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Job Class Profile: Nursing Instructor I

Pay Level: NS-30 Point Band: 842-892

Accountability Development Environmental

Interpersonal & Decision and Working Total
Factor Knowledge Skills Physical Effort Concentration Complexity Making Impact Leadership Conditions Points
Rating 6 6 4 5 5 5 5 2 4
Points 280 100 25 24 150 108 103 43 43 876

JOB SUMMARY
The Nursing Instructor I performs professional nursing work in preparing nursing students with the
knowledge, values, attitudes and skills necessary for professional practice. The key objective is to
prepare students with the competencies for entry level practice within the nursing profession. The
role includes teaching the skills, techniques and methods of modern nursing practice in classroom and
clinical environments.

Key and Periodic Activities:

 Provides clinical instruction including clinical education on nursing units which involves
thorough knowledge of each patient’s plan of care. Provides direct teaching, supervision and
guidance for students in the care of hospitalized or community patients, performing nursing
procedural skills or communication and documentation skills. Fosters student independence,
critical thinking and reflection; implements innovative teaching methods; collaborates with
course leaders regarding schedules, placements and student learning needs; prepares clinical
outlines, exams and schedules; assesses and evaluates student performance in meeting course
objectives including written assignments; coordinates pre and post clinical
conferences/seminars.
 Provides clinical lab instruction which involves researching relevant literature to prepare for
lab sessions; creating educational sessions on nursing skills and learning needs; lectures
regarding current theory and policies and procedures; develops testing material for student
performance and tests students.
 Grades and evaluates student assignments and performance.
 Meets with students to discuss progress and learning plans; provide guidance and support and
extra assistance (one-on-one instruction, tutorials) as needed.
— Participates in committees, policy development and research activities.

SKILL
Knowledge
General and Specific Knowledge:
Clinical and Laboratory education techniques, procedures and methods.
 Nursing and related organizational and professional policies and procedures.
 Nursing related equipment and technology.

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 Patient diagnosis, treatment and therapies.

 First Aid, CPR.
 Adult learning principles.
Formal Education and/or Certification(s):
— Minimum: Undergraduate degree in Nursing.
— Current registration with the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
Years of Experience:
— Minimum: 3 – 4 years of experience.
Competencies:
— Ability to apply clinical nursing skills to instruction.
— Ability to utilize computer for work activities.
— Ability to utilize research techniques to prepare for laboratory instruction.
— Ability to analyze and use critical thinking regarding the skills, techniques and methods of
modern nursing practice.
Interpersonal Skills
— A range of interpersonal skills are utilized when teaching/instructing students in nursing skills,
techniques and methods and include listening to and asking questions to students while
teaching; providing routine and complex information and direction to students and advocating
on behalf of students.
— Communications occur with students, co-workers and supervisors and managers in the
immediate work area as well as nursing staff and patients while in the clinical setting and
faculty members.

EFFORT
Physical Effort
— Work demands occasionally result in fatigue, requiring periods of rest.
— Lifting and moving patients occurs occasionally in the clinical setting while preparing for lab
sessions involves moving equipment such as IV pumps and demonstration mannequins.
— Sitting is required to complete computer work including correcting exams; standing is required
to lecture for approximately 2-3 hours per day; walking is required to supervise students
working in different areas of the hospital. Awkward positions are required when providing
direct patient care.
— Fine finger/precision work and tools are needed to complete nursing skills (i.e. IV insertion,
chest tubes) and gross motor skills are required to assist patients with mobilization.
Concentration
— Visual concentration is utilized in both the lab and clinical settings when instructing, observing
and evaluating students; to perform computer work (i.e. grading assignments) and physical
assessments; administering medications and all other aspects of direct patient care.
— Auditory concentration is required when communicating with students and patients and when
conducting physical assessments of patients (i.e. heart sounds). Hearing and listening is
essential in student instruction and patient care.

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— Other sensory demands such as touch and smell are used in the provision of patient care (i.e.
therapeutic touch, direct contact during physical assessments) and during student instruction in
nursing methods and procedures.
— Repetition requiring alertness is evident when correcting student exams, papers and
assignments; teaching the same education sessions and while supervising the administration of
medications.
— Time pressures and deadlines exist to correct exams, papers and assignments in a timely
manner; to prepare for lab educational sessions and in performing clinical work.
— Interruptions are common when working in the clinical environment. Students interrupt to
ask questions.
— Control of work pace varies within the clinical environment when unexpected events occur
with patients.
— Higher than normal levels of attentiveness and alertness for the health and safety of others
is required in the clinical environment to supervise the care being provided to patients by
students since mistakes by a student could have serious negative consequences.
— Eye hand coordination is required to demonstrate nursing skills and procedures and to carry
out specific nursing tasks.
— Exact results and precision are required to ensure students receive the proper instruction to
provide quality and safe patient care (i.e. administering medications by injection); to complete
accurate patient assessments, procedures and care; to complete accurate student evaluations to
determine if students pass or fail.
Complexity
— Work tasks/activities are different/unrelated but allow for use of similar skills and knowledge.
— Challenges/problems are range from those that are well-defined and with obvious solutions to
those that require practical solutions to be found.
— The most typical problem or challenge relates to evaluating student performance in the lab and
clinical settings. When students have difficulty achieving course objectives, would provide
additional assistance by creating individual learning plans. In the clinical setting, solving
issues with student assignments involves re-assigning patients to students when original
assignments were no longer available due to unexpected transfer of patient. Scheduling courses
can be difficult pending the availability of labs and equipment.
— References available to assist include manuals, guidelines, policies and procedures as well as
co-workers. When solving issues in the clinical setting, utilizes knowledge and experience to
re-assign student learning assignments.

RESPONSIBILITY
Accountability and Decision-Making
— Work tasks and activities are somewhat prescribed as teaching objectives must be met and
policies followed, however work is self directed in terms of the teaching methods used in the
lab and clinical settings. High degree of autonomy is exercised in performing daily tasks with
no direct supervision.
— Independent decisions are made regarding lab and clinical student evaluations; the development
and revision of lab manuals and scheduling/delivering courses and purchasing lab supplies as

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needed.
— Decisions requiring supervisory approval include purchasing large equipment such as lab
mannequins and simulators as well as travel and conference attendance.
— Discretion and judgment are exercised when evaluating students in lab and clinical settings.
While there are policies to follow, determines if students have demonstrated competency in
clinical courses. Determines how shifts are scheduled in a clinical course to meet clinical hours
required. Discretion exercised in developing student learning plans.
— Discretion is also exercised when planning teaching methodology to deliver lab, seminar and
clinical course content. Has academic freedom to create course materials however certain
content must be covered. Determines the complexity of patient assignments for each student.
Impact
— Results of work tasks and activities are directly felt within the immediate work area (i.e.
students) and throughout the organization. Students are taught current nursing skills, practices
and procedures in order to provide safe and competent patient care.
— Results of work tasks and activities directly impact on the ability of students to provide safe
and competent patient care (impacts health and safety); material resources in terms of lab and
clinical equipment maintenance, repair and replacement if broken (impacts finances);
information in terms of instructing students in the proper nursing techniques and procedures
and corporate image if students are not properly trained to provide nursing care.
— Consequences of mistakes or errors vary depending upon the nature of the error. An error in
nursing practice can potentially have serious impacts on patients and possible legal
repercussions. Providing inaccurate information to students could lead to students practising
inaccurate skills.
— Mistakes are typically identified and resolved quickly as mistakes in the clinical setting could
have significant impacts. Accountable for the students they teach and are therefore constantly
checking the work of students.
Development and Leadership of Others
— There is no supervision of staff.
— Provides guidance and feedback to students as well as ongoing support, instruction and
guidance to co-workers.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Environmental Working Conditions
— Special precautions and safety equipment are required. Appropriate use of body mechanics and
safe transfer of patients. Requires the use of gloves, gowns, masks and goggles as necessary for
patient care. Work is performed in compliance with policies and procedures designed to
decrease risk (i.e. prevention of needle stick injuries, hand washing).
— Limited likelihood of minor cuts, bruises, abrasions, minor illnesses, fractures or injury
resulting in partial or total disability.
— Exposure to infectious diseases, sharp objects, bodily fluids and waste, odours and toxic
chemicals while working with students in the hospital setting. Occasional exposure to glare
from computer screens and working in awkward positions to perform patient care.

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