GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Clinical Nurse Specialist promotes excellence in pediatric patient care by advancing the quality and scope of nursing practice through evaluation of clinical care, consultation, education, collaboration, leadership, research, and advocating for change as needed. Flexible hours, Monday through Friday, exempt position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/COMPETENCIES

• Serves as a clinical expert/resource in advancing the current clinical practice in promoting quality nursing care.
• Serves as a content expert with interdisciplinary team member(s) in the assessment, development, implementation, and/or evaluation of the age-specific individualized patient/family plan of care and documented actions. (Individualized refers to the patient’s developmental, cognitive, cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, and education/family influences and physical/medical care needs. Plan of care includes current and anticipated actions focused on care education, and/or discharge needs).
• Utilizes a systematic approach to analyze complex clinical data and information to provide comprehensive consultation and appropriate resources (i.e., literature review, benchmarks, policies/procedures, clinical practice guidelines (CPG’s) or nursing diagnoses (ND’s), etc.) for clinical problem solving.
• Conducts daily/weekly clinical rounds to achieve consistent delivery of patient care standards and advance staff skills in order to meet the patient/family’s needs.
• Collaborates with the CNC/staff nurse to gain real time knowledge of immediate clinical care needs for patients (ie. complex care, new patient care services, rare diagnoses) and staff education needs.
• Develops an innovative, effective action plan to meet patient care standards for the unit.
• Communicates variation in current standards of care/practice and applicable action plan to the PCM/CNC in a timely manner.
• Serves as an educational expert in developing, implementing, and evaluating patient/family/staff education.
• Oversees/assumes responsibility for the orientation of new employees to the unit.
• Creates an orientation program for each role in the unit.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates general nursing and unit specific skills classes for new employees.
• Collaborates with unit manager to counsel/coach new employees during orientation to assist the orientee’s progress towards gaining competency in unit standards/skills.
• Serves as a resource for clinical educators for operationalizing orientation programs for consistency and quality.
• Coordinates the mentorship/preceptor program to ensure consistent standards in teaching and the promotion of quality professional patient care.
• Oversees the preceptor education program in collaboration with other area educators/CNS’s leading the review/ evaluation process through use of literature reviews, benchmark data, and outside resources.
• Collaborates with CNC and preceptor to select appropriate assignments and learning experiences for new staff.
• Fosters the use of adult learning and critical thinking principles with preceptors by providing ideas, skill stations, different teaching styles, and related activities to help the preceptor be a more effective teacher.
• Coordinates and collaborates with appropriate resources (i.e. leadership team, other CNS’s, educators, content experts, organization development) to analyze needs in order to lead the development, implementation, evaluation and maintenance of comprehensive continuing education programs (i.e. orientation skills checklists, self studies, education videos, education supplies, and orientation manual) based on annual needs assessment, staff request, unit direction, new equipment/care practices, variance trends, and patient/parent and other customers’ satisfaction.
• Educational activities reflect identified needs of the target audience and/or organizational priorities related to nursing practice.
• Independently designs and documents for each educational activity a needs assessment, description of target audience, educational objectives, content outline, teaching methods (CHEX, self-study, presentation, real-time), evaluation strategies, and designation of appropriate resources (i.e. room arrangements, AV equipment, handouts, other teaching aids).
• Independently creates programs that incorporate adult learning strategies, ethical principles, critical thinking skills, professional growth, open communication, and collaborative relationships.
• Quality of information developed is professional with regards to organization of information, clarity of instruction, attention to details, and presentation style.
• Identifies staff’s individual talent in order to assist in their personal and professional development by:
• Sharing ideas, experiences, and successful behavior patterns.
• Establishing a relationship with the staff as a resource.
• Providing a supportive framework to guide career development.
• Provides leadership and consultation in the comprehensive development/ revision of clinical systems in order to support patient care.
• Serves as a content expert in incorporating clinical practice into unit/organizational systems under development/review.
• Collaborates with identified groups in the organization to define/clarify practice while incorporating scientific, evidence-based findings, and new knowledge to advance nursing care practice throughout the organization.
• Proactively anticipates the need for educational activities that correlate with the unit/organizational priorities related to nursing practice.
• Coordinates and supports research/publication activities related to nursing practice or unit/organization objectives.
• Strengthens the link between research and clinical practice by facilitating others understanding while promoting utilization of the research process to improve patient outcomes and enhance the environment of care. This may include assisting others to interpret and conduct research.
• Critically evaluates existing clinical practice utilizing current or new research, and leads the integration of change into related unit/hospital policies/procedures and/or CPG’s/ND’s and actual practice.
• Leads or participates in identifying research topics and related projects.
• Identifies opportunities to acknowledge unit/organization for nursing best practices as seen through support of publication, i.e. assist others in article development, author/co-author articles.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS/COMPETENCIES

• Performs other duties assigned.
• Accepts assignment on unit to provide direct patient care. Professionally supports the unit as seen through interactions with patients, families, staff, colleagues, others.
• Professionally seeks opportunities to help teammates as needed.
• Serves as preceptor for new RN, CCP, other CNS/educator staff as necessary.
• Collaborates with faculty and students from area schools of nursing and participates in course presentation as requested.
• Develops or provides educational materials or offerings to the community as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Current license as a registered nurse in the state of Nebraska/Compact State.
• Certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support. Requires instructor certification in PALS, and/or NRP.
• Within 1 year of hire, commits to sitting for national certification for CNS or pediatric specialty area.
• Strong pediatric clinical nursing knowledge and background.
• Advanced knowledge and proficiency in applying the nursing process, nursing skills, and nursing research into patient care, teaching, and systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to include the use of computer technology in program presentations and/or data analysis.
• Ability to be self-directed, with minimum supervision, and detail oriented.
• Must be able to perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature, without loss of efficiency or composure, and be able to perform under stressful conditions when confronted with multiple requests, demonstrating prioritization skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in nursing as a clinical nurse specialist required.
• Prefer a minimum of five years experience in related pediatric nursing field.