Learning Objective #1: Construct a clinical nurse educator job description encompassing ten core responsibilities, accountabilities, and competencies tailored to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Learning Objective #2: The learner will identify nursing educational processes that enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes requisite for safe, competent, and effective nursing practice.

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As a Chiron Mentee for 2004 I sought to develop a clinical educator role in the neonatal intensive care unit. As a clinical nurse educator the duties are varied and dependent upon the needs of the client, the community, and the individual nursing staff. The trend in the educator role has evolved from a single practice focus to the incorporation of the interrelated needs of the patient which involves multiple specialties. The educator role today involves more than just formalized teaching, but a demonstration of relevance, competence, and effectiveness. The educator must remain viable and integrated within the mission and vision of the organization. Creating an educator role in the neonatal intensive care unit requires a multi-level balance between management and advance practice practitioners. The clinical nurse educator in the neonatal intensive care unit performs duties as an educational advisor to nursing personnel. This role develops and initiates training programs or guidelines that facilitate achievement of educational goals. This role is responsible for implementing nursing education processes that enhance knowledge, skill, and attitudes requisite for safe, competent, and effective nursing practice. A clinical educator role was created in the neonatal intensive care unit that established short and long term unit goals with the nurse manager and the clinical nurse specialist. These goals were established to apply knowledge of learning theories to coordinate planning, implementation, and evaluation of formal and informal venues related to supporting best practices. The clinical educator role must be cognizant of both the educational process and the administrative process, as they exist in the service setting.