RN Educator - NICU

RN Educator – NICU

IU Health Arnett Hospital | Lafayette, Indiana
Schedule: 12 hours per week (.3 FTE)

Position Summary

IU Health Arnett is seeking an energetic, self-motivated, and highly engaged Registered Nurse Educator to provide hands-on, bedside ("elbow-to-elbow") education and professional development support for nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This unique role offers a direct opportunity to impact patient care and clinical excellence by partnering with nursing staff in real-time practice environments.

The ideal candidate is passionate about learning, professional growth, and empowering others. They thrive in a fast-paced clinical setting, proactively identify learning opportunities, and are committed to developing nurses through coaching, mentorship, and evidence-based education. Rather than performing tasks for staff, the RN Educator serves as a trusted resource and clinical partner, helping team members build knowledge, strengthen critical thinking skills, and gain confidence in delivering exceptional patient care.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct unit-based, "elbow-to-elbow" education and support to nursing staff within the NICU.
• Coach, mentor, and develop nurses at all experience levels through real-time clinical guidance and evidence-based practice support.
• Assess learning needs and collaborate with nursing leadership to develop targeted professional development plans.
• Design, implement, and evaluate educational programs utilizing a variety of adult learning strategies.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, clinical excellence, accountability, and professional growth.
• Support onboarding, orientation, competency validation, and ongoing staff development initiatives.
• Facilitate educational experiences that enhance clinical judgment, patient safety, quality outcomes, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, subject matter experts, and departmental leaders to identify educational opportunities and implement best-practice solutions.
• Serve as a clinical resource for staff, supporting the integration of new evidence, technologies, workflows, and organizational initiatives.
• Monitor educational outcomes and evaluate program effectiveness to drive continuous improvement.

What Makes This Role Unique

This position is ideal for an RN who enjoys being highly visible and actively involved in clinical practice. Working side-by-side with frontline nurses during patient care activities, the RN Educator plays a pivotal role in developing talent, enhancing patient outcomes, and strengthening team confidence. The schedule allows focused, meaningful engagement with staff while maintaining flexibility through a 12-hour-per-week commitment.

Qualifications

• Requires 3-5 years of relevant NICU clinical experience.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Requires an active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Indiana or an active Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) RN license.
• Requires current organizational-specified CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support certifications.
• Requires knowledge of adult learning principles, regulatory requirements, and educational program management.
• Requires proficiency in Microsoft Office and software applications.
• May require the ability to travel within the state of Indiana.