UI Health - Clinical Nurse Consultant II Surgical Coordinator - Orthopedics

Location: Chicago, IL USA

This position requires Illinois residency within 180 days of the hire date (RNs only).

About UI Health

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity.

About the Role

The Clinical Nursing Consultant II (CNCII) – Orthopedic provides comprehensive patient navigation and clinical leadership for patients within the UI Health Orthopedic Department. This role utilizes advanced clinical expertise to guide patients through the surgical continuum, including improving preoperative evaluations, ensuring timeliness of care, coordinating complex clinical processes, addressing barriers to care, and developing plans for postoperative and long-term follow-up. As an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, the CNCII builds therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and colleagues to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care and support optimal outcomes.

In alignment with the CNCII role, the position is accountable for facilitating patient care using the Nursing Process and Relationship-Based Care model, while providing direct care, consultation, and coordination for complex orthopedic cases. The CNCII leads and supports the educational development of staff and participates in quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for perioperative care coordination, ambulatory clinic surgical patient care and follow-ups, effective scheduling, and perioperative patient preparation to include medical and financial readiness for surgical cases, pre- and postoperative care planning.
• Engages in quality improvement projects for the unit and actively participates in quality improvement projects within the Division and Hospital. Monitors quality improvement outcomes and compliance.
• Develops, coordinates, and/or mentors staff in surgical coordination, patient care plan development, and ongoing clinical assessment.
• Uses clinical expertise to collaborate with nursing staff and healthcare team to improve patient outcomes.
• Consults with and implements orders from credentialed providers by performing interventions as prescribed and documenting accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Assesses, engages, and obtains clinical information from multidisciplinary team, patient and/or family, and external care adjuncts to develop an appropriate patient perioperative and educational plan.
• Works in close liaison with the interprofessional perioperative team, including Ambulatory Clinic, Financial, Anesthesia, Operating Room, Sterile Processing, and Purchasing Teams.
• Obtains records from outside facilities as needed to coordinate surgical care and facilitate medical and financial readiness.
• Recognizes symptoms, establishes priorities, and responds to patient changes and dynamic surgery scheduling needs to promote safety, quality care delivery, efficiency, and block optimization.
• Engages nursing and support personnel by delegating appropriate tasks per the Illinois State Nurse Practice Act and provides support and feedback as needed.
• Ensures effective, closed-loop communication.
• Demonstrates a commitment to UI Health’s values through teamwork and effective communication to achieve quality outcomes, patient safety, customer satisfaction, and a clean, safe, and therapeutic environment.
• Integrates theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice, and clinical experience to provide quality patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting healthcare bodies.
• Completes required orientation program and unit-specific competencies.
• Advocates for patients, families, and their significant others, the community, and the nursing profession.
• Assists in the coordination and management of daily unit activities.
• Participates in organizational, departmental, and shared leadership activities; supports department and unit goals in daily behavior.
• Demonstrates accountability for job performance by seeking opportunities to enhance job skills and knowledge and maintaining conditions of employment (RN licensure, BLS, and other required unit-specific certifications).
• Receives and provides feedback to members of the healthcare team regarding performance/practice.
• Adheres to the UI Health Code of Conduct and upholds UI ICARE values.
• Treats patients/families, staff, students, and visitors with respect and dignity.
• Adheres to department’s time, overtime, and attendance policies.
• Complies with all organizational mandatory requirements such as Title IX training, annual learning modules, University Health Services TB, and fit-testing requirements within the established due date.
• Utilizes established communication channels/chain of command to escalate or resolve patient care problems.
• Identifies recurring clinical practice and/or related unit problems and participates in problem-solving and resolution.
• Collaborates with, supports, and participates in departmental and organizational education and initiatives.
• Plans, presents, and evaluates learning/educational experiences for staff and students.
• Initiates, conducts, and analyzes evidence-based practice research to improve patient care outcomes.
• Serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to other nursing staff and students.
• Accesses Medical Center intranet for relevant communication and to review and interpret changes in policy, procedure, and other information pertinent to practice.
• Conducts and supports multidisciplinary research efforts in the department and across UI Health.
• Takes responsibility for continued professional growth/development by identifying learning needs and initiating strategies to meet such needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
• Eligibility for registration with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation.
• Two years of nursing experience in the particular branch of service to which assigned, one year of which involved work comparable to a Clinical Nursing Consultant I.
• Ability to select appropriate teaching methods based upon the educational and experience backgrounds of employees.
• BSN (or higher) from an accredited nursing program.
• Current BLS/CPR and/or other required unit-specific certifications.
• Current advanced cardiac life support, or within 6 months of hire for main hospital.
• Nationally certified through ANCC-approved certifier, or within 6 months of hire in an area relevant to their clinical area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science in Nursing.
• Experience with surgery block schedules and perioperative or procedural care coordination.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
• Life Insurance.
• Retirement Plan.
• Paid Time Off.
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Pay

The previously determined range for this position is $41.68/hr to $95.02/hr. Final rate offered will be determined by the collective bargaining agreement, internal salary equity, candidate experience and qualifications, and budget constraints. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a rate at or near the top of the full range for a position.