The Nurse Clinician assists in evaluating care given by unit staff and in meeting staff learning needs. Evaluates nursing care delivery for patients. Identifies patients generally presented with complex nursing care requirements and provides education to staff, patient, and family members. The Nurse Clinician develops and participates in educational programs for patients' families and personnel. They consult with nursing and medical colleagues and other health personnel in the effective delivery of nursing services to patients.

Typical Duties

• Demonstrates the ability to achieve the goals of the nursing department through maintaining and enhancing education and clinical expertise.
• Educates nursing personnel on new nursing practices and revised documentation systems.
• Trains nursing / hospital staff on use of computerized bedside documentation systems and assists in implementation of systems. Assesses patient's physical, emotional, psycho-social status and diagnoses patient problems within NANDA taxonomy.
• Understands and utilizes PAIE charting appropriately and teaches RN's and LPN's the principles appropriate to a variety of clinical situations.
• Maintains the documentation and record keeping system in compliance with nursing, hospital and external agency requirements. Audits staffs use of electronic documentation and prepares appropriate reports reflecting findings.
• Works independently and cooperatively with hospital committees, develops and maintains guidelines for new electronic record keeping within developed documentation systems.
• Maintains computerized files on guidelines and revises/distributes guidelines as indicated.
• Performs tasks/assignments as needed in a flexible manner to accomplish system implementation, e.g., collating manuals, preparing educational packets for in-services.
• Serves as a resource for other nursing personnel in assessing patient and family status. Provides consultation and assistance to Interdisciplinary Team.
• Initiates patient care conferences. Coordinate and participate in monthly Inter-disciplinary Team Care Plans Assessment and Care Planning.
• Collaborates with health care team to assess patient progress. Directs and evaluates nursing intervention. Oversights care delivery by nursing as needed to provide quality care.
• Utilizes the resources of the hospital and other health care agencies.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate clearly and appropriately both verbally and in writing with the patient, their family, co-workers and other health care workers. Develop, updates and revises unit specific policies and procedures based on standards of clinical practice.
• Assists and implements the corrective action plans in conjunction with QA Team.
• Implements new updated/revised policies and procedures.
• Assists in establishment and evaluation of standards of nursing practice.
• Interprets and implements procedures, policies and nursing care objectives for patients, families, and staff.
• Participates on committees as assigned.
• Assists the Nurse Coordinator in the evaluation/preparation and maintenance of par stock of supplies and equipment/
• Ensures proper completion of the documentation i.e. Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Patient Care Plan.
• Participates in QA/IP activities of the unit. Prepares reports and corrective action as required.
• Participates in meeting the clinical learning needs of nursing staff, under supervision of the Nurse Coordinator.
• Assists with staff development by implementing planned patient conferences, teaching rounds, and team conference, and utilizes available continuing education resources to initiate new advanced nursing concepts and skills.
• Plans, develops, and implements orientations and, unit specific educational programs.
• Assumes responsibility for own continuing education, utilizing both formal and informal resources. Obtains and maintains Med / Surg nursing certification.
• Attends conferences, seminars and workshops to gather information that will enhance the delivery of patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for educating, mentoring and guiding Maternal Child staff.
• Serves as a nursing resource for research projects.
• Assists with the development and implementation of nursing and health related studies; may conduct studies after receiving appropriate approvals.
• Introduces concepts from health care research for application in the clinical setting.
• Reports patient care problems that need to be investigated.
• Collects data for research projects.
• Consults with immediate supervisor daily regarding plans for patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for care of patients requiring his/her expertise.
• Makes precise and processional judgments and decisions.
• Communicates clearly and relevantly as the situation requires. Also reports to indicated parties whenever necessary.
• Assesses patient's needs for nursing intervention through discriminating observations and the extracting of pertinent history upon admission.
• Prepares optimum nursing care plans individualized to the Patient's total needs and revise them as necessary during the course of the patient's hospital stay.
• Participates under the direction of the Nurse Coordinator in all aspects of "Team" and assumes Team Leader duties as required or as assigned.
• Participates in planning for and evaluating quality of nursing and supportive services.
• Conducts team conferences and participates on committees as assigned.
• Participates in patient and family teaching including the discussion and instruction of a discharge plan.
• Records all pertinent information and observations as required by policy or procedure -accurately, legibly, and relevantly.
• Indicates concern for the safety of patients and personnel by watchful guidance and precautionary measures.
• Evaluates needs for staff development; focuses on deficiencies; is available for incidental/spontaneous teaching situations in addition to planned staff development.
• Makes interdisciplinary referrals for coordination of patient discharges; i.e., Social Workers, Home Care Coordinator, CCH Escort Nurse, Discharge Planner, relatives, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Psychiatric Liaison Team and/or outside agencies.
• Performs other related activities as required or assigned.
• Assists with the development of Standards of Nursing Care, Audit Criteria, and patient instruction sheets within the area of his/her expertise.
• Takes corrective action regarding deficiencies identified by Nursing Audit/Quality Assurance Committee.
• Participates in clinical nursing research.
• Manages special assignments within the Division.
• Participates in patient care conferences.
• Participates in orientation of new employees.