ANPD believes that no matter your role in the practice of nursing professional development (NPD), you belong in our community. That’s why our Specialty Spotlight series highlights members furthering NPD goals in unique and invaluable ways. Today, the spotlight is on Erin M. Hoffmeier, BA, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, who works in the role of clinical education specialist with a focus in health literacy at Loyola Medicine.

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Can you describe your career journey, and how you ended up in your current role?

I have always loved teaching. I started being a student helper for the local park district dance classes when I was in elementary school! After completing my studies at Bryn Mawr College, I worked as a unit secretary on a telemetry unit and then the float pool at a community hospital. There I got a feel for the medical field, and I determined that my values aligned most with the nursing role. I started my nursing career working in the critical care unit (CCU) at Loyola University Medical Center. I realized that my passions for nursing, teaching, and helping others grow could be combined and I earned an MSN. I transferred into the Center for Professional Practice and Development in 2018 and have had a variety of roles and responsibilities within this position. My NPD-BC certification and Health Literacy Specialist Certificate were acquired shortly thereafter. 

Is this a new role?

The inclusion of patient education into the nursing professional development (NPD) role is not a new one, but I have been working within it officially for only the past few years. Fran London said, "Handouts don't teach. People teach." This is my mantra. Part of our NPD Core Curriculum for Nursing Professional Development focuses on strategies to promote memory and learning.  It is our responsibility to be able to supply nurses with teaching skills and principles of learning to engage nurses to be effective communicators with their patients.

What does an average day in your position look like?

Some days I act within the NPD Practice Model as a learning facilitator by teaching staff nurses one of a handful of different subjects in a classroom setting such as phlebotomy and electrocardiogram (ECG). Other times I am in the role of a mentor and leader in the capacity of a consultant on various patient education projects which involve interdisciplinary teams. A recent project included working with physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinical coordinators on reference booklets for expectant mothers. I was involved in looking at sentence structure, word choice, and the physical presentation to make sure it was accessible to all levels of health literacy. I also perform these NPD roles by equipping nurses with guidance to improve their communication of medication information to their patients. In that way, I am an advocate for nurses and for patients.  I also coordinate our nursing grand rounds and e-journal club. There is always something new to learn!

How do you apply the NPD Scope & Standards of Practice in your role?

The NPD Scope & Standards of Practice identifies the practice standard of Health Teaching and Health Promotion (Standard 5-B)—and I could tie this to just about everything I do. I have the luxury of presenting patient education and health literacy during nursing orientation, and we discuss how to use different teaching techniques, handle transitions between teaching sessions, determine what content has been mastered, and to anticipate what information the patient might want to receive. I have been partnering with colleagues in patient experience to improve system metrics related to nurses' ability to ensure the patient's understanding as it relates to medication, specifically names, purposes, and side-effects.

What is a professional achievement you are proud of?

I am most proud of my NPD certification and my Health Literacy Specialist Certificate. They demonstrate my area of focus, commitment, and passion. I am also proud that I have been with Loyola Medicine for 20 years!

What challenges do you navigate in this position?

From a day-to-day standpoint, workflow can be unpredictable depending upon what requests for education have been made. There is so much information to share! Possibilities for further education and opportunities for improvement abound. It can be challenging to focus on one area.

What advice do you have for NPD professionals looking to find a similar career path?

If you have an interest, pursue it. I say that at Loyola, if you want to do something, say something, and you will find someone to help you get there. I think this is true for the NPD community and nursing profession as a whole.