Clinical Nurse Specialist

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

Job summary

Alberta Health Services (AHS) in Calgary's South Health Campus is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the Palliative Care Consult Service. You will provide advanced nursing practice, lead education, program planning and policy efforts in palliative care, and collaborate with interprofessional teams to deliver seamless, patient- and family-centered care.

The role requires a Master's degree in Nursing, CRNA registration or eligibility, and BCLS-HCP, with 3–5 years of palliative care

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing required.
• Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with CRNA.
• Current BCLS-HCP certification.
• 3-5 years minimum full-time equivalent of clinical palliative care experience.
• Experience as a palliative nurse consultant and leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced nursing practice in palliative care within Acute Care.
• Serve as nursing practice leader, consultant and educator.
• Lead program planning and policy evaluation related to palliative care.
• Collaborate with interprofessional teams to ensure safe, patient- and family-centered care.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Education

Interprofessional collaboration

Communication

Computer literacy

Critical thinking

Education

Master's degree in Nursing

MN preferred

CRNA registration / active license

Tools

BCLS-HCP

Job description

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
• Multi-Site: At (UNA only)
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 05-OCT-2026
• Employee Class: Regular Full Time
• Date Available: 23-NOV-2026
• 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

• 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.

Please note:

All postings close at 23:59 MT of the postingend date indicated.

Security Screening:

A satisfactory criminal record check and/or Vulnerable Sector Search is required prior to your first day of work. Additionally, all employees have an ongoing duty to disclose any charges or convictions that may occur during their employment with AHS.

Healthy Albertans. Healthy
Communities. Together.

We’re passionate about what we do. Our team of skilled and dedicated health care professionals, support staff, and physicians promote wellness and provide health care all across Alberta.

Everything we do at AHS reflects a patient and family centred approach; it’s about putting patients’ and families’ experiences, priorities and trust first.

We are an equal opportunity employer. AHS values the diversity of the people and communities we serve and is committed to attracting, engaging and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Create and manage profiles for future opportunities.

Calgary Zone, Calgary, South Health Campus

Calgary Zone, Calgary, South Health Campus

Calgary Zone, Calgary, South Health Campus