Director of Practical Nursing Job Description

TITLE: Director of Practical Nursing

STATUS: Full-time / Exempt

BENEFITS: Full benefits package

Summary of Position:

The Practical Nursing Program Director provides leadership for the College’s Practical Nursing Program, including curriculum oversight and review, continuous quality evaluation, and requirements for continuing accreditation. The Program Director is responsible for the overall operation of the program, including but not limited to planning, budgeting, scheduling, personnel matters, curriculum, instruction, professional development, and other academic matters.

Supervisor responsibilities:

Full-time Nursing and Adjunct Faculty

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Clinical and Didactic:
  • Coordinates clinical, simulation, and lab experiences, student learning outcomes, and serves as mentor for clinical faculty.
  • Demonstrates clinical competence in assigned area/expertise in primary area of specialty.
  • Coordinates teaching/learning experiences in clinical, simulation, and lab for all students to meet program objectives.
  • Develops, implements, and evaluates student practice experiences on the clinical unit, in simulation, and/or skills lab, including selecting learning experiences, assessing and guiding students and evaluating patient and student safety and learning outcomes.
  • Demonstrates mastery of the curriculum plan when designing, planning, and implementing course(s).
  • Monitors and evaluates student achievement of identified learning objectives and outcomes in assigned course.
  • Counsels and guides the students.
  • Develops and executes schedules for clinical, simulation, and lab for both students and faculty.
  • Responsible for maintaining clinical facility contracts, student clinical evaluations and collection of clinical minutes for each facility.
  • Assists faculty to plan, implement, and evaluate the integration of simulation into curriculum to promote student learning, critical thinking and clinical decision making.
  • Oversees clinical/simulation/lab attendance daily and records attendance weekly.
• Program:
  • Implements College polices and promotes attainment of College and program goals.
  • Assists in formulating policies for the program.
  • Participates in student and faculty orientation.
  • Responsible for training new clinical adjuncts.
  • Assists in the selection and interviewing of nursing faculty.
  • Contributes in the development of the plan for systematic evaluation and assessment of outcomes.
  • Participates in the development, implementation, evaluation and revision of the program and policies and procedures of the program.
  • Participates in activities to enhance the mission of the College and the program in the community.
  • Manages the status of clearances for students entering the program and while in the program in conjunction with the clearance coordinator.
  • Assists with Maintaining compliance for the program and upholding State Board of Nursing regulations.
• Leadership:
  • Administrative responsibilities of the department.
  • Supervises and evaluates adjunct staff.
  • Demonstrates an effective leadership style that is characterized by an open commitment to the profession of nursing, the College, and the established goals of the practical nursing program.
  • Provides a learning environment consistent with the philosophy of the College that facilitates student growth, decision-making and negotiation in self-directed experiences.
  • Contributes to recruitment and retention of students and faculty.
  • Supervises and evaluates adjunct faculty.
  • Develops and supports relationships with cooperating agencies.

Required Skills / Abilities:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work in a collegial environment.
• Ability to be successful in a diverse environment
• Ability to work across multiple learning programs.
• Ability to assess and review student learning outcomes to ensure success.
• Innovative thinking and ability to see the big picture while giving close attention to details.
• Knowledge of trends in nursing and nursing education.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations in accordance with the P.A. State Board of Nursing.
• Skilled at collaborative leadership.
• Skilled at managing a budget.
• Able to lead efforts to obtain national accreditation.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited School of Nursing required; Ph. D. preferred.
• Hold a current P.A. nursing license.
• At least five years’ current experience in Nursing and two years with direct patient care experience.
• Teaching experience at the college level
• Familiarity with the P.A. State Board of Nursing regulations for nursing education.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Sitting or standing for long periods of time.
• Ability to easily navigate several flights of stairs multiple times per day.

Pennsylvania Institute of Technology provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Pennsylvania Institute of Technology shall, in its discretion, modify or adjust the position to meet the school’s changing needs. This job description is not a contract and may be adjusted as deemed appropriate in the employer’s sole discretion.