Entry Level Clinical Specialist Jobs

Employment Type: Full time
Shift: Day Shift

Job Title: Clinical Specialist
Department: Clinical and Professional Development/Colleague Education
Shift: 1st shift
Hours: 7:30am-4:30pm (hours may vary)
Status: .8/FT (32 hours a week)

POSITION PURPOSE:

Under general supervision of the Department Director and works collaboratively with the Director of Clinical and Professional Development, (in collaboration with nursing leadership) the Clinical Specialist functions in the acute care setting in the three spheres of influence (patient care, nurse/practice, organizational/system). The role works collaboratively with other MercyOne team members to assure that care is evidence based and standardized across like populations as appropriate. The Clinical Specialist is a member of the MercyOne Medical Center Dubuque and Dyersville education team and is accountable for advancing and maintaining nurse competence, enhancing professional nursing practice, and supporting achievement of career goals, and building on the educational and experiential bases of nurses across the novice to expert continuum for the ultimate objective of ensuring delivery of efficient, effective, safe, quality, and compassionate patient care. He/she cultivates an environment that promotes an appetite for lifelong learning by supporting the development of effective, quality, innovative, creative, and engaging continuing education activities, implementing evidence-based practice innovations, and continually evaluate further learning needs and/or practice changes. He/she supports a shared leadership philosophy and advances the professional practice model for patient care services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Adheres to the principles of caring and expected behaviors outlined in MercyOne Medical Center's Model of Caring and Trinity Health's Code of Conduct, fostering a climate where all customers are treated in a manner consistent with MercyOne Medical Center's Mission and Values.
• Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations, Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program, Standards of Conduct, as well as other policies and procedures to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical and professional behavior.
• Performs other duties consistent with purpose of job as directed.

POSITION EXPECTATIONS:

• Practice within the legal scope of a licensed registered nurse as outlined in the Iowa Code, Chapter 152 (specifically the rules and regulations embedded in the Iowa Administrative Code, Chapters 6 & 7) and retain accountability for one’s own nursing practice.
• Contribute to the positive image of nursing and enhance the magnet culture of the organization by modeling professional behavior both in the organization and in the community.
• Assure that individual rights honored, and that care is delivered according to those rights and to individual wishes.
• Demonstrate ethical conduct and practice consistent with the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.
• Assure appropriate orientation, education, credentialing, and continuing professional development of personnel in accordance with the MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Orientation and On-Going Competency Plan.
• Ensure accountability for professional practice in defined clinical service areas.
• Uphold the customer service standards in defined clinical service areas, assuring that patients and families and all customers are treated in a manner consistent with Mercy Mission and Values.
• Assure nurse participation in shared governance in defined area of service.
• Personally, adheres to and holds staff accountable for behaviors that are consistent with Mercy Citizenship Standards.
• Meet core competency requirements as specified below.

Core Competencies of Clinical Specialist:

Direct Care:

- Provides clinical expertise at the point of care manifesting a high level of expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the complex responses of individuals, families, or populations
- Provides staff with current best-practice/research including the latest evidence supporting cost-effective, safe nursing practices
- Identifies potential risks to patient safety, autonomy and quality of care based on assessments across the patient, nurse and system spheres of influence
- Develops evidence-based clinical interventions and systems to achieve defined patient and system outcomes

Consultation:

- Initiates and/or provides consultation to staff nurses, medical staff and interdisciplinary colleagues
- Analyzes and communicates consultation findings to appropriate parties consistent with professional and institutional standards

Systems Leadership:

- Facilitates the provision of clinically competent care by staff/team through education, role modeling, teambuilding, and quality monitoring
- Performs system level assessments to identify variables that influence nursing practice and outcomes, including population variables, environment, regulatory requirements, internal and external political influences, and recurring practices that enhance or compromise patient or system outcomes
- Uses effective strategies for changing clinician and team behavior to encourage adoption of evidence-based practices and innovations in care delivery
- Provides leadership in maintaining a supportive and healthy work environment
- Develops age-specific clinical standards, policies and procedures
- Uses leadership, team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to build partnerships within and across systems, including communities
- Considers fiscal and budgetary implications in decision making regarding practice and system modifications
- Leads system change to improve health outcomes through evidence based practice
- Disseminates outcomes of system-level change internally and externally

Collaboration:

- Assesses the quality and effectiveness of interdisciplinary, intraagency, and inter-agency communication and collaboration
- Establishes collaborative relationships within and across departments and within the community to promote patient safety, culturally competent care, and clinical excellence
- Practices collegially with medical staff and other members of the healthcare team so that all providers’ unique contributions to health outcomes will be enhanced.
- Facilitates intra-agency and inter-agency communication

Coaching:

- Coaches patients and families to help them navigate the healthcare system
- Designs health information and patient education appropriate to the patient’s developmental level, health literacy level, learning needs, readiness to learn, and cultural values and beliefs
- Participates in pre-professional, graduate and continuing education of nurses and other health care providers
- Mentors staff nurses, graduate students and others to acquire new knowledge and skills and develop their careers
- Mentors health professionals in applying the principles of evidence based care

Research:

- Designs programs for effective implementation of research findings and other evidence in clinical practice
- Cultivates a climate of clinical inquiry across spheres of influence
- Fosters an interdisciplinary approach to quality improvement, evidence-based practice, research, and translation of research into practice
- Provides leadership in the design, implementation and evaluation of process improvement initiatives.
- Provides leadership in the system-wide implementation of quality improvements and innovations.

Ethical Decision Making, Moral Agency, and Advocacy:

- Engages in a formal self-evaluation process, seeking feedback regarding own practice, from patients, peers, professional colleagues and others
- Fosters professional accountability in self or others.
- Facilitates resolution of ethical conflicts through use of organizational ethics resources
- Promotes a practice climate conducive to providing ethical care

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center supports a shared leadership philosophy and encourages nursing staff to demonstrate accountability for their own practice. Therefore, the nursing organization reflects a flat structure. The Clinical Specialist reports to the Director of Clinical and Professional Development, who reports to the Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

In an 8-hour day, the employee must sit for 3 hours, stand for 3 hours, and walk for 2 hours.

1. Employee’s job requires frequent bending/stooping (6-10% of work time).
2. Job requires the use of hands for actions such as simple grasping.
3. Job requires occasional carrying or lifting (21-50% of work time) of objects weighing up to 35 lbs.
4. Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste and chemicals.
5. Must be able to see at a near visual acuity level.
6. Must be able to speak.
7. Must be able to hear speech.
8. Must adhere to applicable organizational requirements on an annual basis for Employee Health Directives.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

1. The Clinical Specialist must hold an active license to practice nursing in the state of Iowa and maintain continuing education units per state licensure requirements. An MSN is required.
2. Experience and leadership in clinical and professional practice development is preferred. Certification by a nationally recognized nursing organization in an appropriate specialty area recommended, as is membership in an appropriate professional nursing organization.
3. Child and Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter Training is required within 6 months of hire.
4. Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) will be required within 30 days of hire and every 2 years thereafter.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.