the Clinical Nurse Educator translates research, regulatory requirements, quality priorities, and professional standards into safe and effective bedside practice. The role partners with nursing and interdisciplinary leaders to align education with patient safety, quality improvement, workforce development, and organizational goals.

Responsibilities:

Learning Needs Assessment and Program Design

• Conduct learning and practice-needs assessments using quality data, regulatory findings, competency results, direct observation, learner feedback, and operational priorities.
• Design, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate evidence-based education using classroom, virtual, simulation, skills validation, coaching, and just-in-time learning methods.
• Develop measurable learning objectives, course content, competency tools, facilitator guides, and supporting materials that reflect current standards and Freeman Health System policy.
• Differentiate education needs from workflow, communication, resource, or performance issues and recommend the most appropriate intervention in partnership with leadership.

Orientation, Onboarding, and Transition to Practice

• Plan, implement, and continuously improve nursing orientation and onboarding for new hires, transfers, return-to-practice nurses, and team members entering new specialties.
• Coordinate unit- and role-specific learning pathways, clinical experiences, preceptor assignments, and competency milestones with nursing leadership.
• Support nurse residency, fellowship, internship, student, and specialty-transition programs as assigned.
• Identify learner progress, barriers, and support needs; communicate objective findings promptly and partner with the appropriate leader on individualized learning plans.

Competency Management and Clinical Practice

• Develop, maintain, and evaluate initial and ongoing competency-validation processes for nursing roles within the assigned scope.
• Validate competencies directly or prepare qualified validators using standardized criteria and documentation requirements.
• Maintain clinical credibility and remain current on changes in nursing practice, technology, equipment, medications, procedures, and standards relevant to assigned areas.
• Round in clinical areas to observe practice, reinforce standards, provide coaching, and identify emerging education needs.
• Promote consistent application of policies, procedures, clinical standards, and escalation pathways.

Evidence-Based Practice, Quality, and Safety

• Translate current evidence, professional guidance, and clinical literature into practical education and bedside application.
• Collaborate with Quality, Patient Safety, Risk Management, Infection Prevention, Nursing Leadership, and other partners to develop education supporting improvement priorities.
• Participate in quality-improvement, evidence-based practice, research, shared governance, and professional-practice initiatives within the scope of the role.
• Evaluate whether educational interventions improve knowledge, skill, behavior, clinical practice, quality, safety, or other defined outcomes and revise programs based on findings.
• Promote a culture of inquiry, psychological safety, clinical judgment, and continuous learning.

Regulatory Readiness and Documentation

• Monitor applicable accreditation, regulatory, state, organizational, and specialty requirements that affect nursing education and competency within the assigned scope.
• Ensure assigned education, competency records, rosters, evaluations, and supporting documents are accurate, complete, retrievable, and maintained in approved systems.
• Support survey readiness and provide education records or evidence of competency as requested.
• Assist with education related to new or revised policies, standards, equipment, technology, and clinical processes.

Professional Development and Consultation

• Coach nurses, preceptors, charge nurses, and other clinical team members to strengthen clinical judgment, communication, teaching, and leadership capabilities.
• Support certification, academic progression, career development, professional advancement, and continuing nursing education initiatives.
• Serve as a consultant and resource to leaders and staff regarding educational design, clinical competency, preceptor development, and professional-practice concerns.
• Build collaborative relationships with subject-matter experts, schools of nursing, clinical partners, and interdisciplinary teams as assigned.

Program Operations and Stewardship

• Manage assigned education calendars, communications, supplies, equipment, learning spaces, and program resources responsibly.
• Use learning-management and other approved systems to assign, track, document, and report education and competency completion.
• Monitor participation, completion, evaluation, and outcome data and provide clear updates and recommendations to leadership.
• Participate in councils, committees, workgroups, and special projects as assigned.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the role, scope of practice, and organizational needs
  

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.
• Three years of recent direct patient-care or acute clinical nursing experience.
• Current, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Arkansas required. Multistate privilege or additional licensure may be required based on assigned responsibilities.
• Current BLS, ACLS, NIHSS, and hospital-designated de-escalation training certification required, or must be obtained within 30 days of employment.
  

Freeman Perks and Programs

• For eligible full time and part time employees Freeman offers a wide variety of career opportunities, a great work culture and generous benefits, most starting day one! 
• Health, vision, dental insurance 
• Retirement with employer match 
• Wellness program with discounts to Health Insurance or Cash Bonus with Participation 
• Milestone payments with longevity of employment 
• Paid Time Off (PTO) or Flex time off  (FTO) 
• Extended Sick Pay