NICU Clinical Practice Expert

NICU Clinical Practice Expert

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN).
• Certification and licensure as either a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) with neonatal focus, or a 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.

• 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.