Clinical Educator (RN)

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Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Clinical Educator is a traveling clinical education specialist responsible for delivering, coordinating, and evaluating clinical education and training programs across all Frontera Healthcare health centers. This role ensures that Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Medical Assistants (MAs) are competent, current, and equipped to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. The Clinical Educator proactively identifies gaps in clinical knowledge and practice, develops targeted action plans to address them, and audits patient throughput and clinical care delivery to drive continuous improvement. This position plays a critical role in advancing Frontera Healthcare's five strategic pillars: Provider of Choice (Quality Care), Provider of Choice (Access to Care), Employer of Choice, Partner of Choice, and Financial Sustainability.

Provider of Choice (Quality Care) - Ensures clinical staff are trained on evidence-based protocols, quality measures, and best practices that directly support delivery of safe, high-quality patient care across all sites.

Provider of Choice (Access to Care) - Improves clinical throughput and workflow efficiency through hands-on education and process audits, enabling health centers to see more patients without compromising quality.

Employer of Choice - Invests in the professional growth and competency of RNs, LVNs, and MAs, creating a culture of learning, support, and clinical excellence that attracts and retains top clinical talent.

Partner of Choice - Supports compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and payer requirements through consistent, documented clinical education and competency validation across all health centers.

Financial Sustainability - Reduces clinical errors, inefficiencies, and rework through proactive education and auditing, contributing to improved productivity, reduced risk, and stronger financial performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Education Delivery

• Travel to all Frontera Healthcare health centers on a regular, structured schedule to deliver in-person clinical education and training to RNs, LVNs, and MAs and other clinical and non-clinical staff as needed.
• Develop, implement, and continuously update clinical education curricula, training materials, and instructional resources that reflect current evidence-based practice and organizational standards.
• Facilitate group training sessions, one-on-one coaching, skills demonstrations, and return demonstrations to reinforce clinical knowledge and procedural competency.
• Coordinate and deliver new employee clinical orientation in collaboration with site supervisors and human resources, ensuring all new clinical hires are practice-ready from day one.
• Provide real-time, on-the-floor education and coaching during site visits, reinforcing best practices in a practical, patient care context.
• Utilize a variety of instructional methods including simulation, case studies, skills labs, and e-learning to accommodate diverse learning styles and schedules.

Competency Assessment & Validation

• Develop, maintain, and administer annual and role-specific clinical competency assessments for all RNs, LVNs, and MAs across all health center sites.
• Track and maintain accurate competency completion records for all clinical staff, ensuring 100% compliance within required timeframes.
• Coordinate skills validation events and return demonstration exercises to verify hands-on clinical proficiency for high-risk or high-frequency procedures.
• Partner with Health Center Administrators to address competency deficiencies through individualized remediation plans and follow-up reassessment.
• Ensure competency programs meet HRSA, PCMH, and other applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Report competency completion status and trends to the Director of Value-Based Care and clinical leadership on a regular basis.

Education Gap Assessment & Action Planning

• Conduct systematic assessments of clinical education and training needs at each health center through staff surveys, observation, quality data review, and stakeholder input.
• Analyze quality metrics, incident reports, patient safety events, and audit findings to identify patterns and root causes of clinical education gaps.
• Develop detailed, site-specific action plans to address identified education and training gaps, including timelines, responsible parties, and measurable outcomes.
• Implement and monitor action plans, adjusting interventions as needed based on staff performance data and ongoing assessment.
• Provide written gap assessment reports and action plan updates to the Director of Value-Based Care and site leadership on a defined reporting schedule.
• Proactively anticipate education needs related to new clinical protocols, equipment, regulatory changes, and organizational initiatives.

Clinical Auditing & Throughput

• Conduct structured audits of clinical care delivery at each health center, evaluating adherence to clinical protocols, documentation standards, and patient safety practices.
• Assess and analyze patient throughput processes, including rooming workflows, vital signs collection, clinical documentation, and care team communication, identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Collaborate with site medical directors, clinical supervisors, and operations leadership to translate audit findings into workflow improvements and targeted education interventions.
• Monitor and track audit outcomes over time, measuring the impact of education interventions on clinical performance and throughput efficiency.
• Prepare clear, data-driven audit reports with actionable recommendations for site leadership and the Director of Value-Based Care.
• Support preparation for external audits, surveys, and accreditation reviews by ensuring clinical staff are educated and compliant with applicable standards.

Regulatory Compliance & Standards

• Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and accreditation requirements applicable to clinical practice in FQHC settings, including HRSA, OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control standards.
• Ensure all clinical education content and competency programs reflect current regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
• Coordinate annual mandatory training completion (CPR/BLS, infection control, bloodborne pathogens, HIPAA, EKG, etc.) and maintain documentation of compliance across all sites.
• Serve as a clinical resource and subject matter expert for staff questions related to clinical practice standards, scope of practice, and procedural guidelines.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with the Director of Value-Based Care, site medical directors, clinical supervisors, and operations leaders to align education priorities with organizational and site-level goals.
• Participate in quality improvement committees, staff meetings, and leadership huddles to stay connected to clinical performance trends and emerging education needs.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with clinical staff at each site, fostering a psychologically safe environment where staff feel comfortable identifying learning needs and seeking support.
• Communicate regularly and transparently with site leaders regarding staff competency status, education progress, audit findings, and action plan outcomes.
• Collaborate with the HR and recruitment team to support clinical onboarding and ensure education resources are ready for new hires.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the state(s) of practice; unrestricted and in good standing.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical nursing experience, with at least 2 years in a clinical education, staff development, or training role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering clinical education programs for RNs, LVNs, and/or MAs.
• Strong knowledge of clinical competency assessment, adult learning principles, and instructional design.
• Experience conducting clinical audits, workflow assessments, or quality improvement activities.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, and written communication skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple sites, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency with EHR systems and Microsoft Office or equivalent productivity tools.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly to all health center locations.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) required; Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or Nursing Education preferred.
• Certification as a Nurse Professional Development Practitioner (NPD-BC) or equivalent clinical education credential.
• Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center, community health center, or safety-net healthcare setting.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred given the patient population and staff composition at Frontera Healthcare.
• Familiarity with HRSA, PCMH, and FQHC regulatory and quality requirements.
• Experience with simulation-based learning or skills lab coordination.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Clinical Expertise - Brings deep clinical knowledge and a commitment to evidence-based practice that earns credibility and trust from clinical staff at all levels.
• Teaching & Facilitation - Communicates complex clinical concepts clearly and engagingly, adapting instruction to meet diverse learning needs and experience levels.
• Assessment & Analysis - Identifies education gaps and clinical performance issues through systematic observation, data review, and structured auditing.
• Action Planning - Translates assessment findings into clear, practical, and measurable improvement plans with accountability built in.
• Relationship Building - Establishes rapport and trust quickly across multiple sites and teams, fostering a culture of openness to learning and feedback.
• Organizational Agility - Manages competing priorities across multiple sites with flexibility, follow-through, and strong time management.
• Cultural Humility - Delivers education that is inclusive, respectful, and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of both staff and the patients they serve.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset - Approaches every audit, assessment, and interaction as an opportunity to raise the standard of clinical care.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires regular travel to all Frontera Healthcare health center sites and operates primarily in clinical environments. The Clinical Educator should expect to spend most of their working time on-site at health centers rather than in a fixed office setting. Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required to accommodate staff schedules, training events, or site needs. This role involves frequent standing, walking, and engagement in clinical skills demonstrations.