Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job Summary
In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Reporting operationally to the Director or delegate, for the designated clinical specialty area and with professional accountability to Director of Professional Practice, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), is responsible for providing leadership and direction in the delivery of nursing care and the formulation of organizational policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to such care. The CNS works within the organization's leadership framework to foster, facilitate and takes a trauma-informed, psychologically safe, anti-racist, family centered approach to achieving the highest standards of service delivery and leads in the planning, development and implementation of clinical policies and programs designed for improving patient/client care. Provides expert advice and consultation in the areas of nursing, resource planning, program and health system improvement, research and professional development to support quality and utilization initiatives. Continuously evaluates nursing practice and contributes to the ongoing organizational development of practice knowledge by evaluating research and developing frameworks and strategies to facilitate the implementation of best practices. Functions as clinical leader in a particular area of specialty and advances nursing practice in the area of specialty through the use of advanced practice and evidence-based research. Works collaboratively with Professional Practice leaders, acts as a liaison between various hospitals and/or community programs to facilitate integration of care across the continuum, and reports on professional nursing practice matters. Provides leadership and expert consultation to team members and other health care staff, patients/clients and families/significant others. Works collaboratively with Program Managers, Medical Directors, Professional Practice leaders, Clinical Educators, Nurse Clinicians, staff nurses, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to pro-actively move specialty practice forward at the organization, regional, provincial and national levels.

Duties/Accountabilities

• Exemplifies and promotes excellence in nursing by providing trauma-informed, anti-racist, psychologically safe, family-centered, advanced-practice nursing expertise and clinical support to the interdisciplinary health care team.
• Develops and implements standards, clinical practice guidelines and other processes that support excellence in service delivery and are consistent with provincial and national guidelines and accreditation requirements.
• Leads the design and implementation of integrated systems and processes to promote the development of competent staff, support professional and clinical practice and enhance collaborative working relationships across the continuum of care.
• Leads the development of quality assurance programs within clinical area and collaborates with Operations and Practice Directors to report and recommend the implementation of research with impact to initiatives on nursing practice and job content, staff allocation, training and performance, and budgetary planning.
• Conducts research that is focused on identifying and/or incorporating best practices and evidence-based care to foster the development and implementation of strategies designed to optimize excellence in patient/client care and the health system.
• Develops, implements and evaluates clinical and educational programs relating to the delivery of patient care with the specialty area.
• Provides leadership and guidance to team members using effective coaching techniques, mentors staff, supports performance evaluations, enables developmental opportunities, participates in recruitment activities and makes final hiring decisions in collaboration with leadership team.
• Provides mentorship and supervision to assist graduate and undergraduate students develop a thorough understanding and skilled use of advanced nursing practices and related competencies.
• Collaborates in the development and promotion of clear guidelines, performance standards and effective processes to assess competencies of staff and students and facilitate continuing development of nursing and allied health professionals in compliance with professional standards as well as codes of ethics.
• Provides input into budget evaluation to ensure the budget enables attaining clinical practice requirements and meeting professional standards while remaining in the confines of environmental and resource constraints.

Qualifications
Master's degree in Nursing or in Leadership or equivalent. A minimum of five (5) year's recent related experience working in a designated clinical specialty and/or health care setting in a progressive leadership role.

Canadian Nurses Association certification in designated clinical specialty or membership in related provincial, national and/or international professional association(s) designated clinical specialty is preferred.

Current CPR certification including Pediatric Advanced Life Support and ACLS or equivalent.

• Demonstrated ability to both practice and lead in a trauma-informed, psychologically safe, anti-racist, patient and family centered manner.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate to build relationships that promote the achievement of cooperative goals and contribute to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
• Demonstrated ability to professionally consult to enable the successful sharing of expertise with caregivers, patients/clients, families/significant others, other members of the public, and colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to proficiently provide and vigilantly evaluate education/orientation on complex advanced practices and abilities to ensure skills levels are acquired or maintained by team members to meet overall practice and care standards.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize expert acute clinical evaluation skills to assess needs of the patient/client and their families/significant others.
• Demonstrated ability to skillfully, and in consultation with academic institutions and professional bodies, identify/develop discipline specific standards for teaching and education.
• Demonstrated ability to collaboratively lead the identification, planning and implementation of ongoing activities to support research initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and direct staff by providing a work environment that fosters motivation and respectful relationships and enables decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability of advanced verbal, written and technological communication and presentation skills when disseminating information/advice and/or promoting the use of research findings.