Clinical Nurse Specialist-Atrium Health-Various Specialties

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 applicable state. CNS certification from a national credentialing body approved by the applicable state 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.