Summary: 

The Director of Nursing Programs is responsible for the administration of the Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programs. The Director also budgets, plans, organizes, supervises and provides oversight for the ADN and LPN programs. This includes active participation in student advising, curricula management and development, clinical partnerships, assessment of student learning and accreditation. The Director of Nursing Programs establishes and maintains close working relationships with other academic and student support areas of the College for ease of student advisement and admission. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

-Lead and coordinate the instructional component of the ADN and LPN programs: 

-Supervise and oversee, in consultation with the Assistant Dean of Health Professions (HP), the work of full-time faculty for the ADN and LPN programs: 

• Hire, orient, train and mentor new full-time and adjunct faculty, insuring compliance with PA State Board of Nursing (SBON).
• Oversee the hiring and mentoring of adjunct faculty.
• Assign full-time and adjunct faculty course assignments / loads as well as calculating overloads and adjunct remuneration working within the program’s budgetary parameters.
• Act as the initial administrative representative in mediating issues arising from classroom management.

-Participate in the budget development for the programs.

-Insure alignment of policies and procedures of the College and programs with the requirements of the PA SBON for the ADN and LPN programs. 

-Serve as contact person and coordinator for the programs with regard to state, professional, and accrediting groups, the community, and other external contacts. 

-Maintain the integrity and academic quality (quality assurance) for the ADN and LPN programs for SBON and accrediting agencies through planning, development, implementation, evaluation and improvement, including review of curriculum and systematic evaluation plans as needed.

-Direct the continuing evaluation and program development so that it is consistent with accreditation and approval requirements, responsive to the employment needs of the graduate, responsive to changing health care delivery patterns and health care practitioner roles, and provides a foundation for future educational and practical mobility of graduates of the program.

-Develop and provide for continuing evaluation of clinical agencies and the agreements and contracts necessary for the implementation of the program.

-Coordinate the activities of the programs with the appropriate support areas of the College with regard to recruitment of students, retention of students, and the individualized development of students enrolled in the program.

-Coordinate development of student clinical schedules in the ADN and LPN programs to avoid conflicts between nursing student schedules and other programs using the same facilities.

-Maintain adequate professional development activities and any other requirements needed to meet the State Board of Nursing standards.

-Direct the development and evaluation of policies and standards for the recruitment, selection, admission, promotion, and graduation of nursing students.

-Manage the day-to-day administration of the ADN and LPN programs, including maintaining student files, including medical information, advising, curriculum management and development, clinical partnerships/scheduling.

-Develop, maintain, and participate in student advising activities. This includes advising prospective and current students enrolled in health professions programs as well as advising pre-clinical health science students and participating in information sessions.

-Review the College catalog on an annual basis with regard to program curricula, program information, and make appropriate recommendations for changes.

-Serve as a liaison with the clinical sites for scheduling of students and faculty to the agencies for orientations, clinical units, and operational communication.

-Co-chair nursing program committees, collect, and analyze relevant assessment data, as well as write quarterly and/or annual reports and extensive self-study reports, in consultation with the Assistant Dean.

-Coordinate annual curriculum evaluations of the program, assessment of institutional effectiveness and prepare reports.

-Manage projects for on-site annual reviews by the accrediting agency.
 

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience                                                    

Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited college or university required. Minimum of 5 years nursing experience as an RN required. Registered Nurse, currently licensed in Pennsylvania required. MSN Nursing Education preferred. Recent experience with curriculum development or systematic program evaluation preferred. College level teaching experience is preferred. Experience in distance education, i.e. online, hybrid and/or web enhanced courses or willingness to learn and teach in these modes is also preferred.

Other Skills and Abilities                                           

Excellent classroom management and planning skills. Demonstrated teaching and student coaching skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities                                                 

This position has supervisory responsibilities over ADN & LPN program faculty and support staff. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with College policies, Collective Bargaining Agreements and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance, and taking corrective action with employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Language Skills                                             

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals, course syllabi and related teaching documents.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, other faculty, administration, boards of trustees and the general public.

Mathematical Skills                                                   

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.  Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability                                                      

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills                                             

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software and spreadsheet software. In addition should be able to learn and utilize a variety of education software packages.

Certificates, Licenses, Registration

Current unrestricted nursing licensure to practice in Pennsylvania is required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.