Clinical Practice Specialist RN CDH Adult Inpatient Full-time Days

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Winfield, IL

4h • $41 - $65

About The Position

The Clinical Practice Specialist leads efforts to ensure quality clinical practice and professional development at the front line. The role reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values and complies with its Code of Ethics, policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory and accreditation standards.

The specialist develops staff education, supports specialty certification, monitors quality and safety data, and leads clinical process-improvement work. The position promotes a culture of safety through learning activities, policy and procedure review, coaching, mentoring, and remediation of knowledge or skill gaps. It also supports evidence-based practice and research, contributes to shared leadership, and helps ensure efficient use of resources.

The role leads unit orientation and competency education, provides informal and classroom instruction and skills assessments, and maintains visibility across shifts as a resource to staff. The specialist advocates for patients and staff, contributes to nursing policies and strategic quality initiatives, consults with leadership on clinical issues, collaborates with physicians and other leaders, and advances nursing practice.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• Master's degree in Science in Nursing, or ability to obtain it within 4 years of assuming the role.
• Registered Nursing license issued by the State of Illinois.
• Certification in a related clinical area, or ability to obtain it when eligible.
• 3–5 years of experience in the specific clinical area.
• BLS certification through the American Heart Association.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement staff education based on needs assessments, departmental and system goals, and new or expanded clinical programs.
• Support staff in seeking and maintaining specialty certification, including monitoring progress and completion.
• Review unit or division dashboards and quality reports with stakeholders and operational managers; identify opportunities and develop action plans for quality and practice improvement.
• Lead or facilitate interprofessional teams working on unit, division, and house-wide clinical process improvement.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate division-specific learning activities to improve safety, including simulations.
• Review and update unit-based clinical policies and procedures.
• Provide input into staff evaluations concerning clinical competence, quality, and practice; coach and mentor staff; identify and remediate knowledge or skill gaps; and participate in Staff RN Peer Review.
• Identify, mentor, and implement evidence-based practice projects, including order sets and practice guidelines; support clinical research and translate findings into evidence-based practice.
• Attend unit staff, shared leadership, clinical nurse leadership council, and unit leadership meetings, and participate in off-unit committees or project teams as appropriate.
• Evaluate new products and recommend purchases to the value-based purchasing committee; recommend improvements to clinical efficiency and use organizational resources efficiently.
• Manage work schedules and complete tasks and assignments on time.
• Lead annual review and revision of unit-based orientation; participate in new employee orientation; monitor new-hire goals and check-ins; and develop, implement, and track the unit's annual competency and education plan.
• Provide informal and formal education, classroom instruction, skills assessments, and competency assessments based on unit learning needs.
• Incorporate relevant NM Toolkit, diversity and inclusion, and organizational values content into educational offerings.
• Maintain visibility on all shifts, serve as a resource to off-shift staff, communicate effectively, and provide just-in-time bedside teaching.
• Advocate for patients, families, nursing staff, and other healthcare community members, and model patient-first clinical practice.
• Contribute to clinical policies and procedures, department and hospital committees, task forces, and evidence-based patient-care improvement processes.
• Consult with nursing and hospital leadership on clinical system and process issues and collaborate on strategic quality-improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with physicians to lead changes in clinical practice and with academic, political, and financial institution leaders to promote healthcare reform.
• Advise the nursing department on strategies to advance nursing practice and leadership opportunities.

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Loan forgiveness
• 401(k) matching
• A range of benefits supporting physical, emotional, and financial well-being and protection from unexpected life events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level