Nursing Professional Development Specialist - Operating Room

At Virtua Health, we exist for one reason – to better serve you. That means being here for you in all the moments that matter, striving each day to connect you to the care you need. Whether that's wellness and prevention, experienced specialists, life-changing care, or something in-between – we are your partner in health devoted to building a healthier community. 
 
If you live or work in South Jersey, exceptional care is all around. Our medical and surgical experts are among the best in the country. We assembled more than 14,000 colleagues, including over 2,850 skilled and compassionate doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners equipped with the latest technologies, treatments, and techniques to provide exceptional care close to home. A Magnet-recognized health system ranked by U.S. News and World Report, we've received multiple awards for quality, safety, and outstanding work environment.

In addition to five hospitals, seven emergency departments, seven urgent care centers, and more than 280 other locations, we're committed to the well-being of the community. That means bringing life-changing resources and health services directly into our communities through our Eat Well food access program, telehealth, home health, rehabilitation, mobile screenings, paramedic programs, and convenient online scheduling. We're also affiliated with Penn Medicine for cancer and neurosciences, and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatrics.

Location:

Lourdes Health System - 1600 Haddon Ave

Remote Type:

On-Site

Employment Type:

Employee

Employment Classification:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Work Shift:

1st Shift (United States of America)

Total Weekly Hours:

40

Additional Locations:

Job Information:

👩‍⚕️ Role: Nursing Professional Development Specialist / Nurse Educator
🕒 Experience:
• 2–5+ years of perioperative nursing experience (Operating Room required)
• Background in tertiary-level care (Cardiac, Neuro, and/or Transplant strongly preferred)

🎓 Education/Certification:
• MSN or near completion of an advanced nursing degree highly preferred
• CNOR certification preferred

The Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Specialist is a registered nurse who advances nursing practice and professional growth through education, competency management, evidence-based practice, and practice change initiatives.  This role supports workforce readiness, quality outcomes, regulatory compliance, and professional excellence across the continuum.

The NPD Specialist practices in alignment with the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) Practice Model and serves as a learning facilitator, change agent, mentor, leader, champion for inquiry, and partner for practice.

Position Responsibilities:

Unit Based (On the unit working with and available to staff)

Learning & Professional Development

• Using the Donna Wright Competency Assessment Model, conducts learning needs assessment, including quality metrics, safety data, and regulatory requirements for orientation and annual competencies and education.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates orientation, onboarding, and continuing education.
• Applies adult learning theory and innovative instructional strategies.
• Supports role transition programs for nurses and supportive staff.

Competency Management

• Leads competency assessment, validation, and remediation processes.
• Aligns competencies with scope of practice and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with leaders to address performance gaps.

Leadership, Collaboration & Professional Governance

• Serves as consultant and subject-matter expert while assuming leadership roles in councils and committees.
• Participates in professional governance councils.
• Demonstrate leadership aligned with organizational values.
• Fosters a learning environment through the implementation of relationship-Based care principles. 
• Provides mentorship and cultivate professional development through research, knowledge, practice, and commitment to lifelong learning.
• Facilitates relationships with academic partners to promote the development of the future workforce.

Accreditation & Regulatory Support

• Ensure education meets accreditation and regulatory standards.
• Maintains documentation of education and competencies.
• Supports Magnet®, Joint Commission readiness and all other regulatory or certifying bodies.

Evidence-Based Practice & Inquiry

• Promotes inquiry and evidence-based practice through education and mentorship.
• Supports quality improvement and research initiatives.
• Integrates current evidence into educational programs.

Practice Change & Performance Improvement

• Interprets clinical, technical, and patient data to improve clinical quality and patient outcomes for the population of patients in the department.
• Partners with members of the interprofessional team to implement and evaluate practice changes.
• Communicate practice changes and cascades relevant information from councils and committees to ensure the implementation of new policies, procedures, and technologies.
• Use outcome data to assess education effectiveness.
• Supports organizational quality and workforce priorities.
• Supports patient throughput by facilitating individualized plans of care.

System Support

• System roll out education
• Participate in new program design and facilitation of courses.
• Calculate ROI of programs.
• Maintain a culture of resource stewardship.

Position Qualifications Required:

Required Experience: 3 to 5 years of recent clinical nursing experience in acute care, ambulatory, or specialty practice setting.  Experience in adult learning or professional education, such as staff education, precepting, or clinical instruction preferred. Experience collaborating with interprofessional teams.

Required Education: Master’s degree in nursing or completed within 2 years of hire.  Focus on Education preferred. Candidates with or pursuing DNP or PhD in Nursing will receive consideration.

Training / Certification / Licensure: Active Registered Nurse license in the state of New Jersey. NPD-BC® preferred or a nationally recognized advanced nursing certification required, for example CEN for the Emergency Department, MEDSURG-BC or CMSRN for Medical Surgical, CCRN or PCCN for critical care.

#RD_P1

Annual Salary: $104,613 - $167,938
The actual salary/rate will vary based on applicant’s experience as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.Virtua offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including, but not limited to: medical/prescription, dental and vision insurance; health and dependent care flexible spending accounts; 403(b) (401(k) subject to collective bargaining agreement); paid time off, paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws, short-term disability and optional long-term disability, colleague and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance; tuition assistance, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions. Eligibility for benefits is governed by the applicable plan documents and policies.

For more benefits information click here.