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Nurse Professional Development Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Supports professional development through research processes. Minimum Qualifications Current state license as an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). - and - Certification as a Nurse ...

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Nurse Professional Development information

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$14

$35

$65

How much do nurse professional development jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for nurse professional development in Utah is $35.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.38 and $38.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a nurse professional development specialist?

A Nurse Professional Development (NPD) practitioner is a registered nurse who specializes in enhancing the professional growth and continuing education of nurses and other healthcare staff. They design, implement, and evaluate educational programs, promote evidence-based practice, and support competency development throughout a nurse's career. NPD practitioners also serve as mentors, leaders, and change agents within healthcare organizations, ensuring high-quality patient care by maintaining a well-educated nursing workforce.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a nurse professional development specialist?

To thrive as a Nurse Professional Development Specialist, you need a strong background in nursing practice, adult education principles, and usually a BSN or MSN along with relevant certifications such as NPD-BC. Experience with learning management systems (LMS), curriculum development, and continuing education accreditation tools is typically required. Excellent communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills help facilitate learning and support organizational goals. These competencies are essential for ensuring nurses are well-trained, up-to-date, and able to deliver safe, effective patient care.

How does a nurse professional development specialist collaborate with clinical staff to improve patient care?

NPD practitioners work closely with nurses, nurse leaders, and interdisciplinary teams to assess learning needs, design educational programs, and support evidence-based practice. They often facilitate workshops, mentor new staff, and coordinate orientation or competency assessments to ensure nurses are equipped with current clinical skills. Regular collaboration with frontline staff allows NPD practitioners to identify practice gaps and implement targeted training, ultimately enhancing both staff performance and patient outcomes.

What is the difference between Nurse Professional Development vs Nurse Educator?

AspectNurse Professional DevelopmentNurse Educator
CredentialsRN license, certifications in education or specialty areasRN license, advanced degrees (e.g., MSN, PhD), teaching credentials
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, healthcare organizations, training departmentsAcademic settings, nursing schools, universities, healthcare training programs
Employer & Industry UsageHealthcare organizations focusing on staff training and competencyEducational institutions and academic healthcare programs
Primary FocusEnhancing staff skills, ongoing education, complianceTeaching students, curriculum development, research

While Nurse Professional Development focuses on improving the skills and knowledge of practicing nurses within healthcare settings, Nurse Educators are primarily involved in teaching nursing students and developing educational programs. Both roles require nursing credentials, but Nurse Educators typically hold advanced degrees and work in academic environments, whereas Nurse Professionals in development roles are embedded within healthcare organizations to support staff growth.

What does a nurse professional development specialist do?

A nurse professional development specialist designs and implements educational programs to enhance nurses' skills and knowledge. They assess training needs, develop curricula, and facilitate continuing education to ensure compliance with healthcare standards and improve patient care. This role often requires certification and strong communication skills within healthcare environments.

What is an example of professional development in nursing?

An example of professional development in nursing is completing continuing education courses or obtaining certifications such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) to enhance clinical skills. Nurses may also participate in workshops, attend conferences, or pursue advanced degrees to stay current with best practices and improve patient care.

What is considered professional development for nurses?

Professional development for nurses includes ongoing education such as attending workshops, earning certifications, participating in training programs, and pursuing advanced degrees to enhance clinical skills and knowledge. It also involves staying current with healthcare practices, regulations, and technology to improve patient care and meet licensure requirements.

What are popular job titles related to Nurse Professional Development jobs in Utah?

For Nurse Professional Development jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Utah are hiring for Nurse Professional Development jobs?

Cities in Utah with the most Nurse Professional Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Nurse Professional Development job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, and 15% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $72,894 per year, or $35 per hour.

Nursing Professional Development (NPD) Practitioner

University of Utah Health

Salt Lake City, UT โ€ข On-site

$106K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

Overview
As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA
This position is responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and ensuring the evaluation, training, and education of clinical staff. The incumbent may be assigned by the Clinical Staff Education department (CSE) to one or more clinical departments or areas and is specifically responsible for assessing and addressing educational needs in the assigned area(s), in collaboration with the CSE department and unit/department/service line leadership. This includes managing accurate and timely staff education records and teaching clinical content. The incumbent will maintain clinical competence in their area of specialty. The NPD Practitioner is a registered nurse who influences professional role competence and professional growth of learners in a variety of settings. The NPD Practitioner supports lifelong learners in an inter professional environment that facilitates continuous development and learning for the health care team.
Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions
  • In coordination with assigned area(s) leadership, staff, and CSE, uses the educational design process to bridge the knowledge, skills, and/or practice gaps identified through a needs assessment. This includes taking an active role in supporting unit, department and service line education programs and initiatives.
  • Supports transformation of processes and sustains change.
  • Supports the generation of new ideas, identifying problems and solutions, assessing readiness and barriers for change, and communicating the vision for change.
  • Advances the profession by supporting the professional development of others and supporting life-long learning as individuals develop across practice, professional, and educational settings.
  • Models behavioral standards that advance the inter professional practice, the learning environment, the NPD specialty, and the profession of nursing and healthcare.
  • Supports the dissemination of new knowledge and the use of evidence to advance NPD practice, guide clinical practice, and improve patient care.
  • Supports nursing professional development as a nursing practice specialty by modeling expert practice.
  • Supports the transition of nurses and other health care team members across learning and practice environment, roles and professional stages.
  • At the discretion of department operational and patient care needs, this position is required to work rotating schedules, which may include variable hours, weekends, nights, and holidays to meet the staffing and patient care demands of a 24/7 complex health system. Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance during assigned shifts is considered an essential function of the role.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
  • Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
  • Demonstrated availability to work variable and rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, in a 24/7 patient care environment.
  • Demonstrates interpersonal skills and the ability to speak effectively before groups and/or teach classes.
  • Demonstrates proficiency in relevant software applications.
  • Supports the instruction of the electronic health record.
  • Provides care to the population served.
  • Manages and prioritizes workload efficiently.
  • Collaborates with other departments to achieve desired outcomes.

Qualifications
Required
  • Bachelor degree in Nursing.
  • Two years of nursing experience.
Licenses Required
  • Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.
  • Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
Qualifications (Preferred)
Preferred
  • Master's degree in education or related and approved field.
  • 2 years in clinical specialty.
  • Certification in clinical specialty.
  • Certification in Nurse Professional Development.
  • Provider and/or instructor certification relevant to area of specialty.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.
  • This position involves intensive work that may exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners or behavioral health patients.

Physical Requirements
Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Non Indicated, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking