Clinical Nurse Specialist; Graduated Prepared or CNS Certified - Wound Ostomy

At Duke Health, we’re driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Health hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Clinical Nurse Specialist—Wound & Ostomy (DUHS)

Job Title:

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job Code: 5264

FLSA: E Pay Target: H2

Date: 1/1/2026

Supervisory Requirement:
No

Position summary

The WOC CNS serves as a strategic clinical leader, aligning evidence, data, and frontline practice to influence system-wide outcomes, enhance care standardization, and support organizational priorities in quality, safety, and patient experience with regard to skin, wound and ostomy management. They work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team in a variety of specialties in planning and coordinating skin, wound and ostomy care.

In addition, the WOC CNS works on a system-level to implement improvements in patient care that improve outcomes for categories of patients. The WOC CNS is an integral part of multiple teams, as a clinician, educator, consultant, and leader.

• Provides expert consultation and co-management for patients with complex wound, ostomy, and continence needs, supporting clinical decision-making and optimizing patient outcomes.
• Partners with WOC RNs across the health system to manage high-risk and complex cases, offering advanced assessment, treatment recommendations, and guidance to ensure alignment with evidence-based practice.
• Supports timely identification and intervention for patients at-risk for skin breakdown or complications through proactive rounding, case review, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
• Promotes consistency and excellence in care delivery by guiding DUHS WOC RNs in the application of standardized WOC RN practices, products, and clinical pathways.
• Collaborates with nursing and provider teams to address barriers to care, ensure appropriate resource utilization, and facilitate safe, effective care transitions.
• Serves as a clinical resource and mentor for complex wound and ostomy cases, reinforcing best practices and supporting skill development in real-time clinical environments.

• Identifies learning needs of patients, families, and nursing staff.
• Support education of nurses and other health care providers to include but not limited to pre-professional, graduate and continuing education opportunities.
• Mentor health professionals in applying the principles of evidence-based care.
• Uses coaching and advanced communication skills to facilitate the development of effective clinical teams.

• Builds effective interdisciplinary relationships to support coordinated, high-quality care.
• Serves as a clinical resource and consultant to nurses, physicians, and other clinical care team members.
• Facilitates communication and collaboration within and across units and service lines.
• Partners with leaders to develop innovative and cost-effective care models and programs.

• Promotes a culture of clinical inquiry, continuous learning, and evidence-based care.
• Evaluates and translates research and best practices into clinical application across the system.
• Identifies barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based practices and designs strategies to improve adoption and sustainability.
• Leads and participates in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety, effectiveness, and outcomes pertaining to skin, wound and ostomy practices.
• Uses data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and evaluate impact.
• Supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of practice,…