Cardiac / Surgical Clinical Nurse Practice Specialist / RN

Overview

Supports a 42 bed unit who provides support for surgical and surgical oncology patients.

Description

Job Summary: The Clinical Nurse Practice Specialist (CNPS) is an operating unit, service-line, and system clinical leader who integrates advanced nursing expertise with performance improvement to drive safe, evidence-based, and outcomes-focused care. This role combines clinical expertise with performance and educational leadership to promote high-quality nursing practice, lead care transformation initiatives, and foster real-time accountability across the healthcare continuum.

Primary duties and responsibilities

• Evidence-Based Practice and Clinical Innovation:
  • Leads the design, implementation, and evaluation of care strategies that align clinical standards with quality and performance goals.
  • Translates emerging evidence and innovations into practice across diverse care settings.
  • Promotes evidence-based practice, nursing research, and performance improvement in support of nursing excellence across the system.
  • Conducts gap analysis to address barriers and utilizes process improvement strategies to facilitate change and best practices.
  • Contributes to the advancement of nursing practice at the unit/system, local, state, national, and/or international level, and is instrumental in the application and leading of the Professional Practice/Care Transformation Model across the health system.
• Performance and Quality Leadership:
  • Serves as a subject matter expert in quality, safety, and key performance metrics.
  • Analyzes legislative, regulatory, and operational policies as they impact nursing practice and patient population outcomes.
  • Supports design of strategies and resources with nursing leaders, educators, providers, and operational teams to align performance goals with care delivery workflows across the system.
  • Possesses advanced knowledge and articulates the professional scope and standards of nursing practice.
• Interprofessional Collaboration, Consultation, and Clinical Scholarship:
  • Mentors and coaches clinical staff's professional development from novice to expert, including support for evidence-based projects, research, and publication.
  • Provides expert consultation, education, and coaching for patients/populations with complex health care needs using a broad range of theories and evidence.
  • Leads role-based education grounded in current evidence and organizational standards.
  • Acts as a liaison between frontline teams and senior leadership, advocating and advancing a culture of safety, sense of belonging, and professional development.
  • Demonstrates leadership in cultural, ethical decision-making, and patient advocacy.

Additional Duties as Assigned

Travel: Less than 10% of the time may be required between clinical sites may be required

Work Type: On-site employee - Works in the office or at a physical workplace, interacting with colleagues face-to-face

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education - Master of Science in Nursing, ideally in a clinical specialty or leadership track
• Experience - 3 years of clinical nursing experience and 2 years in a specialty or system-based performance/quality role
• Licensure - Valid, active unencumbered nursing license approved by the Georgia Licensing Board
• Certification - BLS and Certification in clinical specialty (e.g., ANCC, NAHQ, AACN)

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (required)

• Demonstrated leadership in quality improvement (QI) or performance excellence initiatives
• Advanced competency in clinical assessment, treatment protocols, and evidence-based interventions for complex or high-acuity patient populations

Preferred Qualifications

• Education - Doctoral degree (DNP or PHD) or APRN
• Experience - 1. Experience with data-driven decision-making, root cause analyses, and regulatory compliance (e.g., CMS, Joint Commission, Vizient, Leapfrog) 2. Experience translating evidence into practice through protocol development, clinical guideline creation, or best practice implementation
• Certification - ACLS and/or PALS if applicable or other specialty certification

Physical Requirements

• (Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the work day (occasionally)
• Lifting 25 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing)

Environmental Factors

• Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and work tasks.
• Environmental exposures include but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Bio-hazardous waste chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors, Communicable diseases, Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required.