Clinical Faculty Academy
Prepare the next generation of nurses through clinical education, mentorship and leadership.
The Clinical Faculty Academy is a community-wide training program for registered nurses serving as adjunct clinical faculty at nursing schools in Missouri. This program is designed to develop qualified staff nurses for the role of clinical nurse educators to increase the faculty workforce and expand and sustain enrollments in schools of nursing.
By developing qualified clinical educators, the Clinical Faculty Academy helps strengthen the nursing workforce pipeline while building stronger partnerships between health care organizations and academic institutions.
Program Overview
Clinical instructors play a critical role in preparing nursing students for practice. The Clinical Faculty Academy is a comprehensive two-day educational program designed for practicing nurses who have an interest in teaching or who have been identified as strong candidates for a clinical faculty role.
Participants gain foundational knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a clinical educator position, including strategies for student instruction, evaluation, communication and professional development.
Participants Will Gain
- Knowledge and skills essential for success as a clinical educator
- Best practices for supporting student learning and development
- Tools for evaluating student performance in clinical settings
- Strategies for navigating challenging educational situations
- Stronger connections between academic and practice environments
- A network of peers engaged in clinical education
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Clinical Faculty Academy, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate between clinical judgment, clinical reasoning and critical thinking.
- Apply strategies that support student learning and achievement in clinical environments.
- Utilize learning outcomes to guide clinical instruction and evaluation.
- Compare and apply common clinical evaluation tools.
- Foster positive and productive faculty-student relationships.
- Conduct effective pre-clinical and post-clinical conferences.
- Develop a personal philosophy of teaching.
- Recognize personal strengths that contribute to successful teaching relationships.
- Address unprofessional behavior and challenging situations in clinical settings.
- Understand legal, ethical and regulatory considerations, including FERPA and HIPAA requirements.
Program Agenda
Day One
- Welcome and Introductions
- The Role of Clinical Faculty and the Importance of Nursing Education
- Developing Clinical Judgment
- Legal Issues in Clinical Education
- Creating a Positive Learning Environment
- Clinical Teaching and Evaluation Fundamentals
- Day One Summary and Discussion
Day Two
- Clinical Evaluation Tools
- Conducting Effective Pre- and Post-Clinical Conferences
- Managing Challenging and Complex Situations
- Strengthening Partnerships Between Academia and Practice
- Professional Resiliency and Work-Life Balance
- Program Summary and Next Steps
Who Should Attend?
- Registered nurses interested in becoming clinical instructors
- Experienced nurses exploring adjunct faculty opportunities
- Clinical educators seeking foundational teaching preparation
- Health care professionals involved in student clinical experiences
- Organizations seeking to expand and strengthen their clinical educator workforce
Why Clinical Faculty Matter
Clinical faculty provide nursing students with critical real-world learning experiences that bridge classroom knowledge and patient care.
By investing in the development of clinical educators, health care organizations can help address faculty shortages, strengthen educational partnerships and support the future nursing workforce.
Events & Education
KCMHC is committed to strengthening the region’s health care workforce through educational programs, leadership development opportunities and workforce initiatives that support health care professionals at every stage of their careers.
There are currently no Clinical Faculty Academy Dates for 2026. Check back in later for 2027 dates.