Clinical Nurse Specialist

Alberta Health Services; Calgary; On-site; CAD 71,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Alberta Health Services seeks an experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the Palliative Care Consult Service in Calgary. The CNS provides advanced nursing practice, leadership, consultation, education and research contributions, aiding complex palliative care across acute care teams and patients.

Responsibilities include clinical practice, program planning and policy evaluation to build a seamless continuum of care.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing; active or eligible for CRNA registration.
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP).
• 3–5 years minimum full-time palliative care experience in Acute Care, Community or Hospice.
• Experience as a palliative nurse consultant.
• 5–7 years acute care clinical experience.
• Ability to work independently and in inter-professional teams.
• Demonstrated educator, innovator and change agent skills.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills.
• Computer literacy; ability to manage competing priorities and difficult conversations.
• Ability to walk approximately 3–5 km/day within the acute care site.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced clinical practice and consultation in palliative care.
• Lead education, program planning and policy development initiatives.
• Advance seamless continuum of care across sites and sectors.
• Collaborate with palliative care physicians and attending teams.
• Contribute to quality improvement and research initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Educator

Interprofessional collaboration

Communication

Computer literacy

Time management

Independence

Education

Master's degree in Nursing

MN with palliative focus (preferred)

Job description

Your Opportunity

The Palliative Care Consult Service, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - Acute Care provides an advanced level of nursing practice that maximizes the application of in-depth nursing theory, knowledge and skills in meeting the complex palliative health care needs of individuals, families and communities in Acute Care. The CNS functions as an advanced practice palliative care nurse consultant, nursing practice leader, expert practitioner, educator, and contributes to quality improvement and research initiatives. The CNS is responsible for the advancement of palliative care activities at SHC and works collaboratively with colleagues across other sites of service. Responsibilities include Clinical Practice and Consultation, Education, Program Planning, Change Leadership and involvement with policy evaluation and development related to advanced nursing care and health systems involving Palliative Care. Clinically, the CNS will provide consultation and support to patients, families and attending teams regarding the management of adult patients with complex palliative symptoms and/or issues related to their life limiting illness. Areas of focus include palliative pain and symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual concerns, education regarding disease progression and the end of life, prognosis and goals of care, accessing community resources and transitioning to hospice. The CNS works collaboratively with their Palliative Care physician colleagues and with all members of the patients’ attending team to provide high quality palliative consultation. The CNS also provides leadership and consultative direction to initiatives focused on building a ‘seamless’ continuum of care, improving access, and enhancing palliative and end of life care of patients across all sites and sectors.

Description

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), you will provide an advanced level of nursing practice that maximizes the application of in-depth nursing theory, knowledge and skills in meeting the complex health care needs of individuals, families and communities. You will function as a nursing practice leader, consultant, expert practitioner, educator and researcher within a clinical specialty area. You will balance various roles depending upon the needs of the patient population and the healthcare team, collaborating on the provision of holistic and comprehensive care. You will play a key role in providing safe, quality patient and family centered care while reflecting the shared vision and values of AHS.

Transition Company: Assisted Living Alberta Classification: Clinical Nurse Specialist Union: United Nurses of Alberta Unit and Program: Palliative Care Consult Service Primary Location: South Health Campus Location Details: As Per Location Multi-Site: At (UNA only) FTE: 1.00 Posting End Date: 05-OCT-2026 Employee Class: Regular Full Time Date Available: 23-NOV-2026 Hours per Shift: 7.75 Length of Shift in weeks: 2 Shifts per cycle: 10 Shift Pattern: Days Days Off: Saturday/Sunday Minimum Salary: $51.19 Maximum Salary: $70.05 Vehicle Requirement: Not Applicable

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing. Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA).
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP).

Additional Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree (MN) required.
• Master’s Degree (MN with palliative focus) preferred.
• 3-5 years minimum full-time equivalency of clinical experience relevant to palliative care within Acute Care, Community, and Hospice environments required.
• Experience in a palliative nurse consultant role required.
• 5-7 years of acute care clinical experience required.
• The ability to work well independently and as part of an interprofessional team is required.
• Demonstrated skills as an educator, innovator, and change agent required.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication required.
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of an inter-professional team.
• Computer literacy skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, multiple interruptions, and difficult conversations required - which may include emotionally stressed situations involving patients, family members and attending teams.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Must be able to walk approximately 3-5 km/day within the acute care site.

Preferred Qualifications

• CNA - Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Nursing certification CHPCN(C)
• Completion of the Pallium LEAP Core
• Completion of ACP/GCD training
• Completion of Serious Illness Conversation Workshop
• Completion of How to Care, What to Say Workshop.