GENERAL SUMMARY: (A brief 1-2 sentence statement of the reason the job exists.)

Reporting to the Executive Director of Professional Practice – Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS) and Integration, serves as the expert resource and clinical practice consultant to the health care team, patients and families. Works with leadership across the system to lead, develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based, quality and educational programs and activities that promote professional competency and role performance for nursing and non-licensed clinical staff.

REPRESENTATIVE FUNCTIONS: 

Demonstrates competency in the three spheres of influence; patient/team experience, nursing practice and organizational/systems thinking. The CPS practice is consistently targeted toward achieving quality, cost-effective, patient-focused outcomes across these three spheres of influence.

Facilitates translational research by implementing evidence-based practices into clinical care.  

Coordinates and evaluates the onboarding progress of new employees through classroom, skill demonstration, and direct observation of patient care, conducting performance feedback sessions with orientee, preceptor, and/or department leadership. Initiates targeted Orientation Developmental Action Plans that meet the identified needs of each learner.

Collaborates with department leadership to continuously evaluate the quality of the Nursing Preceptor Program, identifying developmental offerings for clinical preceptors.

Identifies the needs in professional practice of the clinical unit staff by systematically and purposefully collecting data and information to analyze issues, trends and outcomes.

Guided by the Nursing Strategic Plan, evidence based practice and scientific inquiry, develops and implements a strategic education plan to achieve expected outcomes that reflect competence, learning and practice change in collaboration with the Shared Governance Professional Development Council.

Maintains awareness of new standards of care, medical products, equipment and technology. Participates in the development of evidence based policies, procedures, protocols and clinical pathways; creating and implementing a plan to ensure sustainable change at the clinical unit level.

Embraces meaningful change and acts as a change agent within the clinical unit setting to support the competencies of various nursing roles.

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Provides direction and support to patient, family and healthcare provider in addressing ethical concerns.

Evaluates factors related to quality, safety, effectiveness and cost that impact Nursing Professional Development activities and expected outcomes.

Represents Professional Practice as leaders/members of NCH committees, teams and councils, carrying out the chartered activities while conserving financial and human resources. Demonstrates critical thinking and emotional intelligence in decision making, supporting a culture of innovation and clinical excellence.

Responds to the learning needs of the community and employs educational strategies to promote, maintain, and improve health and prevent illness and injury.

Participates in the Professional Nursing Organization of choice to generate energy, contribute to the flow and communication of new nursing knowledge, and to advocate for the needs of  nurses and society.

    SPECIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to function in the care of patients within multiple specialties.

Strong interpersonal, interactive and communication skills, combined with the ability to establish collaborative working relationships with diverse groups and individuals, medical staff and other health care providers across the system.

The analytical skills necessary to assess the educational needs of the staff in a complex healthcare environment, evaluate staff performance and to develop methods of enhancing the quality of nursing care and patient experience.

The leadership and organizational skills necessary to balance participation in staff development, program improvement, team and project involvement, and collaboration with all levels of hospital personnel.

KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND LICENSURE/REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

  Licensure to practice nursing in the state of Illinois.

Master’s Degree in Nursing with Clinical Nurse Specialist focus preferred. Doctorate in Nursing Practice desirable.

  Board certification in area of clinical specialty or in Nursing Professional Development when eligible.