Clinical Nurse Leader – Bedside Care & Outcomes (CMC Tower Expansion)

Advocate Health•Charlotte, NC

3d•$41 - $62

About The Position

The Clinical Nurse Leader – Bedside Care & Outcomes is a master’s-prepared registered nurse and advanced nursing generalist who serves as a point-of-care clinical leader for a defined patient cohort in an inpatient, emergency, procedural, or other clinical microsystem. Embedded in the patient-care environment, the CNL supports safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care through focused assessments, real-time clinical surveillance, bedside intervention, interdisciplinary coordination, patient and family education, and coaching nursing teammates during care delivery. The role uses patient- and unit-level data to identify risks, anticipate care needs, reduce care fragmentation, escalate concerns, and improve outcomes such as hospital-acquired conditions, length of stay, readmissions, discharge readiness, patient experience, and clinical documentation reliability. This full-time position is in the Carolinas Medical Center Stroke Program. The schedule is days, 7 a.m.–3 p.m., 40 hours per week. The listed pay range is $41.10–$61.65. The position requires a master’s degree in Nursing and graduation from an accredited Clinical Nurse Leader program. A current RN license in the state of practice and Basic Life Support are required. CNL certification through the Commission on Nurse Certification/AACN is required or must be obtained within an approved timeframe if the role is posted as a CNL position. The nurse must have clinical RN experience in the population or care setting served, along with demonstrated experience coordinating complex patient care, leading clinical quality or safety work, using electronic health record data, and coaching nursing teammates. Exact experience years are to be validated by Nursing Operations. The role works in a fast-paced clinical environment and includes frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, stooping, bending, pushing, pulling, and lifting. The incumbent must respond quickly to changes in patient or unit conditions and be able to lift and support weight required for patient care, medical equipment, and supplies, including up to 35 pounds or as defined by departmental standards. Intact hearing, vision, smell, finger dexterity, critical thinking, concentration, and effective communication in English are required. Advocate Health describes a comprehensive Total Rewards offering that includes paid time off; medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits; flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance and paid parental leave; employer-matched defined contribution retirement plans and financial wellness programs; and educational assistance. Program eligibility may depend on employment status or FTE. Compensation may include premium pay or incentive pay for select positions, and annual increases may be available based on performance.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Nursing.
Graduation from an accredited Clinical Nurse Leader program as required to sit for the CNL certification exam.
Current RN license in the state of practice.
Basic Life Support certification as required by policy.
Clinical Nurse Leader certification through the Commission on Nurse Certification/AACN, or attainment within an approved timeframe if the role is posted as a CNL position.
Clinical registered nursing experience in the patient population or care setting served.
Demonstrated experience coordinating care for complex patients, leading clinical quality or safety work, using electronic health record data, and coaching nursing teammates in practice.
Advanced clinical assessment and critical-thinking skills.
Ability to identify patient deterioration and escalate concerns.
Ability to coordinate care across interprofessional teams.
Knowledge of evidence-based nursing practice, quality improvement, patient safety, nurse-sensitive indicators, dashboards and audits, and clinical documentation standards.
Effective coaching, facilitation, patient and family education, and communication skills.
Ability to work independently in a fast-paced clinical setting while collaborating with bedside teammates and leaders.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including frequent movement and lifting or supporting patient-care items up to 35 pounds or as defined by departmental standards.
Intact hearing, vision, smell, finger dexterity, critical thinking, concentration, and ability to communicate effectively in English.

Nice To Haves

Doctor of Nursing Practice, additional graduate nursing coursework, or formal quality/safety education.
Experience as a CNL, clinical nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist partner, charge nurse, quality/safety champion, professional governance leader, or unit-based clinical improvement lead.
CNL certification, specialty nursing certification relevant to the clinical population served, Lean/quality improvement training, or other patient-safety credentials.
Experience with clinical dashboards, RedCap or similar audit tools, EMR reporting, ERAS or other clinical pathways, HAPI/falls/CAUTI/CLABSI prevention, patient throughput, Hospital at Home referral processes, patient engagement tools, and clinical spread/adoption work.
Additional specialty certification may be required by department or patient population.

Responsibilities

Provide bedside clinical leadership for a defined patient cohort through rounding, focused assessment, chart review, patient and family interaction, and communication with bedside nurses and other care team members; provide direct or indirect patient-care support within RN scope when needed.
Conduct real-time clinical surveillance to identify changes in patient condition, safety risks, care delays, diagnostic or treatment gaps, noncompliance with evidence-based practice or policy, and possible clinical deterioration; escalate concerns and assist with interventions, follow-up, and documentation.
Coordinate interdisciplinary care by leading or participating in multidisciplinary rounds, huddles, throughput discussions, bedside touchpoints, evidence-based practice implementation, and discharge planning.
Support implementation and monitoring of evidence-based protocols and standards, including mobility and turn programs, fall and pressure injury prevention, CAUTI/CLABSI prevention, CHG bathing, ERAS pathways, delirium risk mitigation, telemetry stewardship, sepsis and chronic disease management, patient education, and post-operative recovery expectations.
Review dashboards, reports, audits, nurse-sensitive indicator outcomes, safety events, documentation trends, and patient-care outcomes; use findings to provide feedback, develop countermeasures and education, and support sustainable care-process improvements.
Coach, mentor, and educate RNs, HCTs/nursing assistants, and other teammates at the bedside on critical thinking, clinical standards, evidence-based care, documentation, escalation, patient education, and safety; support onboarding, competency validation, and professional development.
Support patient and family engagement by clarifying care plans, reinforcing health-literate education and teach-back, supporting MyChart or other engagement tools, addressing care-progression barriers, and coordinating appropriate transition resources.
Participate in professional governance, unit-based councils, quality improvement, nursing excellence, Magnet-related evidence gathering, and the spread of effective clinical workflows; create or adapt tools, checklists, huddle boards, audits, and education resources for reliable bedside practice.