At Houston Methodist, the Nursing Professional Practice Leader (PPL) II position is a specialist role, as evidenced by experience, credentials, and performance and a Nursing Professional Development (NPD) practitioner who primarily practices in a specific department or service-line practice environment, with a focus on the growth of individuals and groups within a nursing specialty. In addition to performing the duties and responsibilities of the PPL I, this position serves as a consultant and subject matter clinician for a service line/specialty area, functioning at the Expert level of Benner's model of clinical practice. The PPL II advances specialty care through leading inquiry projects, analyzing outcome metrics and implementing performance improvement, designing innovative programs to enhance learner growth, creating strategic interdisciplinary and community partnerships, collaborating at the entity and system level on specialty initiatives, and engagement in specialty accreditation and/or recognition programs. This position is a consultant as they serve as a role model within the specialty, and NPD practice.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops a strategic plan, through partnership with specialty leadership, to facilitate staff growth and development to meet established priorities and expected clinical outcomes.

• Builds collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to drive professional development initiatives and achieve optimal results. Leads initiatives within the entity and seeks practice consensus with HM System partners.

• Leads through influence as an advocate, mentor, and change agent in the practice environment. Communicates effectively with individuals, collaborators, and as a group leader. Role models peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads the educational process through completion of an assessment, identification of practice gaps (including lack of knowledge, skill, or inability to translate knowledge into practice), identification of desired outcomes, planning, facilitation of learning, and an evaluation. Creates learning activities, with entity and HM System partners, to address departmental learning needs. Incorporates theories in learning and change. Promotes the transfer of knowledge to practice, ensuring that knowledge/training is conducted and integrated into practice.

• Develops a timely and efficient department onboarding process, orientation, and professional development plan related to the service-line and competency requirements. Builds programs collaboratively with NPD entity and/or HM System peers, and interdisciplinary partners.

• Connects with entity and HM System peers to share best practices. Reports outcome measures of professional development initiatives to relevant stakeholders and engages in action planning, as necessary to meet learner needs and address effectiveness.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads and facilitates quality improvement initiatives, as identified through assessment data, knowledge of key quality indicators and event reporting. Collaborates with department/service-line leadership, quality team, and/or other stakeholders to synthesize, analyze, and prioritize patient quality and/or patient satisfaction opportunities and create an action plan utilizing performance improvement methods/tools.

• Develops and participates in initial and/or ongoing competency assessments, which consider strategic departmental, entity, or system initiatives. Utilizes creative approaches to competency assessment including coordinating competency events, and mentoring staff competency validators. Establishes competency critical elements based on standards and best practices.

• Builds and revises programs and/or activities which are grounded in evidence-based practice and relevant policies, procedures, and standards. Leads performance improvement projects.

• Evaluates practice through knowledge of applicable professional scope and standards, policies and procedures, and regulatory standards, including recognition of practice patterns and variances. Advances patient care through achievement/maintenance specialty designations. Serves as a consultant in their specialty area.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborates with leadership to develop programs/services and curricula, within the approved budget with recognition of return on investment and/or cost avoidance. Appropriately allocates and utilizes resources.

• Role models and drives time management and resources efficiently. Implements solutions to achieve organizational objectives that lead to a positive financial impact.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads a spirit of inquiry by applying evidence-based practice and research in patient care. Mentors staff in project development and execution as well as the creation and submission of clinical abstracts posters, and presentations.

• Develops proposals for innovative programs, projects, inquiry, innovation, teaching strategies and/or learning methodologies. Engages in environmental scanning for identification of future needs. Facilitate staff to identify learning needs and navigate options to advance knowledge and skills.

• Leads in obtaining service-line/department level specialty designations, recognitions, or awards.

• Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree and Master's degree, one from an accredited school of Nursing

• Master's degree in education field preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Six years clinical nursing experience with two years in a primary nursing professional development role

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure -- Compact Licensure - Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency) AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) AND
• NPD-BC - Nursing Professional Development (ANCC) -- Current incumbents have two years from job description implementation to obtain NPD-BC within 1 year AND
• Magnet ANCC-recognized certification (HM)

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) OR
• PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Instructor (AHA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

• Acts as an effective change agent

• Ability to apply evidence-based practice

• Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

• Exhibits leadership abilities including collaboration, consultation, and coaching skills

• Demonstrates proficient time management skill

• Ability to utilize adult learning theory, and demonstrate knowledge of current educational technologies

• Maintains a working knowledge of electronic resources including Microsoft applications

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.