NICU Clinical Practice Expert

NICU Clinical Practice Expert Position Summary

The NICU Clinical Practice Expert provides advanced clinical nursing leadership to promote excellence in neonatal care across the NICU continuum. Functioning in a role comparable to a Clinical Nurse Specialist, this position serves as a clinical authority, educator, mentor, and change agent to advance evidence‑based practice, improve patient outcomes, and support interprofessional collaboration across the service line.

The role may be filled by a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) with demonstrated expertise in neonatal care and professional practice leadership.

Clinical Practice & Expertise:

• Serves as an expert clinical resource for NICU and SCN nursing staff, advanced practice providers, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Promotes and standardizes evidence‑based neonatal care practices across the NICUs and SCNs.
• Provides clinical consultation for complex or high‑risk neonatal cases to support safe, high‑quality care.
• Identifies gaps in practice and leads initiatives to improve clinical quality, safety, and outcomes.

Education & Professional Development:

• Supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of education programs to support competency development for NICU and SCN staff.
• Supports onboarding, orientation, and ongoing professional development of nurses and advanced practice providers.
• Mentors staff in clinical decision‑making, critical thinking, and application of best practices.
• Facilitates translation of new evidence, guidelines, and research into bedside practice.
• Collaborates with the NPD and APP educator roles to align program deployment and ongoing educational initiatives.

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety:

• Leads and participates in quality improvement, patient safety, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Uses data and outcome metrics to identify trends, evaluate practice changes, and drive sustainable improvement.
• Collaborates with unit and organizational leadership to support regulatory compliance, accreditation readiness, and survey preparedness.
• Supports development, revision, and implementation of clinical policies, procedures, and standards of care.

Leadership &

Collaboration:

• Acts as a clinical leader and change agent within the service line, fostering a culture of accountability, inquiry, and excellence.
• Collaborates with nursing leadership, medical staff, and interdisciplinary partners to align clinical practice with organizational priorities.
• Advocates for patients, families, and staff to ensure care delivery reflects best practice and family‑centered principles.

Research & Evidence-Based Practice:

• Promotes a culture of evidence‑based practice and clinical inquiry.
• Supports staff engagement in research, evidence‑based projects, and scholarly activities.
• Assists with evaluation and dissemination of outcomes related to practice changes and improvement initiatives.

Required:

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• Certification and licensure as either:
  Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) with neonatal focus, or Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP).
• Master's degree or higher in nursing.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in a Level III or IV NICU.
• Demonstrated expertise in neonatal clinical practice and professional practice leadership.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and clinical teaching skills.

Preferred:

• CNS Preferred.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD.
• Experience leading quality improvement or evidence‑based practice initiatives.
• Experience with regulatory, accreditation, or survey processes in a NICU setting.
• Prior experience in a CNS, NNP leadership, or similar advanced practice role.

• Competitive, guaranteed base salary
• Collaboration with a supportive, integrated team
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth
• Generous vacation and CME time
• Impressive recruitment incentives
• A well‑balanced work / life culture

Akron Children's is a 501(c)(3) site that qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the federal government.