Sr Patient Educator

The Senior Patient Educator at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital plays a vital role in advancing patient and family education to enhance clinical care improve medical outcomes and strengthen communication and support for patients and caregivers.

The primary responsibility of this role is to assess plan develop implement and evaluate patient education programs initiatives and projects within a multidisciplinary care environment. This includes collaborating with diverse healthcare and research professionals across St. Jude to design and deliver educational materials and strategies that align with our patient- and family-centered care philosophy.

This position emphasizes the integration of scientific research and evidence-based practices to continually innovate patient education. By applying rapid development and continuous evaluation methods the Senior Patient Educator ensures that learning interventions are both effective and adaptable to the evolving needs of our patient population.

At St. Jude we believe that caring for our patients requires dedication intentionality and compassionplacing the needs of patients and families at the forefront of everything we do. Our vision is to extend beyond traditional healthcare approaches ensuring that more patients families and caregivers benefit from our research discoveries and life-changing therapies.

Note: Candidates with experience in Epic Information Services (IS) and Clinical Information Systems (Clinical IS) are strongly preferred.

Job Responsibilities

• Assess patient learning needs and develop educational interventions for specific populations served in collaboration with patients families/primary caregivers healthcare professionals and scientific staff.

• Assess learning needs and preferences based on current health issues knowledge and skills. Preferences may include but are not limited to verbal written visual multimedia technology-based and simulation instruction.

• Evaluate individual health literacy and sociodemographic factors including knowledge skills support systems culture values beliefs and barriers to learning.

• Assess patient engagement in learning including goals priorities and motivation.

• Review patient education resources for clinical relevance accuracy and appropriate use of health literacy principles and learning strategies (e.g. print video classes).

• Identify and develop educational resources for patients and family caregivers based on learning needs and goals.

• Develop teaching plans using evidence-based strategies with a focus on patients needs priorities and behaviors.

• Identify and develop educational resources sessions in-services and presentations for staff to address knowledge or skill gaps related to patient education.

• Develop and maintain healthcare professional teaching guides including testing and delivery of content.

• Develop and maintain healthcare professional teaching competencies and partner with clinical training programs to ensure competency validation.

Implementation and Collaboration

• Implement education programs and plans designed for specific populations in collaboration with patients families caregivers healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.

• Partner with clinical care teams and research staff to ensure patient education needs are addressed appropriately.

• Assist patients in understanding their illness and adhering to medical advice and treatment plans.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to develop and refine patient education plans.

• Adjust teaching methods based on patient response or changing learning needs and re-teach using alternative approaches as needed.

• Educate patients on effective strategies to understand their diagnoses and prescribed treatments/therapies including the teach-back method.

• Educate healthcare professionals on effective patient education strategies.

• Meet with patients to discuss education materials gather feedback and implement improvements.

• Conduct patient education sessions using appropriate formats (e.g. in-person virtual simulation).

• Prescribe and document patient education in the electronic health record (EHR) as appropriate.

• Promote and maintain a safe clean and resource-ready environment for patients and staff.

• Ensure care plan education is accurate appropriate and functional for healthcare professionals patients and caregivers.

• Partner with institutional stakeholders to ensure patient education is evidence-based sustainable impactful and meaningful.

Evaluation and Quality Improvement

• Evaluate patient education programs resources and services.

• Measure and assess the effectiveness of teaching methods and educational materials using formal and informal feedback from healthcare professionals and patients.

• Evaluate patient learning through the teach-back method and assess skill or behavior acquisition through return demonstrations.

• Partner across the institution to ensure patient education meets high-quality continuous-improvement standards.

Research Leadership and Professional Engagement

• Lead research evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives that align with institutional goals for patient education.

• Promote and integrate the science of health communication into daily practice.

• Serve on committees and workgroups providing subject-matter expertise in patient and caregiver education.

• Consult on initiatives to ensure patient education guidelines performance improvement measures and evidence-based practices are integrated into all relevant programs.

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders across the organization.

• Prepare and submit abstracts for presentations at professional organizations.

• Prepare and submit grant applications to support patient education initiatives.

Age-Appropriate Education

• Provide age-appropriate education for all patient populations served.

• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to prescribe and provide education appropriate to the needs and characteristics of each age group including teens young adults transitioning care and long-term adult survivors.

• Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development for the populations served.

• Identify assess and interpret age-specific data to support individualized education.

• Perform other related duties as assigned or directed to meet the goals and objectives of the division and institution.

• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Minimum Education and/or Training

• A masters degreein a clinical healthcare field is required.

• Doctorate or other advanced degree preferred.

Minimum Experience

• Eight (8) to ten (10) years of direct patient care experience required.

• Experience in patient education and health communication required.

Licensure Registration and/or Certification Required by Law

• Clinical licensure in the State of Tennessee (or compact license) is required in one of the following specialties:

• Advanced Practice Provider (APP)

• Pharmacist (PharmD)

• Registered Nurse (RN)

• Registered Dietitian (CDR AND-RD)

• Physical Therapist (PT)

• Occupational Therapist (OCCTHER)

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

• The physical demands described here are representative of those required of an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these important functions.

• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand walk sit kneel use hands to handle or feel and talk or hear.

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required include close vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

• The employee must move about the workspace to access work surfaces shelves cabinets drawers and equipment located at below or above desk level. The work environment is typically quiet.

• An essential function of this position is compliance with all applicable federal state and local safety and health regulations.

Nothing in this job description limits managements right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time as business needs dictate. This job description reflects managements assignment of essential functions and does not restrict tasks that may be assigned. The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties responsibilities skills or abilities required for this position.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets experience and training licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $86320 - $154960 per year for the role of Sr Patient Educator.

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St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.