Clinical Nurse Specialist - Acute Care - Day/Evening/Night

Full Time (80 Hours Biweekly)

Day shift primarily but occasional off shift

Acute Care

Job Description:

The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a clinical leader for nursing practice, committed to improving patient care, directly and indirectly, via the role of practitioner, consultant, change agent, educator, researcher, and leader. The CNS exemplifies and promotes nursing practice excellence by impacting on patient care outcomes. The CNS coordinates and manages the care of complex patients, collaborating with interdisciplinary team members to achieve optimal patient outcomes within a defined population.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Accountabilities:

1. Maintains competence in area of expertise.
2. Collaborates with other professionals to improve patient care delivery and achieve desired patient outcomes.
3. Fosters/facilitates growth and development of staff.
4. Initiates, implements, and evaluates process redesign and system changes.
5. Provides consultation in area of expertise to management, staff and other disciplines, agencies, etc.
6. Acts as a resource and role model.
7. Supports the education, training, and orientation of staff and students.
8. Develops, implements and evaluates education programs.
9. Assists in the development of EBP/QI projects and nursing research and collaborates with staff in developing methodology and analysis of findings.
10. Contributes new knowledge to nursing practice by participating in clinical research as appropriate.
11. Acts as a task force/project manager within the system.
12. Collects, analyzes, and disseminates data related to targeted populations.

NonEssential Accountabilities:

1. Attends meetings as required and participates on committees as requested.
2. Performs other related duties as identified.

Common Expectations:

1. Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care consultation for population of expertise.
2. Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
3. Develops and establishes policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control stands.
4. Enhances professional growth and development through advanced/continuing education to maintain up-to-date knowledge, skills, and competencies. Shares pertinent information and job knowledge, related to readings, educational programs or participation in professional nursing organization activities
5. Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.

Qualifications

• Minimum Experience:
  • 3 - 5 years
• Minimum Education:
  • Master's Degree
• Required Certification:
  • Registration and current RN license in PA; PA-CNS license; CNS Certification; Basic Life Support (BLS) required; specialty certification preferred
• Physical Demands:
  • Frequent prolonged standing/walking
  • Occasionally lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfers patients
  • Occasionally lifts supplies/equipment
  • Occasional reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching