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Nursing Professional Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Nursing Professional Development information

What is a nursing professional development specialist?

A Nursing Professional Development (NPD) specialist is a registered nurse who focuses on improving the professional growth and development of nurses and other healthcare staff. They design, implement, and evaluate educational programs, orientation sessions, and ongoing training to ensure nurses remain competent and up-to-date with the latest evidence-based practices. NPD specialists also support nursing staff with career development, leadership training, and compliance with regulatory standards. Their work ultimately helps improve patient care and safety across healthcare organizations.

What are some common challenges nursing professional development specialists face when implementing new training initiatives?

Nursing Professional Development specialists often encounter challenges such as resistance to change among staff, time constraints that limit participation in training, and the need to tailor educational content to varying experience levels. Successfully implementing new initiatives requires strong communication, engagement strategies, and collaboration with nursing leadership to secure support and resources. Additionally, specialists must stay updated on best practices and regulations to ensure training remains relevant and effective.

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

AspectNursing Professional DevelopmentNurse Educator
CredentialsRN license, certifications in education or trainingRN license, advanced degrees (e.g., MSN, EdD)
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, healthcare organizationsAcademic settings, healthcare training programs
Employer & Industry UsageHealthcare facilities focusing on staff trainingUniversities, colleges, healthcare education institutions

In summary, Nursing Professional Development focuses on training and supporting current staff within healthcare settings, while Nurse Educators primarily teach and prepare future nurses in academic or training environments. Both roles require nursing credentials but differ in their focus and work settings.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a nursing professional development specialist?

To thrive as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist, you need expertise in nursing practice, adult education principles, and often a master’s degree in nursing or education plus relevant certifications such as NPD-BC. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), curriculum development tools, and continuing education accreditation standards is commonly required. Strong communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills help facilitate learning and drive staff engagement. These abilities are crucial for advancing nursing competence, improving patient outcomes, and fostering lifelong learning within healthcare organizations.
More about Nursing Professional Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Nursing Professional Development jobs? Cities with the most Nursing Professional Development job openings:
What states have the most Nursing Professional Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Nursing Professional Development jobs include:
Infographic showing various Nursing Professional Development job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 72% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.

Director Nursing Professional Development

University of Maryland Medical System

Baltimore, MD • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

Job Requirements
Under executive leadership, this role provides system-level strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for education and professional development. The role is accountable for setting the vision, design, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive learning and development strategies that advance clinical excellence, workforce capability, patient safety, and overall organizational performance. This role ensures alignment with regulatory standards, evidence-based practice, and strategic priorities while fostering innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a culture of continuous learning. This position leads large-scale, system-wide initiatives and portfolios, ensuring effective governance, resource alignment, and measurable outcomes. The role also establishes standards, policies, and frameworks that enable sustainable talent and professional development across the organization.
This role is funded for an initial one-year period through a grant. Renewal is possible if future funding is secured; however, continuation beyond the grant period cannot be guaranteed.
Primary Responsibilities
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities performed.
  • Provides enterprise-wide strategic leadership and governance for education and clinical professional development programs across multiple entities, ensuring alignment, consistency, and scalability.
  • Develops and executes a comprehensive, system-level education and workforce development strategy aligned with organizational priorities, regulatory requirements, and long-term talent needs.
  • Leads ongoing, system-wide learning needs assessments, leveraging internal and external data to identify gaps, inform strategy, and prioritize investments.
  • Oversees the design, implementation, and evaluation of standardized yet adaptable education programs that advance clinical competence, workforce development, and patient care outcomes across diverse settings.
  • Establishes system standards by integrating evidence-based practice, research, innovation, and emerging technologies into all learning and professional development initiatives.
  • Defines and monitors enterprise performance metrics, key performance indicators, and outcome measures to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
  • Ensures system-wide compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and professional standards, including oversight of competency validation frameworks and documentation practices.
  • Provides executive oversight for onboarding, orientation, competency management, and ongoing development programs, including residency programs and professional advancement frameworks across the system.
  • Establishes and sustains strategic academic partnerships, student placement programs, and workforce pipeline initiatives across the system.
  • Leads, mentors, and develops a distributed leadership team, fostering strong performance management, engagement, and succession planning across the system.
  • Oversees operational and financial performance across the education function, including budgeting, resource allocation, and optimization of shared services.
  • Embeds patient safety principles across all education initiatives, proactively identifying system-level risks and driving mitigation strategies to enhance safe care delivery.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Experience
Education & Experience - Required
  • Master's degree in nursing, education, healthcare administration, or related field required.
  • Bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from an accredited school of nursing required, if master's degree is not in nursing.
  • Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Maryland (or eligibility via compact state agreement) required.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in clinical education, staff development, or related healthcare field required.
  • Minimum of three (3) years of management or leadership experience required.
  • Demonstrated experience in adult education, curriculum design, and competency-based training required.

Education & Experience - Preferred
  • Certification in nursing professional development, education, or leadership (e.g., ANPD, NE-BC).
  • Active participation in professional organizations.