Open Clinical Instructor Positions:

• Community Health
• Medical/Surgical
• Obstetrics
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry

 

Job Summary 

The Clinical Faculty Instructor provides supervision, instruction, and evaluation of undergraduate nursing students in clinical and simulation settings. This role ensures students meet course objectives and demonstrate essential clinical competencies, while promoting professional, ethical nursing practice in alignment with The Catholic University of America’s mission. 

Term 

One semester; renewed based on the needs of the program and satisfactory performance evaluation.

Education/ Qualifications 

• Graduate degree in nursing preferred (or BSN with national certificate in the assigned clinical specialty or enrollment in a graduate program) 
• Minimum two years experience as a RN in the acute care setting. 
• Clinical teaching or preceptorship experience preferred 
• Valid DC RN license, must be willing to obtain within 60 days of hire 

Physical Requirements 

• Ability to walk/stand for long periods of time 

Accountability 

• Reports to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. 
• Follows the appropriate chain of command (see below) for escalating issues with partner sites or students.

General Responsibilities 

• Attends mandatory Clinical Faculty Orientations and Student Clinical Orientations at a designated location on campus at Catholic University. 
• Interprets the mission and aim of the School of Nursing in relation to the planning and delivery of nursing care, within the framework of the agency. 
• Supports the mission and vision of The Catholic University of America. Regardless of the Clinical Course Coordinator’s religious or denominational affiliation, conducts and supports the University’s mission in the fulfillment of their responsibilities and obligations as Clinical Course Coordinator. 
• Consistently upholds, through both word and action, the ethical standards of healthcare delivery that flow from the Church’s teaching regarding the inherent dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, as articulated in, Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, (USCCB, sixth edition). 
• Confers with professional staff involved in the planning and implementation of nursing care in the agency and health promotion activities in the community. 
• Interprets the program curriculum to the nursing staff and other appropriate staff within the agency.
• Provides the students and the agency with documents determined by the course coordinator to be necessary, such as student schedules and students’ assignments. 
• Maintains current clinical competency and knowledge, serving as a role model to students and clinical colleagues. 
• Completes all training as directed by the Director of Clinical Placements. 
• Attends and supports assigned simulation days with assigned students. 
• Works with course coordinator to evaluate the agency and unit for continued use as a clinical site.
• Commits to working the entirety of the clinical rotation to include dates set aside for student make-up days. 
• Schedules an end of rotation evaluation conference with the agency (nursing manager) at the conclusion of the academic semester to review any student, staff and/or agency issues. 
  • Submits a written summary of the evaluation conference to the Clinical Course Coordinator (for filing according to BSN program accreditation requirements). 
• Reports to the Clinical Course Coordinator, the Director, Undergraduate Clinical Partnerships and Placements and the Program Manager, Undergraduate Clinical Partnerships and Placements
• Engages with the Clinical Course Coordinator on a regular basis. 

Responsibilities Related to Clinical Agencies 

• Orients to the assigned clinical agency. Completes all required unit orientation, compliance requirements and onboarding prior to the first assigned clinical day. 
• Abides by the agency’s requirements as outlined in the Undergraduate Clinical Faculty Instructor Guide.
• With agreement of the Clinical Course Coordinator, confers with appropriate personnel within the agency to plan appropriate student learning experiences. The clinical agency’s Nursing Clinical Coordinator and the CSON clinical coordinators must be made aware and approve the proposed learning experience/unit visit. 
• Maintains and supports all safety measures. 
• Serves as a positive liaison between the School of Nursing and the agency. 
• Engages with clinical agency colleagues respectfully and professionally, especially when addressing sensitive issues. 

Responsibilities Related to Simulations 

• Works with CUA simulation team to support reflective learning and critical thinking of learners.
• Attends onsite training for debriefers. 
• Completes all assigned modules related to simulation onsite training for debriefers.
• Facilitates high-quality, learner-centered debriefing sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes.
• Conducts debriefing sessions using the structured debriefing methodology selected by the CUA simulation team. 
• Conducts debriefing sessions in alignment with simulation learning objectives. 
• Upholds key principles of simulation pedagogy such as fiction contract, confidentiality, psychological safety, fidelity, and honest self-reflection. 
• Willing to act as provider as part of the simulation by providing students with appropriate prompts (CUA simulation team to provide guidance, scenario progressions, and suggested prompts). 
• Serves as a subject matter expert for pre-briefing workshops and debriefing. 
• Ensures all learners complete the SET-M survey at the conclusion of the debriefing session.
• Wears proper clinical attire (scrubs) to simulation. 

Responsibilities Related to Student Achievement and Success 

• Orients students to the clinical setting. 
• Arranges and/or conducts the student orientation to the agency. 
• Plans student assignments critically in relation to the student’s level and the course objectives.
  • Plans assignments in relation to the availability of learning opportunities. 
  • Identifies additional learning resources. 
• Reinforces concepts taught in the BSN curriculum. 
• Helps the student to acquire appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes required of professional nurses. 
  • Plans clinical practice experiences that prepare students to engage in interprofessional collaborative practice. 
  • Plans experiences that enable students to provide care to individuals and populations with diverse life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. 
• Supports the students in using methods of problem solving and higher level thinking in nursing and personal relationships, through individual and clinical group conferences. 
• Encourages students to assume increasing responsibility for personal development.
• Creates opportunities for students to independently provide appropriate nursing care with increasing levels of responsibility. 
• Supervises patient care, physical assessments and the administration of medication.
• Collaborates with the course coordinator regarding important student issues, such as unsafe practice or other critical incidents. 
• Grades all course assignments (quizzes, case studies, care plans, etc.), as indicated in the course syllabus.
• Evaluates progress of students. 
  • Provides ongoing feedback to students regarding their strengths and areas in need of improvement. 
  • Keeps notes concerning performance and shares these with the student. 
  • Guides and encourages students’ self-evaluation. 
  • If indicated, develops a learning prescription (see Learning Prescription Form) to improve students’ skills with Clinical Course Coordinator 
  • After discussion with the clinical course coordinator, issues clinical warnings as necessary
  • Maintains grade record for all assigned students.
  • Maintains student information in a confidential manner. 
  • Confers with the course coordinator, as needed, regarding student’s performance or school processes. 
• Performs student evaluations in a timely manner. 
  • Performs a formal written mid-term evaluation for each student (see Clinical Evaluation Tool and guidelines). 
  • Completes a formal final evaluation of each student (see Final Evaluation Form and Clinical Evaluation Tool). All core concepts must be rated “Satisfactory” for a student to pass the course.
  • Submits all evaluation forms to the course coordinator, as indicated.