Job Information
Atrium Health Clinical Nurse Specialist- Atrium Health Cleveland Critical Care FT Variable in Shelby, North Carolina
Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby is a 241-bed hospital serving greater Cleveland County, NC, and the surrounding region. We were the first Level III trauma center in NC, offering advanced emergency care. We strive every day to bring advanced care to the community. We also believe in serving the community outside our hospital walls, as evidenced by our commitment to health education, and through our contributions to organizations such as United Way and Relay for Life.
Job Summary
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice nurse who influences patient care outcomes through three spheres of impact: patient and family, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations & systems. Within the patient sphere, the CNS provides and supports safe, evidenced based and culturally sensitive care. Within the nursing sphere, the CNS leads the advancement of nursing practice to drive nursing excellence and promote a positive practice environment. Within the organizational sphere, the CNS designs initiatives that improve outcomes, optimize resources and drive system strategic goals.
Core Elements of CNS Practice:
Promotes patient safety and quality outcomes through clinical inquiry and clinical judgment.
Demonstrates specialty/advanced practice clinical expertise in caring for diverse patient populations.
Optimizes resource utilization and coordination of care throughout the patient encounter and across the continuum.
Supports and designs processes for patients and families to safely navigate a complex health care system.
Creates and translates best evidence into clinical practice.
Supports a just culture by identifying the root causes of issues to differentiate among failures in the system, educational needs, and/or compliance issues.
Collaborates to facilitate interprofessional safe practice through shared decision making.
Fosters an inclusive and respectful workplace culture through authentic leadership and intentional communication.
Diagnoses and manages patients' acute and chronic health problems within an advanced practice nursing framework.
Collaborates with senior executive leaders to design and support the nursing strategic plan.
Aligns CNS led initiatives with the organization’s strategic plan, mission, and vision.
Advocates for equitable healthcare by designing and employing initiatives that consider individual preferences and social determinants of health.
Essential Functions
Conducts comprehensive, holistic wellness to illness assessments using evidence- base techniques and tools.
Synthesizes assessment data, advanced knowledge, and experience, using critical thinking and clinical judgment to formulate differential diagnoses for clinical problems amendable to CNS intervention.
Designs initiatives to meet the multifaceted needs of complex patients that integrate health equity strategies to eliminate disparities.
Develops evidence-based clinical interventions and systems to achieve defined patient and system outcomes.
Provides CNS consultation to staff nurses, medical staff and interdisciplinary colleagues.
Provides leadership for collaborative, evidence-based revision of diagnoses and plans of care to improve patient outcomes.
Directs/provides care to select patients based on need and the CNS’s expertise.
Leads and participates in activities such as interprofessional rounds.
Identifies potential risks to patient safety, autonomy, and quality of care.
Intervenes to prevent and/or minimize iatrogenesis and ensure patient safety.
Develops interventions that promote patient, family, and community safety.
Identifies gaps in translation of evidence into practice by participating in CCAs & RCAs.
Supports the development of innovative, cost-effective programs/ protocols.
Facilitates clinically competent care through education, role modeling, teambuilding, and quality monitoring.
Communicates effectively with nursing staff to best meet patients’ needs.
Participates in pre-professional, graduate and continuing education of nurses to include:
Conducts needs assessments as appropriate
Implementation of staff development and continuing education activities
Mentoring of nurses to translate research into practice
Facilitates development of critical thinking in health care team members.
Leads and participates in interprofessional teams examining data and trends to identify system opportunities as well as gaps/barriers due to both internal and external factors.
Conducts cost/benefit and cost avoidance analysis of programs, processes, and technologies.
Participates with interprofessional teams in conducting and implementing research/clinical inquiry.
Analyzes research findings and other evidence for application to clinical practice.
Participates in development, implementation, and monitoring of system-level strategies and objectives in collaboration with executive leaders.
Demonstrates expertise through dissemination of CNS work via presentations or publications.
Physical Requirements
Work requires walking, standing, sitting, lifting, reaching, stopping, bending, pushing and pulling. Working in fast-paced clinical setting. Must be able to lift and support the weight of 35 pounds in handling patients, medical equipment, and supplies. Must speak and understand English fluently and have an intact sense of sight, hearing, smell, and finger dexterity. Critical thinking and ability to concentrate. Must be able to respond quickly to changes in patients and/or program conditions.
Education, Experience and Certifications
Master’s Degree in Nursing in the CNS track required ; Current license to practice as a RN in the state of NC. CNS certification from a national credentialing body approved by the North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBON) required; if no CNS certification available in the specialty, must meet requirements determined by the NCBON to be recognized as a CNS. Recognition as a CNS must be maintained in accordance with the requirements of NCBON. Appropriate practice area certification strongly recommended within 1 year of eligibility for certification exam.
Atrium Health is one of the nation’s leading healthcare organizations, connecting patients with on-demand care, world-class specialists and the region’s largest primary care network. A recognized leader in healthcare delivery, quality and innovation, our foundation rests on providing clinically excellent and compassionate care.
We’ve been serving our community since 1940, when we opened our doors as Charlotte Memorial Hospital. Since then, our network has grown to include more than 40 hospitals and 900 care locations ranging from doctors’ offices to behavioral health centers to nursing homes.
Our focus: Delivering the highest quality patient care, supporting medical research and education, and joining with partners outside our walls to keep our community healthy.