Function

• Though a clinical education coordinator's role may vary depending on where she works, her primary responsibility is to plan, develop, coordinate and present clinical education programs that improve the performance of the health care facility. Some clinical education coordinator positions focus on areas such as training new hires, improving health care quality and continuing education for staff. Coordinators work with several different team members, including human resources, emergency services personnel, health care managers and executives and regulatory experts.
  
  

Education

• Because clinical education coordinators are also registered nurses, employers usually require that candidates have a bachelor's degree from a clinical nursing or nursing practitioner program. Coordinators should also have licensure as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant. Some positions prefer applicants with a master's degree in nursing. Students who seek a career in clinical education should enroll in a nursing diploma program that covers subjects such as anatomy, nutrition, chemistry and psychology.
  
  

Skills

• The clinical education coordinator's primary role is to teach and lead in classroom and web training for various adult audiences; therefore, candidates must have superior presentation skills and the ability to convey complex concepts clearly and effectively. Clinical education coordinators should have basic computer skills and knowledge of software applications such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. Other skills that are helpful as a clinical education coordinator include networking, team building and interpersonal communication.
  
  

Considerations

• Due to the nature of a clinical education coordinator's role, he may be required to sit or stand on his feet for long periods of time. Coordinators may also encounter patients who are mentally ill, confused, upset or agitated if they work in a medical facility that focuses on psychiatric care or brain trauma.
  
  

Potential

• Jobs are expected to grow more slowly in hospitals compared with other health care occupations; however, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that overall employment for registered nurses will increase by 22 percent during the next decade. Technological advances in medical equipment and health care services delivery, as well as an increased focus on preventative care, will drive job growth in the nursing field.
  
  

Salary

• According to Simply Hired, the average annual salary of clinical education coordinators in the United States is $49,000; however, annual wages vary according to job experience and location. For example, the average annual salary for a clinical education coordinator in New Haven, Connecticut, is $57,000.