Clinical Nurse Specialists provide expert advice related to specific conditions or treatment pathways. They focus on improving patient care and developing services. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS’s) play a unique role in the delivery of high quality care. These clinicians are experts in evidence-based practice in specialty areas, such as oncology, pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatric/mental health and community health among others. In addition to providing direct patient care, CNS’s may engage in teaching, mentoring, consulting, research, management and systems improvement. They are able to adapt their practice to work across settings, and influence outcomes by providing expert consultation to all care providers and by implementing improvements in health care delivery systems.

COMMON RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job description should be read in conjunction with the employers Clinical Nurse Specialist Scope of Practice, Code of Leadership Behavior and the employers Code of Professional Behavior and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives. To fulfill the responsibilities above, the Clinical Nurse Specialist, in collaboration with nursing personnel and members of other disciplines, engages in the following activities: Provides skilled safe, holistic, culturally competent, person-centered nursing care to patients, families, community and society, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team irrespective of healthcare settings. Provides direct patient care. Demonstrates leadership according to their skills and experience. Accepts organizational accountability for services provided to recipients. Accepts accountability for own actions and decision-making and for the related outcome. Delivers nursing care and practices embedding the Clinical Nurse Specialist Scope of Practice as the ethical and professional framework alongside consideration of the socio-cultural needs of patients, families, communities and society. Functions at all times in accordance with legislative, regulatory and policy guidelines relevant to registered nursing practice. Provides skilled safe, holistic, culturally competent, person-centred nursing care to patients, families, community and society, in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team irrespective of healthcare settings. Maintains and demonstrates clinical competence in all aspects of care provided to patients on specific unit. Attends to emergency / crisis situations calmly and effectively. Develops, implements, evaluates, revises and provides input to the patients’ plan of care and provides care according to the plan of care. Administers medications and therapies in a safe, timely and effective manner in accordance with policy. Uses communication skills to ensure that other members of the health care team, the patient and their family are and remain fully informed. Exhibits leadership qualities and manages nursing care safely, efficiently and ethically. Ensures nursing practice meets organizational quality and safety standards and guidelines and participates in continuous quality improvement. Maintains and promotes customer satisfaction through effective customer service. Delegates and provides supervision to team members according to their competence and scope of practice. Demonstrates commitment to the development of other members in the healthcare team, as well as patients, families, community and society. Assumes responsibility for own professional development through lifelong learning to ensure continued competence and performance improvement. Enables and provides information on maintaining and optimizing health and maximizing self-care. Integrates evidence and research findings into practice. Uses data systems to enhance the quality and delivery of patient care. Uses research, evaluation, service improvement and audit findings to enhance the quality of patient care and protect the rights of those participating.