Clinical Nurse Specialist; APRN Acute Rehabilitation

General Summary of Position

Med Star National Rehabilitation Hospital is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) advanced practice registered nurse who functions as a clinical expert educator, consultant leader, researcher/evidence-based practice translator and change agent operating within a professional evidenced-based practice framework that utilizes the three spheres of influence: patient/family nursing and system organization. The CNS coaches, educates and leads nursing staff in evidence-based clinical practice quality improvement and patient safety initiatives and conducts facilitates or applies research to enhance patient care and outcomes.

CNS will practice within defined patient populations and exhibit competency through licensure and national certification.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies procedures quality standards and safety standards. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Participates in the assessment implementation and evaluation of clinical services utilizing evidenced based cost-effective nursing interventions to meet the needs of a designated patient population. Conducts comprehensive holistic assessments of individuals within the population of expertise. Uses reliable and valid age-appropriate assessment tools to identify acute and chronic health concerns and care needs.
• Conducts pharmacologic assessments to ensure safe and effective administration of medications and interprets laboratory values and results of diagnostic studies considering patient's age ethnicity and health status.
• Assesses patient family and caregiver preferences in the design and implementation of patient's plan of care while consulting with other registered nurses. Ensures the plan of care is comprehensive individualized age and disease appropriate plan for health promotion. Recommends evidenced based clinical and specialty care interventions as appropriate and within the CNS scope of practice.
• Acts as a patient and family advocate and facilitates patient transitions of care with an emphasis on quality safety and risk avoidance. Serves as a role model for ethical practice and a resource for patients and families nursing and other interdisciplinary care providers.
• Provides consultation services to staff nurses providers and the interdisciplinary care team members focusing on the patient's mental status mobility functional status self-care ability and home environment. Communicates consultative findings to appropriate team members. Identifies practice improvements based on data obtained through consultations and recommends resources needed to achieve expected care outcomes.
• Designs theoretical and evidence-based health education strategies appropriate to the patient and/or family developmental level health literacy level learning needs readiness to learn personal preference and technologic competency.
• Provides just-in-time teaching to nursing associates when appropriate. Participates in the orientation and mentoring of nurses interdisciplinary staff and/or advanced practice nurses.
• Facilitates the delivery of evidence based clinically competent nursing care to meet the goals of Med Star Health and the Department of Nursing. Supports the provision of nursing care utilizing the contemporary primary nursing care delivery model and the interdisciplinary model of care. Determines nursing practice and system interventions that promote patient and family safety.
• Participates in professional nursing through the MSH Nursing Collaborative Governance Councils and specialty professional organizations.
• Leads and/or participates in High-Reliability Organization (HRO) activities and quality improvement initiatives at the local and system level. Supports a healthy and safe work/practice environment.
• Designs and evaluates programs for effective implementation of MSH Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). Searches for evaluates and interpret evidence when developing MSH CPGs and quality improvement initiatives. Analyzes research findings and other evidence for their potential application to clinical nursing practice.
• Uses data to assess the quality and effectiveness of clinical programs in meeting nurse-sensitive care outcomes. Assesses barriers facilitators and gaps in the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices and designs interventions to address identified improvement opportunities.
• Assists in the evaluation of technology products and supplies to support their safe and effective integration into nursing care delivery. Incorporates evidenced based practices products and technology into clinical policies and practice.
• Establishes collaborative relationships within and across departments that promote patient safety culturally competent care and clinical excellence. Collaborates with nursing practice leaders and other CNSs patient care managers professional development specialists nurse…