OVERVIEW: The adjunct nursing role is a non-tenure track position with primary responsibility to provide adjunct instruction in the BSN program, clinically-focused MSN programs and the DNP program. The nursing faculty role reflects the philosophy and organizational standards of the larger university as well as those of the profession of nursing. Adjunct faculty members are expected to demonstrate productivity and competency consistent with their singular role of teaching, with assignments reflecting an emphasis on clinical instruction within the adjunct's area of clinical specialization.

TEACHING: The teaching role consists of didactic and clinical instruction, including simulated clinical experiences offered in laboratory environments. All teaching roles may be conducted virtually or in-person. Adjunct faculty are generally assigned less than a full-time teaching load or its equivalent, and are hired to teach in one or more courses within a single term. Employment in consecutive terms is not guaranteed, nor is assignment to a particular course or courses; and is conditional upon student enrollment and satisfactory level of performance.

Didactic instruction includes the development and implementation of instructional strategies including traditional lecture or seminars as well as distributed media; for example, virtual or in-person interaction with students across synchronous or asynchronous course delivery modes. The number of students taught in each course and/or clinical section is established across the CON by the administration consistent with academic and fiscal needs. Course enrollment caps are determined, in part, based on the policies of the Texas Board of Nursing, the policies of affiliating adjunct agencies in which students are placed, instructional format, and evidence of best pedagogical practice. Adjunct faculty assignments are recommended by the lead full-time faculty and program directors, but must be approved, offered, and confirmed by the component administrator (assistant or associate dean) before they are considered to be valid, active assignments in any given semester.

Adjunct faculty members are expected to demonstrate scholarly teaching through integration of relevant adjunct expertise and case studies, research and theoretical literature into the development of coursework and adjunct experiences with students. Faculty members are responsible for evaluating the impact of their teaching in terms of student competencies, student satisfaction with the teaching/learning experience, and peer feedback of their teaching, along with other evidence of student outcomes.

All adjunct faculty members are expected to meet on a regular basis with full-time faculty assigned to lead the course, or who participate in the faculty team managing the course, and/or the assistant/associate dean. Adjunct faculty are encouraged to identify agency partners that have the potential to provide meaningful clinical placements for our students.

Role of the adjunct faculty in delivering clinical instruction: Adjunct instruction involves the assignment, supervision and evaluation of the clinical skills acquisition and direct client care delivered by nursing students. Faculty members must demonstrate clinical competency to teach by documentation of current clinical practice relevant to their instructional assignment, certification by a nationally recognized professional organization in a clinical specialty, and/or other mechanisms negotiated with their campus component administrator (associate or assistant Dean). Adjunct faculty are required to participate in an orientation provided by the program director and/or track manager. The adjunct faculty may be asked to assist in the evaluation of clinical sites and/or to make recommendations about engaging in a new or renewed MOU or contract with a particular clinical agency or practice. Adjunct faculty will review the College of Nursing's philosophy, goals and instructional objectives and performance expectations of the students, and should assist the full-time faculty in identifying congruency with the clinical agency across these aspects of our nursing programs. Adjunct faculty will be physically present in the clinical facilities to which students are assigned to the extent necessary to provide adequate and safe instructional oversight, and to meet expectations of our clinical partners and promote successful collaboration with this clinical affiliate, as required by the Texas Board of Nursing. While undergraduate clinical instruction is usually offered in 8 hour and 12 hour shifts, experiences involving preceptorships at both the undergraduate and graduate levels require the adjunct faculty member to meet in person periodically with the student and preceptor in the clinical area as needed to effectively evaluate the quality of the experience and the proficiency level of the student.

SUMMARY

The Adjunct Nursing Faculty member supports the full-time faculty in accomplishing the mission and goals of the College of Nursing, primarily as these relate to the delivery of didactic and clinical instruction in the undergraduate and graduate programs. Adjunct faculty teach in the classroom and clinical settings, including the actual and virtual clinical simulation laboratory, participate in the evaluation of student achievement, and may receive other teaching-focused assignments as relevant to their level of teaching experience and their clinical specialization(s) as needed and as requested by the component administrator.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in nursing required; a practice doctorate degree in nursing (DNP) or related field preferred
• Previous experience in teaching preferred, such as hospital staff development or clinical education, but is not required
• Current/unencumbered Texas RN license
• Current healthcare provider CPR
• Meets current clinical requirements such as current immunizations, TB status, and negative background checks as mandated by TWU's clinical partners
• Skills and Attributes: Management and leadership skills; ability to work in groups and facilitate positive interprofessional interactions

Organizational Skills - Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Professions Skills - Extensive clinical practice in area of specialization; certification highly preferred

Judgment Skills - the ability to identify, assess, and comprehend conditions surrounding patient and professional situations for the purpose of problem solving around patient and professional conditions and coming to appropriate conclusions and/or courses of action.

Neurological Functions - Ability to apply the senses of hearing, seeing, touching, and smelling to make correct judgments regarding patient and professional conditions for the purpose of demonstrating competence to safely engage in the practice of nursing and nursing education. Behaviors demonstrating essential neurological functions include, but are not limited to, observation, listening, understanding relationships, writing, and psychomotor skills.

Communication Skills - Ability to communicate effectively with fellow faculty, students, patients, members of the health care team, and the public. Skills include verbal, written and nonverbal abilities consistent with effective communication so that purpose and meaning of communication can be exchanged.

Emotional Coping Skills - Ability to demonstrate mental health necessary to safely and effectively engage in the practice of nursing and nursing education as determined by professional standards of practice.

Intellectual/Conceptual Skills - Ability to measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate to engage competently in the safe and effective practice of nursing and nursing education.

Other Essential Behavioral Expectations - Ability to engage in activities consistent with safe and effective nursing practice and nursing education without demonstrated behaviors of addition to, abuse of, or dependence on alcohol or other drugs that may impair behavior or judgment.

Physical Abilities - The ability to maneuver in work assignments necessary to carry out the duties of nursing faculty including adjunct settings to which assigned. Ability to access and procure emergency materials when indicated, ability to demonstrate gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide instruction and demonstration of safe nursing care. Ability to maintain adjunct supervision for up to 10 students for 9 hours two days a week and ability to assist students in the care of clients in the adjunct setting to which assigned in acute care and the community.

TWU strives to provide an educational environment that affirms the rights and dignity of each individual, fosters diversity, and encourages a respect for the differences among persons. Discrimination or harassment of any kind is considered inappropriate.

TWU is committed to equal opportunity in employment and education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, age, veteran's status, genetic information, or against qualified disabled persons.