Join The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD as a Nurse Educator and unleash your innovative spirit! The ideal candidate will provide educational leadership through formal and informal educational training and mentoring programs for licensed nursing staff, direct patient care staff and non-patient care employees including support staff. Develops curriculum(s) based on evidenced-based practices and best practices for patient care and services in mental health and for specialized populations such as intellectual and developmental disabilities individuals within the parameters of The Harris Center policies and procedures/guidelines. Monitors trends and implements educational programs to ensure compliance with quality standards and serves as a clinical resource.

Your Role in Action:

• Evaluates and assesses CPEP Divisional Nursing Orientation and NEO educational plan for nursing staff employees for a comprehensive competency-based orientation program.
• Assists with design, implementation, and evaluation of CPEP education programs for licensed, non-licensed direct care staff and support staff.
• Assesses, plans, develops, implements, and evaluates CPEP educational activities.
• Coordinates CPEP Nursing orientation and staff training activities as well as integrating knowledge of education standards, institutional goals and current healthcare practices in the design of educational programs.
• Plans and prepares materials for CPEP onsite orientation incorporating needs of all staff including student trainees to include nursing, residents, and volunteers.
• Assesses and adapts appropriate orientation process and makes necessary changes based on identified needs.
• Develops in-service and educational programs based on needs assessments, quality improvement data, schools of higher education to meet all in-service and educational needs for CPEP units and programs.
• Determines and participates in the design of education programs including Continuing Education programs which involves the application and post program follow-up.
• Coordinates and provides in-service training and workshops for assigned staff.
• Collaborates with the department head (CPEP nursing leadership) in the development of departmental (Divisional) quality indicators after careful review of quality improvement issues indicating performance improvement education.
• Participates in CPEP Nursing audits to identify opportunities for improvement that can be addressed with educational interventions.
• Documents teaching/learning process and outcomes in accordance within established practice standards.
• Shares knowledge and skills through professional presentations. Other duties as assigned.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing or related field from an accredited nursing school required.
• Master's degree in nursing preferred or certification as a Nurse Educator.

Experience:

• Five (7) years nursing experience; preferably having 1 of those 5 years in a similar educational role. Five (5) years in an in-patient psychiatric setting required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :

• Texas Board of Nurse Examiners Nurse Practice Act and nursing care standards of practice.
• Adult Education principles/practices.
• Principles and standards of competency-based education.
• Applicable pharmacy rules and regulations including psychopharmacology.
• An ability to apply crisis intervention techniques.
• Standard Precautions and infection control procedures for dealing with sharp instruments, needles, blood and body fluids.
• Good body mechanics to avoid injury.
• Principles of psychiatric/mental health nursing and/or developmental disabilities nursing.
• Effective supervisory practices and communication techniques.
• Leadership and management principles.
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
• Able to teach complex material to learners with a wide variety of learning styles and abilities.
• Able to develop and implement learning programs for participants with a wide variety of knowledge and educational level.
• Effective data collection skills.
• Organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and complete task independently.
• Initiative and self-direction.
• Able to coordinate well with others and work effectively as a leader.
• Able to use all related medical equipment, machines and monitors.
• Able to execute standard word processing on computer.
• Strong time management skills.
• Clinically sound decision making.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Supervise and guide assigned staff in completing of assigned task.
• Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with chronically mentally ill patients and/or developmentally disabled consumers.

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching - a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

What else you should know:

• Your flexibility, our commitment: This role requires adaptability with flexible scheduling as well as provides ethical nursing care in a confidential, caring, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.
• This posting is associated with position #50339.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provided care to over 96,000 people in fiscal year 2023!

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.