Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) — Registered Nurse (RN) — Stepdown/Critical Care Units — Memorial Regional Medical Center

Primary Function/General Purpose of Position

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is a registered nurse with clinical expertise within a selected area of nursing. The CNS functions as an educator, clinical expert, consultant, and researcher for the nursing staff.  Collaborates with nursing leaders and other interdisciplinary staff to achieve patient outcomes. Leads, facilitates, and manages day-to-day clinical improvement activities related to nursing practice and process.  Work function is targeted toward achieving quality, cost-effective evidenced based outcomes.  Goals for targeted populations are attained through the synthesis of comparative clinical and aggregate data, development and application of standard indicators, and design and development of innovative programs. 

Essential Job Functions

• Demonstrates advanced, specialized knowledge of nursing practice issues related to clinical specialty

• Leverages data to identify trends; shares measures of success and areas of opportunity with the interprofessional team

• Collaborate with the interprofessional team and clinical unit leadership to identify areas of opportunity and construct improvement plans

• Facilitates change and collaborates with the healthcare team to identify gaps, barriers, and practice improvement

• Support orientation, competency, and continuing education of staff in the clinical environment

• Acts as a patient safety advocate by participating in ongoing quality improvement in the hospital.  Incorporates the professional practice model into care delivery.

• Analyzes the practice setting in a continuous improvement framework

• Establishes and maintains standards of practice at the client, unit, hospital, corporate, community and national levels

• Provides innovative and collaborative leadership in professional and clinical practice by role modeling, mentoring, and serving as a clinical consultant

• Initiates and participates in strategic planning at all levels of the health care system

• Facilitates and interprets research, incorporating appropriate findings into practice

• Coordinates, facilitates, provides and evaluates patient, staff and community education programs

• The integration of ethical/legal concepts into the practice of self and others.

This document is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as required by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation.

Licensing/Certification

Must be currently licensed as an Advanced Practice Nurse/Clinical Nurse Specialist in the state of practice or is eligible to initiate the application process (required)

Must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) – American Heart Association (required)

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – American Heart Association (preferred)

Education

Master’s prepared Registered Nurse from an accredited school of nursing (required)

Continuing Education (CE), Continuing Education Units (CEU), Credit Hours (CH) (required)

Work Experience

Minimum of 5 years clinical experience (required)

Clinical experience in health care research, data acquisition and statistical analysis (preferred)

3-5 years of experience in application of performance improvement methods (preferred)

Oral/written skills and previous work experience communicating complex theoretical and technical concepts to healthcare members, developing, and presenting formal educational programs, and effective collaboration with other healthcare members (required)

Demonstrated group facilitation, problem solving, and analytical skills (required)

Training

Training in LEAN/Six Sigma process (preferred)

Word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation program abilities (preferred)

EPIC Electronic Health Record (preferred)

Language

None

Skills

Participate in BLS and/or ACLS events occurring within the acute care setting

Monitor patient conditions during treatment and document

Administer medications if needed and document

Inform medical professionals regarding patient conditions and care

Record patient medical histories

Budgeting & Financial Acumen

Evaluate employee performance during evaluation of competencies

Analyzing data or information

Prepare and deliver presentations for executive level/mid-level leaders/frontline associate audiences

​Attention to detail

Acceptance of authority

Critical thinking

Communication with family members

Communication with patients

Teamwork

Conflict resolution

Active listening

Relationship building

Self-motivated to function autonomously in work