Clinical Practice Specialist PICU

Children's Hospital Colorado; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 116,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Benefits package

Education opportunities

Job summary

Children's Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs is seeking a Clinical Practice Specialist to optimize care delivery through evidence-based practice, research, and quality improvement. You will lead practice changes, mentor teams, and analyze data to achieve high‑quality outcomes.

The role emphasizes collaboration across disciplines, supporting staff with education, and aligning initiatives with regulatory priorities. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Qualifications

• BSN and MSN (or related health-field) required.
• Minimum 5 years of clinical nursing experience; PICU preferred.
• Current RN licensure; ACLS, PALS, and BLS per requirements; ANCC/Magnet cert or focus cert preferred.

Responsibilities

• Designs and implements evidence-based, cost-effective interventions to improve care.
• Leads quality and safety initiatives using root-cause analysis and outcome measures.
• Mentors interdisciplinary teams and translates evidence into practice.
• Provides consultation and coaching for patients with complex needs.

Skills

PICU experience

Clinical leadership

Evidence-based practice

Education

BSN

MSN or related field

Tools

ACLS

PALS

BLS

Job description

Job Overview

The Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS) provides advanced clinical, quality, and systems expertise to optimize care delivery and patient outcomes. Maintaining a consistent presence within assigned clinical areas, the CPS directly observes care delivery, identifies practice variation, and partners with interdisciplinary and frontline teams to evaluate care processes and implement evidence-based best practices. Through the integration of evidence-based practice (EBP), research, quality improvement, and clinical innovation, the CPS leads practice optimization aligned with organizational and regulatory priorities. The CPS proactively identifies care delivery gaps, leads and evaluates practice change initiatives, translates evidence into clinical care, and analyzes clinical and outcome data to ensure sustained improvement. The CPS serves as a consultant, mentor, resource, and change leader, promoting professional practice standards, strengthening clinical capability, and optimizing care processes to achieve high-quality patient- and family-centered outcomes.

Department Name: Colorado Springs Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Job Status: full time, 40 hours per week, eligible for benefits
Shift: Dayshift - hours are variable

This position is eligible for relocation assistance, if relocating from 100 miles or greater.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Evidence-Based Practice & Research
  Designs and implements evidence-based, cost-effective interventions, advancing nursing or behavioral health practice and supporting patient and family empowerment.
  Promotes evidence-based knowledge in policies, procedures, and education strategies tailored to patient/family needs and readiness to learn.
  Provides expert consultation and coaching for patients with complex needs; delivers direct care within scope when needed.
  Leads, mentors, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on identifying, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practices and research.
  Conducts or partners in research to address gaps in knowledge, evaluates impact using scientific methods, and disseminates findings through presentations and publications.
• Quality Improvement
  Assesses the care environment to identify improvement opportunities, integrating patient safety principles and identifying/resolving safety issues.
  Collaborates on and leads initiatives promoting a non-punitive culture for reporting errors and near misses; supports safety recognition programs.
  Leads or participates in systematic quality and safety efforts using root cause analysis, process evaluation, and outcome measurement.
  Mentors others in planning and implementing change, anticipating intended and unintended outcomes, while managing resources responsibly.
• Systems Leadership
  Builds partnerships across teams and systems using leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills; serves as a change agent aligned with organizational goals.
  Develops and consults on population-specific programs that reflect patient and family needs, strengths, and cultural values.
  Advocates for nursing/behavioral health contributions and equitable care in healthcare policy, organizational decision-making, and community initiatives.
  Contributes to the broader healthcare knowledge base through professional engagement, publications, and leadership in organizations.
  Facilitates professional development through education, coaching, and reflective practice, supporting clinical growth among staff and students.
  Participates in the evaluation of equipment, supplies, and policies impacting practice; provides specialty consultation and supports nurses practicing to the full scope of their role.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) and Master's degree in Nursing or a directly related health care field.
Experience: 5 years clinical experience. PICU experience strongly preferred.
Certification(s):
* Advanced Life Support (ACLS, PALS) AND/OR other Certification(s) for specific roles may be required within 12 months of hire according to department requirements.
* Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers from the American Heart Association.
* ANCC or Magnet approved clinical specialty or quality/safety focus certification required.
* Membership in a professional nursing or health care organization.

Licensure(s): Current Registered Nurse (RN).

Salary Information

Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience.
Annual Salary Range (Based on 40 hours worked per week): $116,313.28 to $174,469.92

Benefits Information

Here, you matter. As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, company provided life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, 403b employer match (retirement savings), a robust wellness program, and access to professional development tools, including an education benefit to help you advance your career.

As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.

EEO Statement

It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information. The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.