Clinical Nurse Specialist - Emergency Department

UK St. Claire; Morehead (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UK St Claire in Morehead, Kentucky is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to provide staff development expertise as an educator and leader in inpatient care. The CNS will promote high-quality outcomes and evidence-based nursing practice while coordinating educational programs and professional development for bedside nurses.

The CNS will work with the Nursing Director and Nursing Education leadership to advance competency, quality improvement, and clinical standards, fostering empowerment

Qualifications

• 3 years of bedside nursing experience required.
• At least 1 year as a clinical educator, or nursing instructor preferred.
• Current Kentucky RN License or valid multistate RN license recognized by Kentucky required.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification preferred.
• BLS, ACLS, PALS, etc. required based on assigned clinical area or patient population.

Responsibilities

• Conducts needs assessments and analyzes clinical, quality, and performance data to identify educational, competency, and practice gaps.
• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates evidence-based educational programs using adult learning principles and strategies appropriate to the learner and clinical environment.
• Coordinates nursing orientation, onboarding, continuing education, competency validation, remediation, certification, nurse residency, and other professional development activities.
• Develops and maintains educational materials and resources that support patient population-specific care, leadership development, clinical competency, and safe nursing practice.
• Provides education, consultation, mentoring, and individualized learning support to nurses throughout all stages of professional development.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Staff development

Adult education

Quality improvement

Evidence-based practice

Collaboration

Education

MSN/APRN/CNL

Job description

At UK St. Claire, our staff is our greatest asset in the mission to create a healthier and more prosperous population. We strive to foster the talent and potential of our employees and prioritize safe working conditions and equal compensation rates to ensure that continual growth is possible. UKSC is a nurturing workplace for all healthcare professionals. We invite you to explore our current job openings and see if our opportunities could be the right fit for you.

Job Description

Job Summary

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides staff development expertise as an educator, quality improvement consultant, facilitator, change agent, leader, and researcher in inpatient care settings. The CNS promotes high-quality outcomes and innovative practice in accordance with the Kentucky Nursing Practice Act and hospital policies.

The CNS will support the development of the bedside nurse, and foster empowerment through the knowledge to achieve excellence through the delivery of evidenced based nursing practice. This will occur through the facilitation of the educational process through assessment, development, planning, implementation and evaluation of competency assessment, continuing education, and leadership development. Accountable for the quality of nursing services delivered by self (or others who are under her/his direction). This is done through participation in quality assurance or performance improvement initiatives.

In managing patient care, the Clinical Nurse Specialist will take a leadership role in coordinating the interdisciplinary team working in collaboration with other health team members to enhance patient outcomes. In addition, as a role model of professional behavior, Clinical Nurse Specialist is instrumental in creating a professional nursing climate within UK St Claire. The CNS reports to the Nursing Director of the Service line with a dotted line to the Director of Nursing Education.

Essential Functions

• Conducts needs assessments and analyzes clinical, quality, and performance data to identify educational, competency, and practice gaps.
• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates evidence-based educational programs using adult learning principles and strategies appropriate to the learner and clinical environment.
• Coordinates nursing orientation, onboarding, continuing education, competency validation, remediation, certification, nurse residency, and other professional development activities.
• Develops and maintains educational materials and resources that support patient population-specific care, leadership development, clinical competency, and safe nursing practice.
• Provides education, consultation, mentoring, and individualized learning support to nurses throughout all stages of professional development.
• Leads and supports quality improvement and patient safety initiatives through data analysis, clinical audits, gap assessments, root-cause evaluation, and monitoring of practice standards.
• Collaborates with nursing leadership, physicians, infection prevention, quality improvement, and other healthcare professionals to address educational, clinical, regulatory, and patient‑care needs.
• Promotes evidence-based nursing practice by translating research and best evidence into clinical practice, educational programming, policies, procedures, protocols, and practice guidelines.
• Supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical standards, policies, procedures, and practice changes to improve quality, safety, and patient outcomes.
• Serves as a nursing professional development and clinical practice resource to staff, leaders, committees, task forces, councils, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Supports shared governance, professional practice, frontline staff engagement, leadership development, and unit‑based quality improvement activities.
• Coordinates and supports educational and regulatory requirements, including continuing education, clinical affiliations, life‑support training, and applicable accreditation and regulatory standards.
• Participates in and/or leads committees, work groups, departmental initiatives, research activities, and projects related to nursing education, professional practice, quality, and patient safety.
• Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge, effective interdisciplinary communication, ethical practice, lifelong learning, and professional role modeling to promote excellence in nursing practice.
• Maintains required educational and clinical competencies, promotes a safe and healthy work environment, supports departmental operations and leadership as needed, and performs related duties as assigned.

Education Requirement

Clinical Nurse Specialist CNS), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), APRN, or Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), required

Experience Requirement

3 years of bedside nursing experience required

At least 1 year as a clinical educator, or nursing instructor preferred

Certifications & Licensures

Current Kentucky RN License or valid multistate RN license recognized by Kentucky required.

Clinical Nure Specialist (CNS) certification preferred

BLS, ACLS, PALS, etc. required based on assigned clinical area or patient population

Working Conditions

A. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to 50lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

B. Lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects over 50lbs: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)

C. Standing or walking with objects up to 10lbs: 4. Regular (> 50% of the time)

D. Standing or walking with objects up to 25lbs: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

E. Sitting at computer workstation for extended periods: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

F. Risk of back injury from moving, lifting or positioning patients, equipment, or materials: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

G. Repetitive motion: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

H. Working at heights above 4 feet: 1. Never

I. Working in confined spaces: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)

J. Risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job: 3. Intermittent (< 10% of the time)

K. Job-related travel: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)

L. Loud noises: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)

M. Temperature extremes: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)

N. Hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste: 2. Occasional (< 10% of the time)

O. Radiation: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

P. Burns: 2. Occasional (10% of the time)

Q. Cuts/Punctures: 3. Intermittent (10% - 50% of the time)

R. Bloodborne/airborne pathogens: 2. Occasional (10% of the time)

S. Recombinant DNA or viral vectors: 1. Never

T. Combative/violent people: 2. Occasional (10% of the time)

U. Animal handling (including carcasses): 1. Never

V. Please specify other(s) and amount of exposure (i.e. Occasional, Intermittent or Regular): N/A

Physical Demands

This position requires regular standing or walking with objects weighing up to 10 pounds; intermittent lifting, pushing, and/or pulling of objects weighing up to 50 pounds; intermittent standing or walking with objects weighing up to 25 pounds; intermittent sitting at a computer workstation for extended periods of time; and performing tasks with repetitive motions. Also involves intermittent risk of back injury from moving, lifting, or positioning patients, equipment, or materials; intermittent risk of injuries from use of equipment on the job; intermittent exposure to cuts or punctures; intermittent exposure to radiation; and occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals and fumes including waste, bloodborne or airborne pathogens, burns, temperature extremes, loud noises, working in confined spaces, and combative or violent people. Occasional job-related travel may also be required.

Department

Emergency Room

Shift

Evenings (United States of America)

Time Type

Full time

Address

222 Medical Circle

City, State

Morehead, Kentucky