Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)-Medical Surgical/Critical Care

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

 

About Duke University Hospital

 

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

 

The DUH MSCC Clinical Nurse Specialist collaborates with members of the healthcare team to enhance patient care in the medical-surgical setting by serving as an expert resource and consultant to nursing staff and providing evidence-based clinical expertise to patients.  They are a clinician, educator, consultant, role model and leader. They make clinical judgments based upon a synthesis of current research, concepts, principles, theories, and outcomes to solve complex problems. The MSCC CNS is a role model for nursing staff.  They function as an integral part of a larger interdisciplinary clinical and operational leadership team contributing to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, and in providing leadership to the nursing staff and to the organization.

 

Specific Job Responsibilities and Standards

 

1. Coaching

1. • Support education of nurses and other health care providers to include but not limited to pre-professional, graduate and continuing education opportunities.
   • Mentor health professionals in applying the principles of evidence-based care.
   • Uses coaching and advanced communication skills to facilitate the development of effective clinical teams.

 

1. Collaboration

• Builds effective interdisciplinary relationships to support coordinated, high-quality care.
• Serves as a clinical resource and consultant to nurses, physicians, and other team members.
• Facilitates communication and collaboration within and across units and services.
• Partners with leaders to develop innovative and cost-effective care models and programs.

 

1. Evidence based practice, Quality Improvement and Research

• Promotes a culture of clinical inquiry, continuous learning, and evidence-based care.
• Evaluates and translates research and best practices into clinical application across the system.
• Identifies barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based practices and designs strategies to improve adoption.
• Leads and participates in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety, effectiveness, and outcomes.
• Uses data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and evaluate impact.
• Supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of practice, guidelines, policies, and protocols.
• Provides leadership in the system-wide implementation of quality improvement and innovation.
• Mentors staff in applying evidence-based practice principles and engaging in research or quality improvement projects.

 

1. Systems Leadership

• Leads initiatives that promote excellence in clinical practice and professional nursing standards.
• Identifies system-level barriers and develops solutions to improve care delivery and outcomes.
• Advances nursing practice through leadership, ethical decision-making, and continuous professional growth.
• Contributes to a supportive and healthy work environment that fosters staff engagement and retention.
• Supports the development of standards, policies, and care protocols to ensure high-quality, safe, and patient-centered care.

 

 

1. Direct Care

• Conducts comprehensive patient assessments and applies advanced clinical judgment to plan and evaluate care.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates evidence-based interventions to improve patient outcomes.
• Prescribes nursing therapeutics, interventions, diagnostic measures, equipment, procedures, and treatments to meet the needs of patients, families and groups, in accordance with professional preparation, institutional policy, state and federal laws and practice acts
• Coordinates transitions of care using system and community resources to optimize outcomes.
• Provides education and counseling to patients and f