Clinical Practice Specialist (CVICU / CVIMC)

Position Summary

The Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS) is an expert clinician responsible for advancing nursing practice, improving patient outcomes, and supporting evidence-based care across the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and Cardiovascular Intermediate Care Unit (CVIMC).

Key Responsibilities

• Promotes evidence-based practice and ensures integration into CVICU and CVIMC workflows.
• Led and supports quality improvement initiatives targeting patient outcomes (e.g., glycemic control, ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, infection prevention).
• Analyzes clinical data and identifies trends to drive improvements in care delivery and patient safety.
• Collaborates with unit leadership to implement and sustain best practices and clinical protocols.
• Assesses learning needs and develops targeted education plans for nursing staff in CVICU and CVIMC.
• Provides onboarding support and competency validation for new hires, including orientation and skills development.
• Facilitates ongoing education, simulation, and just-in-time training to maintain clinical excellence.
• Supports certification efforts (e.g., CCRN, PCCN) and professional growth of nursing staff.
• Serves as a clinical resource and expert in cardiovascular critical care and intermediate care.
• Provides real-time consultation and support for complex patient care situations.
• Rounds with interdisciplinary teams and contributes to clinical decision-making and care planning.
• Serves as a clinical expert and supports adoption of advanced therapies and technologies (e.g., mechanical circulatory support, EndoTool, ECMO, where applicable).
• Partners with nurse managers, educators, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams to align practice with organizational priorities.
• Participates in shared governance councils, committees, and service line initiatives.
• Leads or contributes to policy, procedure, and clinical guideline development and revision.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Ensures clinical practice aligns with regulatory requirements (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS) and organizational policies.
• Supports readiness efforts for surveys, audits, and accreditation processes.
• Maintains compliance with clinical standards and implements corrective actions as needed.
• Promotes a culture of inquiry and supports implementation of research and evidence-based initiatives.
• Participates in or leads practice-based research projects and dissemination of findings.
• Encourages staff engagement in EBP and quality initiatives.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Nursing or related field (MSN) required.
• Minimum 3–5 years of recent clinical experience in cardiovascular critical care (CVICU required).
• Previous experience in education, quality, or professional practice roles preferred.
• BLS and ACLS required.
• Specialty certification required (CCRN preferred; PCCN acceptable for CVIMC focus).