IP Nursing Coordinator- Peds and Post Surgical, Full Time, Days

Overview

Job Summary: 

Demonstrates through behavior Decatur Morgan Hospital’s mission, vision and values. The Inpatient Pediatric & Post-Surgical Nursing Coordinator is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing education and competency programs for staff caring for pediatric and post-surgical patient populations.

This role serves as a clinical educator and subject matter expert, ensuring nursing staff maintain the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary to deliver safe, evidence-based, and high-quality care. The Coordinator partners with leadership to support a culture of continuous learning, professional development, and clinical excellence.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions

1. Education & Training Development

• Develops and delivers educational programs focused on:
• Pediatric nursing care (assessment, medication safety, safe sleep, family-centered care)
• Post-surgical care (pain management, mobility, infection prevention, recovery pathways)
• Designs onboarding and orientation programs for new hires
• Creates and updates competency-based education aligned with evidence-based practices

2. Competency Management

• Develops and maintains competency validation processes for:
• Pediatric care skills
• Post-surgical nursing care
• Conducts initial and ongoing competency assessments
• Identifies skill gaps and implements targeted education plans
• Ensures compliance with required certifications (e.g., PALS, BLS)

3. Clinical Support & Mentorship

• Serves as a clinical resource for staff on complex pediatric and post-surgical cases
• Provides real-time coaching and bedside education
• Supports new and transitioning nurses in developing confidence and competence
• Promotes critical thinking and clinical decision-making

4. Quality & Practice Improvement

• Collaborates with leadership to identify trends in:
• Patient safety events
• Clinical outcomes
• Documentation and practice gaps
• Develops education initiatives to address identified opportunities
• Supports implementation of evidence-based practice changes

5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Works closely with:
• Physicians (pediatricians, surgeons, hospitalists)
• Pharmacy (medication safety, weight-based dosing)
• Respiratory therapy
• Case management and other disciplines
• Ensures alignment of educational efforts with interdisciplinary care standards.

6. Regulatory & Accreditation Readiness

• Ensures education and competency programs align with:
• Organizational policies
• State and federal regulations
• Accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission)
• Maintains documentation of staff competencies for survey readiness

7. Staff Engagement & Professional Development

• Promotes a culture of lifelong learning and professional growth
• Encourages certification and specialty training
• Supports career development pathways for nursing staff

Qualifications

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required:

·         Uses common sense and special medical skills to care for the sick

·         Understands technical information from reference books, manuals, nursing leadership journals etc.

·         Uses eyes, ears, hands and fingers with skill

·         Communicates with people

·         Change from one duty to another frequently

·         Follow and/or give precise instructions

·         Records and interprets information accurately

·         Demonstrates leadership skill / ability

Reasoning, Mathematical and Language Development are indicative of the general level of development required to do this job.  Some, but not necessarily all, areas mentioned in this section will be included in this job.

 Reasoning Development:                                

Apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  Deals with several abstract and concrete variables.

 Mathematical Development:

Practical application of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, statistical analysis, in addition to basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division abilities.

 Language Development:         

Reading: Read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, and financial reports.  Records data via paper and electronic means. 

 Speaking:

Communicates verbally using effective voice tone, diction and medical terminology.

RELATIONSHIPS TO DATA, PEOPLE AND THINGS:

 Data:                           

Gathers, complies and classifies information about patients and other people.  Analyzes and interprets data to carry out operational functions of the hospital.

 People:                       

Speaking, hearing, talking with people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving directions to physicians, staff, patients, families and/or visitors.

 Things:                                      

 Manual dexterity: Use of body members or special devices to work, and perform functions pertinent to accomplishment of job assignment.

Education:  Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  Possesses a nursing license in good standing in the State of Alabama. BSN required, MSN preferred.

Experience: Minimum of five years hospital clinical experience with demonstrated competency in the care of the pediatric population.  Minimum of two years in a leadership role such as charge nurse or team leader.