FT Nursing Faculty

Job Description
Regular, Full-Time Faculty - Assistant Professor
Faculty members perform a number of roles and functions, each of which reflects the core competencies of nursing faculty. Those competencies include the following:

facilitate learning

facilitate learner development and socialization

use assessment and evaluation strategies,

participate in curriculum design and program evaluation,

function as a change agent and leader,

pursue continuous quality improvement in the educator role,

engage in scholarship, and

function within the educational environment and within the community Denver College of Nursing serves. This position reports to the appropriate Program Director (i.e., ADN Program Director, BSN Program Director).

Competencies and Responsibilities

Facilitate Learning:
Faculty members are responsible for creating an environment in classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings that facilitates student learning and the achievement of desired cognitive, affective, and psychomotor outcomes.

Facilitate Learner Development and Socialization:
Faculty members recognize his/her responsibility for helping students develop as nurses and integrate the values and behaviors expected of those who fulfill that role.

Use Assessment and Evaluation Strategies:
Faculty members use a variety of strategies to assess and evaluate student learning in laboratory and clinical settings, as well as in all domains of learning.

Participate in Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Program Outcomes:
Faculty members are responsible for formulating program outcomes and designing curricula that reflect contemporary health care trends and prepare graduates to function effectively in the health care environment.

Function as a Change Agent and Leader:
Faculty members function as change agents and leaders to create a preferred future for nursing education and nursing practice. Leadership may include mentoring or supervision of new and/or adjunct clinical faculty members.

Pursue Continuous Quality Improvement in the Educator Role:
Faculty members recognize that his/her role is multidimensional and that an ongoing commitment to develop and maintain competence in the role and to life-long learning is essential.

Engage in Scholarship:
Faculty members acknowledge that scholarship is an integral component of the faculty role and that teaching itself is a scholarly activity.

Function within the Education and Community Environment:
Faculty members are knowledgeable about the educational environment within which he/she practices and recognizes how political, institutional, social, and economic forces impact his/her role.

These competencies and responsibilities are adapted from The Scope of Practice for Academic Nurse Educators (National League for Nursing, 2005).

Specific Responsibilities of Faculty
Faculty has the primary responsibility of teaching both classroom and clinical courses and providing guidance to the students. Additionally, faculty members are responsible for:

• Adhering to all Denver College of Nursing policies and procedures.
• Participating in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the philosophy and objectives of the program.
• Participating in the construction, implementation, evaluation, and revision of the curriculum on a periodic basis.
• Provide students with academic advising as appropriate.
• Providing a positive role model for students and provide positive feedback to students.
• Providing oversight of adjunct faculty assigned to teach clinical rotations under the didactic course assigned to the regular faculty member in conjunction with the Clinical Faculty Oversight Coordinator.
• Detailed attention to: academic assessment of students learning, attendance records, grades, and reporting of facility and/or student issues to administration.
• A commitment to attendance at every assigned class, clinical, or lab class as assigned.
• Adherence to course syllabus, standard syllabus template formats, content, class schedule, and textbook use.
• Attendance and participation within faculty and staff meetings as scheduled within the college.
• Assessing student learning in terms of course and program objectives.
• Participating in reviewing and revising the program policies and procedure on a periodic basis.
• Participating in peer evaluation within the framework of the college.
• Initiating periodic self-evaluation, clinical competence and professional development.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
The following are the qualifications for appointment as a faculty member:

• A minimum of a master's degree in nursing from an accredited institution. National certification in area of clinical specialty is preferred.
• Current unencumbered Colorado license as a registered nurse.
• Current CPR certification as a healthcare provider.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Current clinical nursing knowledge within area of specialty and ongoing maintenance of clinical competency.
• Minimum of three years of recent clinical experience in area of specialty.
• One year teaching professional nursing preferred.
• Documented knowledge of education, instructional delivery, and adult learning required.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally, in writing, and through learning technologies such as computers and e-mail.
• Ability to work effectively with clinical agencies, staff, faculty, and students as a member of the team.

Classification
Regular, full-time clinical faculty positions are exempt and salaried positions. Work hours may vary depending upon availability of clinical placements for students and class schedules. Evening and weekend hours may be required. Travel may be required to clinical agencies. Assignments are made on a quarterly basis and schedules may change on a quarterly basis or even within a quarter.

Physical Demands
To perform the essential competencies and responsibilities of the position, the faculty member is frequently required to: sit, bend, kneel, reach, stand for long periods, walk, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate computers and/or audiovisual equipment. The faculty member may also occasionally be required to life, push, pull, carry, or support patients or materials up to 50 pounds in weight.