What does your educator do?

[EDEduc8R]

As a relatively new ED educator, I am curious about what other ED educators do all day... Amongst my educator duties, I am asked to help out in the department frequently (I don't mind, just wondering if other educators do this as much)...

So, if you would be willing to share:

1. What size hospital do you work in? Trauma Center?

2. How often is your educator in his/her office, and how often are they out on the floor doing patient care?

Thanks for the input!

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I work in a regional trauma center, close to 1000 bed total hospital beds (usually full), 70 bed ED. Our educators never work the floor although our current one's did so in our ED. It is strictly an "office job". We have many staff who also teach ACLS, TNCC, ENPC, CEN review class, etc. Our educators work with new staff, new grads etc with orientation, arrange preceptors, develop and keep up with orientation processes. They facilitate if not teach classes on new equipment, procedures, etc.

We have a separate policy and procedure committee who makes sure our policies are continually updated.

Because we have such a large staff, the educators stay busy making sure everyone is up to date on everything Joint commission and CMS require.

Our educators do what they can to help staff become certified or become resource nurses who are valuable to the ED as we see such a variety of patient types. We have resource nurses for geriatrics, diabetes, peds and psych.

I see our educators as an essential and valuable adjunct to our ED staff.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

In our department the educator is a full-time position including 8-12 hours/week working as staff within the department. The rest of the time is spent coordinating the orientation program for new hires, coordinating educational activities for the entire staff (including those in conjunction with the residents), teaching ACLS, PALS & NRP, and various departmental projects.

Urban Level I trauma center, 800+ bed teaching hospital.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I'm not exactly sure what my unit educator does. She has an office.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I'm not exactly sure what my unit educator does. She has an office.

Too funny!!

[EDEduc8R]

I work in a regional trauma center, close to 1000 bed total hospital beds (usually full), 70 bed ED. Our educators never work the floor although our current one's did so in our ED. It is strictly an "office job". We have many staff who also teach ACLS, TNCC, ENPC, CEN review class, etc. Our educators work with new staff, new grads etc with orientation, arrange preceptors, develop and keep up with orientation processes. They facilitate if not teach classes on new equipment, procedures, etc.

We have a separate policy and procedure committee who makes sure our policies are continually updated.

Because we have such a large staff, the educators stay busy making sure everyone is up to date on everything Joint commission and CMS require.

Our educators do what they can to help staff become certified or become resource nurses who are valuable to the ED as we see such a variety of patient types. We have resource nurses for geriatrics, diabetes, peds and psych.

I see our educators as an essential and valuable adjunct to our ED staff.

Thanks for your reply- I also do most of the above, and was hired as a full-time educator, but find myself being "pulled" to help on the floor more and more frequently. I enjoy patient care, but at times, it does get in the way of my educator responsibilities...