Clinical Nurse Specialist - Intensive Care Unit

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

Job summary

Alberta Health Services in Edmonton seeks a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to lead and influence advanced nursing practice in the ICU. You will collaborate with executives, managers and physicians to shape best clinical practice and implement quality improvement initiatives.

You will mentor the Clinical Nurse Educator team and frontline ICU staff, guiding education programs, clinical guidelines and protocols to ensure safe, patient-centered care across site and program initiatives.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in nursing required and active CRNA registration or eligibility
• Minimum 5 years recent adult ICU experience and strong leadership capabilities
• Excellent communication, collaboration, coaching and decision-making skills

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced nursing practice leadership and expert consultation in ICU care
• Mentor Clinical Nurse Educator team and frontline staff; promote best practice and quality improv
• Lead change initiatives, develop clinical guidelines and protocols, and translate evidence into practice
• Collaborate with executives, managers, physicians and nurses to align care with vision and values

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Change management

Coaching

Decision making

Teaching

Team leadership

MS Office

Education

Master's degree in Nursing

Baccalaureate degree in nursing

CRNA registration

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Your Opportunity:

The Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist position is both a clinical and leadership role with a focus on advanced nursing practice in the Critical Care area. This advanced practice nursing role will be a registered nurse who holds a master's degree and is an expert in the field of Critical Care. They will work closely with the Executive Director, Patient Care Manager, Nurse Practitioners, Unit Managers and Physicians, they will be responsible for assisting with establishing the vision for best clinical practice and will actively promote and implement quality improvement initiatives within the ICU. Through continuous promotion of best practice evidence, the advanced practice clinician will provide expert support and consultation to the critical care interdisciplinary health care team and facilitate any culture and systems changes required for translation of evidence into practice. In addition, they will be responsible for mentorship of the Clinical Nurse Educator team and the frontline nursing staff within the ICU to achieve quality and patient centered care through the development of both site and program initiatives, education programs, quality improvement initiatives, and the development of clinical guidelines and protocols.

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.

Classification:

Classification: Clinical Nurse Specialist Union: United Nurses of Alberta Unit and Program: Intensive Care Unit Primary Location: Royal Alexandra Hospital Location Details: As Per Location Multi-Site: At or Out of (UNA only) FTE: 1.00 Posting End Date: 14-SEP-2026 Employee Class: Regular Full Time Date Available: 28-SEP-2026 Hours per Shift: 7.75 Length of Shift in weeks: 4 Shifts per cycle: 19 Shift Pattern: Days Days Off: As Per Rotation 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:

Baccalaureate degree in nursing required. Master's degree, preferably Master of Nursing required. Minimum of 5 years recent clinical experience in an adult intensive care setting required. Proven leadership skills with the ability to develop and inspire effective teams including collaboration, cooperation, coordination and the ability to motivate others to achieve common goals required. Demonstration of the ability to successfully implement change. Exceptional communication (verbal and written), collaboration and negotiation skills required. Effective decision making, coaching, teaching, delegation, prioritization, and the ability to inspire and build confidence in a team. Strong knowledge of adult learning principles. Knowledge of the current health care organizations and current trends. Knowledge of a wide range of research design methodologies, quality improvement, program evaluation approaches, and outcomes measurements. Project management and change management experience and knowledge. Highly-developed organizational skills and problem-solving ability. Competence in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Preferred Qualifications:

National certification in Critical Care. Strong connections within the Critical Care Community and other Nursing Communities in Alberta and in other jurisdictions. Competence in other clinical software packages and assets.