Clinical Nurse Specialist- Critical Care

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care.  Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as: 

• New Hire Bonus: $6,000.00
• New Hire Premium: +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Shift Differential Pay: P.M. shift (7:00 PM - 7:30 AM) = 10% of base pay.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package: includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position: Clinical Nurse Specialist - Critical Care

Compensation

The estimated pay for this position is $50.0044 to $61.4992. The rates shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

Definition:

Under direction, assists hospital nursing directors in the use of the nursing process in professional practice, education, consultation and research; performs clinical nursing services for selected groups of patients; provides professional advice and consultation to generalist nursing staff within area of specialized expertise; and performs related work as required.- Specialty- Critical Care

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Clinical Nurse Specialist is an advanced level practitioner.  Incumbents possess expertise within a nursing practice specialty, which is typically acquired through graduate academic study.  This class is distinguished from the Hospital Staff Nurse series in that incumbents of the latter classification function primarily as generalist staff nurses in an assigned hospital unit or in a clinic setting and do not function in the role of nurse educator, consultant, or advanced level specialist.

 

Essential Functions:

• Utilizes advanced knowledge and clinical skills to provide direct care to select patients and families which may include carrying a patient care assignment;
• Assists and guides nursing staff to identify priorities and realistic outcomes for nursing interventions;
• Assesses nursing staff's clinical performance and gives input to Nursing Directors   as appropriate;
• Conducts rounds with nursing and medical staff to assess patient progress and appropriateness of therapy;
• Communicates and interprets nursing assessments of patients to the medical staff and other members of the health care team.
• Identifies/implements practices and procedures that decrease risk of liability; participates in and/or leads unit staff meetings;
• Collaborates with Nursing Directors in assessing educational and developmental needs of staff to improve nursing practice;
• Identifies recurring clinical problems of nursing staff;
• Assists Staff Development in developing and implementing formal and informal education programs, including orientation, to meet identified needs of staff;
• Evaluates effect of educational programs on nursing staff performance;
• Coordinates with other members of the health care team to provide learning experiences for the nursing staff;
• Participates in patient/family education both by direct patient care and theories necessary for the advancement of patient care;
• Provides for the dissemination and application of current information and theories necessary for the advancement of patient care;
• Educates the nursing and medical staff in hospital policies and procedures related to the assigned specialty;
• Functions as clinical preceptor for undergraduate and graduate students from affiliated schools of nursing;
• Assists in resolving clinical practice issues and/or patient problems;
• Intervenes in critical nursing/patient care issues;
• Evaluates patient care administered by staff in concert with Nursing Director.;
• May contribute to written evaluations by recommending staff for promotions, reclassification, corrective and/or disciplinary action(s) based on clinical work performance;
• Participates in goal setting at the unit, divisional and departmental levels;
• Establishes and promotes collegial relationships with members of the health care team to improve the delivery of patient care;
• May assume duties in the absence of the Nursing Director;
• Consults with nursing, medical and hospital staff regarding complex clinical problems, making referrals where problem requires knowledge beyond area of expertise;
• Acts as a direct resource to new nursing staff/orientees and affiliate nursing faculty and students;
• Participates in the evaluation, development, and implementation of nursing policies, procedures and standards of practice and nursing care;
• Collaborates with other members of the health care team in developing and implementing a comprehensive plan of patient care for selected patients;
• Identifies and implements cost savings or revenue generation through internal and external consultation;
• Participates in the institutional quality assurance program;
• Acts as a resource to other health care team members and the community;
• Participates on hospital committees, as assigned, according to area of expertise;
• Communicates and/or interprets recent innovations and research findings to the staff and translates relevant scientific knowledge into nursing practice;
• Identifies with staff relevant, researchable, clinical nursing problems;
• Conducts and participates, when appropriate, in studies by nursing and other investigators;
• Evaluates the impact of various programs and interventions upon patient care and nursing practice;
• Introduces nursing practice innovations;
• Refines nursing techniques and procedures;
• Conceptualizes new formats of nursing practice; and modifies as necessary, particular nursing practices; dependent upon area of practice or department assignments, demonstrates clinical knowledge and skill in the care of the newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient ranging up to 100+ years of age.

 

Other Functions:

• Performs other job-related duties as required.                                             

Employment Standards

Possession of a Master's Degree in nursing, with emphasis in a specific specialty from an accredited college or university, and three (3) years of fulltime experience or its equivalent as a registered nurse in the clinical specialty in an acute-care hospital. This is a position for Critical Care. A CNS License is required and AACN Certification is highly desired.

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.

Possession and maintenance of a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card.

Knowledge of:

The principles and practices of modern nursing; knowledge of medical terminology, hospital routine and equipment; demonstrated nursing assessment and teaching skills; ability to help design and implement new or revised nursing techniques to meet the needs of patients; ability to work as a part of a multi disciplinary team linking medical, nursing and non-nursing components of care; ability to advise and motivate other team members; ability to provide clinical direction to others regarding nursing practice issues; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to work well with other nursing, medical and treatment personnel; ability to work independently with limited supervision.

Supplemental:

A background check may be required for this classification.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers”. In the event of a disaster or civil disorder, all Kern Medical employees are to remain at work or to report to work in a safe and practicable manner. 

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

Education

Required

• Masters or better in Nursing

Licenses & Certifications

Required

• Registered Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Specialist