Clinical Practice Specialist Medical Unit

Here, it's different. Come join us.

Children's Hospital Colorado has defined and delivered pediatric healthcare excellence for more than 100 years.

Here, the nation's brightest nurses, physicians, scientists, researchers, therapists, and care providers are creating the future of child health. With an optimist's outlook, a trailblazing spirit, and a celebrated history, we're making new strides every day.

We've been Magnet-designated four times by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and are consistently recognized among the nation's top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

As a national leader in pediatric care, we serve children and families from all over the nation. Our System of Care includes four pediatric hospitals, 11 specialty care centers, 1,300+ outreach clinics and more than 10,000 healthcare professionals representing the full spectrum of pediatric care specialties.

Here, we know it takes all of us, every role, to deliver the best possible care to each child and family we treat.

That's why we build our teams toward a foundation of equity in access, advancement, and opportunity. We know teams of individuals with different identities and backgrounds can nurture creativity and innovation. We know we can see, treat, and heal children better when our team reflects the diversity of our patient population. We strive to attract and retain diverse talent because we know a truly inclusive and equitable workforce will help us one day realize our most basic calling: to heal every child who comes through our doors.

A career at Children's Colorado will challenge you, inspire you, and motivate you to make a difference in the life of a child. Here, it's different.

The Clinical Practice Specialist is a leader in advancing practice and excellence, both within the nursing or behavioral health profession and within the context of collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, to improve patient outcomes and systems of care. The position improves practice and patient outcomes across the care continuum through implementation of evidence-based care, consultation, research, education and establishing organizational standards.

Department Name: General Medicine Unit
Job Status: Full Time, 40hrs per week
Shift: Monday-Friday, typically during dayshift but with regular nightshift presence to support the nightshift team. May require occasional weekend, holiday, and/or clinical shifts, as the team needs warrant.

Education: Master of Science in Nursing if area of specialty is Nursing.

Experience: 5 years clinical and pediatric experience.

Certification(s):

• Advanced Life Support (ACLS, PALS) AND/OR other Certification(s) for specific roles may be required within 6 months of hire
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association
• ANCC or Magnet approved clinical specialty or quality/safety focus certification required.
• Membership in a professional nursing, behavioral health or health care organization.

Licensure(s): Current Registered Nurse (RN) if area of specialty is Nursing.

POPULATION SPECIFIC CARE

• Neonate - <30 days
• Infancy - >30 days to 1yr
• Toddlers - >1yr to 3yrs
• Pre-Schoolers - >3yrs to 5yrs
• School age - >5yrs to 13yrs
• Adolescent - >13yrs to 18yrs
• Adult - >18yrs to 65yrs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the following essential functions. These examples do not include all of the functions which the employee may be expected to perform.

Evidence Based Practice and Research

• Designs and implements evidence-based, cost-sensitive interventions, including advancing nursing therapies and the provision of direct care, while advocating for the empowerment of patients and families as members of the healthcare team.
• Uses and promotes evidence-based knowledge as a foundation in policies and procedures for nursing practice to achieve optimal patient outcomes
• Provides leadership and mentorship for the interprofessional team in identifying, developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practices and research opportunities
• Participates in or conducts research across the patient, nurse and system spheres of influence
• Designs health education strategies and resources appropriate to the patient, caregiver and/or family's developmental level, health literacy level, learning needs, readiness to learn, and personal preferences in collaboration with Clinical Education Specialist, as applicable.
• Provides expert consultation, education, and coaching for patients/populations with complex health care needs using a broad range of theories and evidence
• Delivers direct patient care consistent with education, license, documented competencies, and/or medical staff privileges when needed.
• Evaluates impact of interventions on patient/population outcomes using a scientific approach
• Partners with research-focused, doctoral-prepared (i.e., PhD) colleagues to translate, conduct, and disseminate research that addresses gaps and improves clinical knowledge and practice.
• Disseminates work through publications and presentations.

Quality Improvement

• Assesses the nursing practice environment for improvement opportunities
  • Integrates patient safety principles into current and future practice
  • Collaborates with staff to identify adverse events and near-miss occurrences
  • Oversees, participates and / or collaborates in initiatives related to creating a non-punitive environment/blame resistant culture for medical error reporting
  • Identifies and resolves patient safety issues identified through variance reporting or other methods
  • Supports a recognition program aimed at improving the culture of patient safety
• Leads and mentors nurses in the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating change considering intended and unintended consequences
• Evaluates the outcomes of nursing practice using methods that provide valid data
• Leads and participates in systematic quality and safety initiatives based on precise problem/etiology identification, gap analysis, and process evaluation. Demonstrates stewardship of human and fiscal resources in decision-making.

Systems Leadership

• Uses leadership, team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to collaborate and build partnerships within and across systems, including communities
  • Functions as a cultural change agent to support organizational priorities
  • Facilitate process and system improvements that support the reduction of actual or near miss events by communicating safety related information through appropriate forums
• Consults with healthcare team members to develop population specific programs which integrate the needs, preferences, and strengths of the patient and family into the healthcare plan to optimize health outcomes
• Advocates nursing's unique contributions toward advancing health to stakeholders (the organization, the community and the public at large)
• Contributes to and advances the knowledge base of the healthcare community though presentations, publications and leadership in professional organizations
• Facilitates and collaborates in opportunities for clinical nurses, students, and others to acquire new knowledge and skills. Foster professional development while engaging nurses in reflective practice and solicitation of peer feedback
• Participates in product evaluation process for both existing and proposed equipment and supplies within specialty.
• Analyzes legislative, regulatory, and fiscal policies as they impact nursing practice and patient population outcomes.
• Advocates for equitable healthcare by participating in professional organizations and public policy activities.
• Provides expert specialty consultation to nurses related to complex patient care needs
• Advocates for nurses' right to practice to the full extent of their role in the delivery of health care
• Facilitates critical reasoning skills in staff through role modeling, teaching, coaching and/or mentoring related to population specific or nursing practice questions.

COMPETENCIES

• ADAPTABILITY - Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment (e.g., people, processes, structure, or culture); adjusting effectively to change by exploring the benefits, trying new approaches, and collaborating with others to make the change successful.
• APPLIED LEARNING - Assimilating and applying new job-related information in a timely manner.
• BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS - Developing and leveraging relationships within and across work groups to achieve results.
• COLLABORATING - Working cooperatively with others to help a team or work group achieve its goals.
• COMMUNICATION - Conveying information and ideas clearly and concisely to individuals or groups in an engaging manner that helps them understand and retain the message; listening actively to others.
• CUSTOMER ORIENTATION - Placing a high priority on the internal or external customer's perspective when making decisions and taking action; implementing service practices that meet the customers' and own organization's needs.
• DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY - Is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences in the workforce; recognizes the value of diverse perspectives and experiences and fosters a work environment reflective of the community at large.
• DECISION MAKING - Identifying and understanding problems and opportunities by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information; choosing the best course of action by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizes probable consequences.
• EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE - Establishing and sustaining trusting relationships by accurately perceiving and interpreting own and others' emotions and behavior; leveraging insights to effectively manage own responses so that one's behavior matches one's values and delivers intended results.
• MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS - Meeting the personal needs of individuals to build trust, encourage two-way communication, and strengthen relationships.
• MANAGING WORK - Effectively managing one's time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• PLANNING & ORGANIZING - Establishing an action plan for self and others to complete work efficiently and on time by setting priorities, establishing timelines, and leveraging resources.
• RESOLVING CONFLICTS - Helping others deal effectively with an antagonistic situation to minimize damage to the relationships and promote shared goals; using appropriate interpersonal methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people and facilitate agreement.
• STRESS TOLERANCE - Maintaining stable performance under pressure or opposition (e.g., experiencing time pressure, conflict, or job ambiguity); handling stress in a manner that is acceptable to others and to the organization.
• Must possess a strong proficiency utilizing computers and computer programs and software.

SCOPE AND LEVEL

Guidelines: Advanced full performance professional level work that requires additional knowledge, education, training or experience. Guidelines are generally in the form of stated objectives only with issues and factors largely undefined requiring the employee to exercise creativity and ingenuity in devising criteria, techniques, strategy, and methodologies for approaching assigned functions or projects.

Complexity: Duties performed involve concepts, theories, and concrete factors to be evaluated and weighed requiring a high degree of analytical ability, independent judgment, and decision-making. Acts as a subject matter expert in the field of expertise.

Decision Making: Exercises judgment and discretion, and is responsible for determining the time, place and sequence of the work performed.

Communications: Contacts with team members, clients or the public where some degree of discretion and judgment are required in carrying out a major program and/or function of the organization.

Supervision Received: Performs work with minimal supervisory oversight. Work assignment is generally unstructured and employee is responsible for organizing complex, varied, and simultaneous coordination of several functions, programs, or projects in various stages of completion.

Ability to Perform Essential Functions of the Job

• Audio-Visual: Far Vision: Good
• Audio-Visual: Hearing: Good
• General Activity: Stand/Walk: 4-6 hrs. per day
• Motion: Bend: 1/3 or more of time
• Motion: Carry: Up to 1/3 of time
• Motion: Lift: Light lifting regularly, moderate lifting occasionally.
• Motion: Pull: Up to 1/3 of time
• Motion: Push: Up to 1/3 of time
• Motion: Reach: Up to 1/3 of time
• Motion: Squat/Crouch: Up to 1/3 of time
• Others: Able to assist or assume direct patient care as census directly permits.
• Others: Occupational Hazards - exposure to unsteady or falling patient: In the course of transferring a patient, may encounter a patient who falls or loses balance, causing employee to fall and/or bear the full weight of a patient
• Weight Lifted/Force Exerted: More than 100 pounds: Up to 1/3 of time
• Weight Lifted/Force Exerted: Up to 25 pounds: 1/3 or more of time
• Weight Lifted/Force Exerted: Up to 50 pounds: Up to 1/3 of time

Work Environment

• Exposure: Exposure to blood/body fluid: Regular/Frequent.
• Exposure: Exposure to heights: Occasional.
• Exposure: Exposure to infectious diseases: Frequent.
• Exposure: Exposure to lung irritations: Occasional.
• Exposure: Exposure to skin irritations: Frequent.
• Mental and Emotional Requirements: Manages stress appropriately.
• Mental and Emotional Requirements: Works with others effectively.

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information.

The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Here, you matter. As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, company provided life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, 403b employer match (retirement savings), a robust wellness program, and access to professional development tools, including an education benefit to help you advance your career.

As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.