JobsAdvocate Health

Nursing Professional Development Specialist

Advocate Health · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a time you noticed a gap in nursing practice on a unit and had to figure out whether it was a knowledge problem, a skills problem, or something else entirely.

whether the candidate actually does a needs assessment instead of jumping straight to building a class

Tell me about an education program you designed from scratch. How did you decide what the outcomes should look like before you built the content?

understanding of the educational design process rather than just delivering content

Tell me about a time you had to justify the cost or time investment of an education initiative to leadership.

ability to speak in terms of return on investment and organizational priorities

Describe a time you had to mentor or guide another nurse educator or a newer staff member through a project they were struggling with.

capacity to mentor NPD generalists as the role requires

Tell me about a time you worked across departments, maybe with quality improvement or another interprofessional team, to solve a practice problem.

system-level thinking and ability to build cross-functional partnerships

Tell me about a change you had to drive on a unit that people were resistant to. What did you do to get it adopted and to make it stick?

change management skill and follow-through beyond initial rollout

Technical

How do you account for adult learning theory when you're planning a session for a mixed group of new grads and twenty-year veterans?

real working knowledge of adult learning principles, not just the vocabulary

You're asked to build an orientation program for a specialty unit and need to decide between virtual modules, hands-on simulation, and in-person lecture. How do you choose?

practical skill in matching teaching strategy to learner needs and content type

How do you evaluate whether an education program actually changed practice, not just whether people liked the class?

knowledge of outcome evaluation beyond satisfaction surveys

How do you build educational content that respects cultural differences and different generations of learners on the same unit?

whether cultural and multigenerational competence is a real practice, not a checkbox

Situational

Say a unit's incident reports show a rise in medication errors and leadership wants a training rolled out next week. How would you approach that request?

whether they push back on quick fixes and insist on root cause analysis first

If a physician or unit leader disagreed with your recommended training approach, how would you handle that conversation?

negotiation skill and confidence acting as a consultant, not just an order-taker

What is your plan for getting your RN-BC certification within the six-month window if you don't already have it?

concrete readiness to meet the licensure requirement, not vague intention

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34200 Advocate Trinity Hospital - Clinical Education Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Full-Time Pay Range: $44.15 - $66.25 Major Responsibilities: • Through application of ANPD principles and acting in the roles of advisor, change agent, collaborator, communicator, consultant, facilitator, leader, mentor, researcher the team member applies advanced knowledge of nursing in the delivery of evidenced-based nursing and education interventions using the educational design process to bridge the knowledge, skills, and/or practice gaps identified through a needs assessment. • Collects data and information to validate an identified gap in professional practice and to determine the specific knowledge, skill, or practice deficit or opportunity needed. Investigates issues, trends, and supporting data to determine the needs of individuals, organizations, and communities (prioritizing macrosystem needs). • Analyzes cost and anticipated return on investment for learning activities, programs, and projects. Transforms processes at multiple levels through inspiration, initiation, adoption, and sustainment of and adaptation to change using project management and improvement processes. • Develops context-specific outcomes based on organizational stakeholders’ and learners’ values, goals, current evidence, and regulations. Establishes a plan that prescribes strategies, alternatives, and resources to achieve expected outcomes. Incorporates theories pertaining to learning and behavioral change while designing educational materials and programs. • Promotes the generation and dissemination of new knowledge and use of evidence to guide clinical practice, improves patient care and foster life long learning. Role models practices for creating and sustaining positive learning and practice environments. • Assesses learner characteristics, including learning styles and learning needs for program development. Creates an effective learning environment, demonstrates proficiency in use of technology. Evaluates the outcomes of staff education, functions in the roles of both teacher and facilitator. Implements a variety of teaching strategies tailored to the learner’s characteristics, learning needs, cultural perspectives, and outcome objectives. Plans programs that are culturally relevant and that incorporate concepts of multicultural and multigenerational education. • Advises in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of materials, learning environments (i.e. virtual), and teaching strategies appropriate to the situation and learner’s developmental level, learning needs, readiness, ability to learn, and culture. • Exhibits system thinking throughout the planning process. Develops partnerships to enhance health care through interprofessional initiatives (i.e. quality improvement, organizational excellence initiatives) and coordinates integrated educational services. • Supports the transition of nurses and other healthcare team members across learning and practice environments, roles, and professional stages. Mentors, guides, and supports NEPD generalist as applicable. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices, and • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), or • Nursing Professional Development (RN-BC) certification issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) needs to be obtained within 6 months. Education Required: • Master's Degree in Nursing, or • Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, and • Master's Degree in Education or related field. Experience Required: • Typically requires 3 years of experience in a clinical nursing role that includes experiences in adult teaching or training, and/or developing educational programs Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Must be knowledgeable in principles of adult learning theory and capable of creative planning, coordinating, and overseeing educational and orientation programs. • Proficient at incorporating adult learning principles, online and in person teaching methods to maximize learning and the application of that learning. • Excellent written and oral communications including strong presentation/speaking skills. • Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, planning and problem solving skills. • Critical thinking and analytical skills. • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Generally exposed to a normal office environment. • Must have functional speech, hearing, and senses to allow effective communication. • Position requires travel, may be exposed to road and weather hazards. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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