University of Virginia Health System

Opportunities for ongoing education and professional development bring nurses to UVAHS and are key to their tenure with us. Patient care is strengthened by a vital and comprehensive approach to life-long learning that is foundational to an academic medical center -- UVAHS nurses are enthusiastic about practicing in specialized care environments, and this specialization requires ongoing learning and training.

Nurses are integral to the development of educational and competency programs that support independent, intradependent and interdependent nursing practice in the care of specialized patient populations. Practice areas designate Nursing Educational Coordinators (NECs) to help plan for local needs and to collaborate with their fellow NECs across practice areas, sharing and improving upon educational materials, and standardizing materials where appropriate. Their primary roles as direct caregivers give NECs great insight regarding the best ways to maximize colleagues' educational time investment in meeting the developmental needs of the organization.

View the 2007 PNSO Committee Rosters for a list of Nursing Educational Coordinators. 

Scope of the NEC Role

Orientation for nurses is designed and managed by a partnership between HRCOD, the Office of Nursing Governance Programs, NECs and/or Orientation Coordinators and Preceptors. The Lead Nursing Education Coordinator, Kathryn McGough, BSN, RN, Clinician III, is the primary instructor for Days 2 and 3 of the New Employee Orientation program. Once new nurses arrive in practice areas, their orientation is guided by NECs and preceptors. During 2005, the NEC group created a core RN Orientation Manual to standardize practice area orientations. 

Practice areas develop educational sessions as needed.  Educational needs and approaches are identified by Nurse Managers, NECs, and direct care nurses. NEC monthly meetings often involve the assignment and review of clinician-developed computer-based learning modules and other materials designed for sharing with UVAHS staff to refresh existing skills, teach new knowledge and prepare colleagues for the implementation of practice changes and new equipment.

NECs work in close collaboration with the Human Resources Center for Organizational Development (HRCOD) for other reasons as well. NECs assisted with the development and roll-out of the redesigned Job Description/Performance Appraisal forms which were standardized for each of the basic nursing roles at UVAHS, and which incorporate specific expectations from the Clinical Career Ladder. Orientation and competency achievements are documented on the Orientation Competency and Assessment Evaluation (OCAE) form, and ongoing development is documented on the Ongoing Competency Assessment Form (OCAF), both of which were also developed and rolled out with significant input from NECs.