If you are passionate about providing high-quality medical care for patients, you have many options. A clinical education specialist, a registered nurses who design educational programs for healthcare professionals, is one role you might consider. You can learn how to become a clinician education specialist and move on in your career. This article will explain what a clinical educator specialist is and share their job duties. We also provide steps to help you become one.
What does it mean to be a specialist in clinical education?
A registered nurse who manages and plans continuing education programs in the medical field is called a clinical educator specialist. These health-care experts, also called clinical trainer specialists, offer advice and guidance on topics such as how you clean your equipment properly and how to make use of new technologies. They may help with training and orientation for new employees, depending on where they work. They work in private and public hospitals, clinics, or as clinical educators.
What does a Clinical Education Specialist do?
Doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals can have confidence in the skills and knowledge of clinical education specialists. They are responsible for improving the patient care outcomes of the medical staff. They are responsible for the following common tasks:
- Overseeing and leading training events on-site
- Training materials preparation for participants
- Training needs assessments are done to determine what training is needed for the facility. Adjustments can be made accordingly.
- How to determine the right format for delivering education to medical professionals
- Promoting excellence in patient care delivery
- Enhance patient care by offering staff initiatives
- Professionalism standards are upheld
How to become an expert in clinical education
These are the steps you should take if you want to be a clinical educator specialist.
1. Earn a nursing degree
Accredited nursing schools can help you get a degree in nursing to become a clinical educators specialist. You will take courses in anatomy and chemistry to better understand the human body. You can complete degree programs in as little as two years.
2. Register to become a nurse
To become a clinical educator specialist, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination. This exam evaluates candidates on their skills and knowledge in the role of an entry level nurse. You will be eligible for licensure via your state’s nurse board once you have passed the exam.
3. Gain experience
Intern or seek entry-level roles to get real-world experience. You should have both experience as a teacher and as a health care professional. This job is a combination of both. You can use what you’ve learned in school to begin practicing your skills as a clinical educator specialist.
4. A master’s degree is worth considering
Employers are more likely to hire clinical education specialists who have a master’s in nursing. Earning a master’s in a related medical area, such as nursing, will help you to remain competitive in the job search. These programs will equip you with the necessary skills to teach others about nursing practices.
5. Be certified
Becoming a Certified Health Education Specialist is a great way to show employers you are eager to learn. This is an especially important role because it requires you to teach health care professionals throughout your career. This certification is available through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. It is for those who have demonstrated their knowledge in seven areas of responsibility for health education specialists.
- Access to health education resources, needs and potential
- Plan health education
- Health education should be implemented
- Research and evaluation of health education
- Health education administration
- As a person who can provide health education resources
- Promote, advocate, and communicate about health and the professions in health education
6. Apply for jobs
Once you have the relevant experience and education, apply for a position as a clinical education specialist.
To help potential employers see your strengths and experience, update your resume. If you are looking for open positions, search the names of clinical educators specialists, such as clinical nurses educators.
Clinical education specialists: Salary and outlook
An average clinical nurse educator makes $85,403 annually. Salaries are determined by where a person works, their experience level and the employer they work for. Your salary as a clinical educator specialist will also be affected by your education, certifications, and skills.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be a 13% rise in health education specialist jobs between 2019-2029. This is almost three times higher than the average job outlook across all occupations. BLS attributes the growth to improved health outcomes as well as lower healthcare costs.
Specializations that will help clinician educators succeed
These are the skills that clinical educators specialists need to succeed in their job:
- Analytical thinking. Clinical education specialists must be analytically able to recognize areas that may require training and decide how best to present them.
- Problem-solving is a skill that clinical educators have to be able to apply to learn specific information.
- Communication: These skills are essential for clinical educators to communicate clearly with staff in the health care field.
- Patient care: Clinical educators who are clinical specialists in clinical education can benefit from having the ability to understand and practice patient care.
- Organization: Clinical education professionals use their organizational skills in order to plan and prioritize the topics that they cover.
Tips to make a career as a clinical educator specialist
Here are some suggestions to help make you a great clinical education specialist.
- Additional certifications are possible. Additional certifications can help you stand out in your job applications, such as CPR and basic live support.
- A plan. A schedule will help students plan their learning experience.
- Positive relationships are key. Focus on building positive relationships with students when you teach them.
