CLINICAL NURSE COORDINATOR, RN - ICU

Independence Health System•Greensburg, PA

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse Coordinator (CNC) is a front-line care provider, coordinator, and leader for the healthcare team in the ICU. The CNC applies the nursing process at the point of care through assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation of the unit to guide systematic quality and safety improvements. The role emphasizes effective interdisciplinary communication and coordination, helping patients and families navigate the healthcare system, advocating for patients, families, and healthcare providers, and improving care delivery in a complex healthcare setting. The CNC focuses on maximizing safe, quality, evidence-based care. The CNC leads and supports staff, contributes to departmental planning and process improvement, and may assume the manager’s role in their absence. The position oversees daily clinical practice, supports patient education and care coordination, collaborates with physicians and other providers, and provides direct patient care as assigned. The Registered Nurse also provides direct oversight of designated care team members, including conducting the initial comprehensive assessment, interpreting it to initiate the interprofessional plan of care, and supervising appropriate delegation. The position follows specialty standards, practice guidelines, protocols, hospital policies, and the Pennsylvania Nurse Practice Act. Scheduling is based on operational needs and may include rotating shifts, standby, and on-call work. Local travel between system locations may be expected.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
At least one year of relevant nursing experience.
Strong leadership ability, organizational skills, independent and critical-thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Rapid Response Team responder experience, required within six months of hire or transfer.
Experience caring for patients recovering from cardiovascular surgery, required within six months of hire or transfer.
Training in care of patients with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), Impella, and continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD), required within six months of hire or transfer.
Current Pennsylvania Registered Nurse licensure.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance with renewal.
Current NIH Stroke Scale certification or completion within six months of hire or transfer into the department.
Current ACLS certification or completion within one year of hire or transfer into the department.

Nice To Haves

National certification in the area of specialty.
Charge nurse experience.

Responsibilities

Lead, motivate, and support change, professional growth, and development; model the organization’s Leadership Pledge and behavioral standards.
Assume the Nurse Manager’s role in their absence; assist with departmental activities and represent the department on committees.
Align departmental work with the organization’s strategy, mission, vision, and values, and recommend at least one departmental process-improvement initiative annually.
Participate in root-cause analysis of recurring problems and take appropriate action.
Support staff accountability, including timely completion of PPDs, mandatory education and competencies, attendance policies, corrective-action standards, safety, infection control, confidentiality, and regulatory readiness.
Involve staff and appropriate stakeholders in decision-making and problem-solving; consider the broader effects of decisions across departments.
Work within department budgets, identify cost-reduction opportunities while balancing quality resources, and recommend revenue-enhancement opportunities.
Provide input on staff performance appraisals, hiring decisions, performance goals, and coaching; participate in interviews and employee hiring, transfer, and promotion decisions with managers.
Investigate and resolve safety or incident reports as needed, prioritize urgent work and available resources, provide direction, and recommend or draft department policies and procedures.
Support effective department communication, including maintaining a communication board and, where applicable, participating in and leading daily meetings.
Train and develop employees, coach and mentor staff, serve as a resource, facilitate teamwork, and build trust through empowerment and shared decision-making.
Oversee daily clinical practice to ensure care complies with the Pennsylvania Nurse Practice Act, hospital policies and protocols, and professional standards.
Review patient charts for staff compliance with the nursing process and for complete, accurate, and timely documentation.
Conduct daily patient rounds to assess patient status and care quality, except where not applicable; monitor interdisciplinary planning and delivery of patient care.
Accompany or communicate with physicians during rounds to answer questions and resolve issues related to medical treatment.
Assign patient care according to staff competency and provide direct patient care as assigned.
Develop and coordinate education processes for patients, families, and staff to promote health, self-care, and improved outcomes; include medication safety and use, pain management, available resources, further care, and patient responsibilities.
Plan and implement patient and family teaching, monitor documentation of education, and provide and review written discharge instructions that support discharge planning and continuity of care.
Maintain collaborative relationships with physicians and other healthcare providers, communicate pertinent information for interdisciplinary care and transfers, and proactively identify and resolve patient needs.
Promote patient safety, use two forms of identification before providing care, involve patients and families in safety processes, minimize and appropriately monitor restraints, and fulfill appropriate code-team, mock-code, or rapid-response roles.
Respond effectively to emergencies, including internal and external disasters.
Provide Registered Nurse oversight of designated care team members, including initial comprehensive assessment, interpretation of assessments to initiate the interprofessional plan of care, and supervision of delegated duties within team members’ scope and capabilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.