Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

Riley Children's Health; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Wellness programs

Job summary

Riley Children’s Health in Indiana seeks a Clinical Nurse Specialist to lead advanced nursing practice across patient, nursing, and systems spheres in a pediatric setting. You will provide expert clinical consultations for complex pediatric cases, develop evidence-based care plans, and mentor staff to standardize practice across units.

This salaried leadership role offers CNS program involvement and professional growth with a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, a

Qualifications

• BSN required.
• MSN with CNS focus required.
• Active RN license in Indiana or NLC RN license.
• 3–5 years of advanced clinical skills.
• Pediatric nursing experience preferred; PICU or Cardiac experience preferred.
• BLS certification required.

Responsibilities

• Lead unit, hospital, and system evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Provide expert clinical consultation for complex pediatric patients, including assessment, diagnosis and management.
• Mentor nursing staff and standardize evidence-based practices across nursing units.
• Advise on policies, guidelines, and protocols to improve patient outcomes.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Evidence-based practice

Mentoring staff

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master’s degree in Nursing with CNS focus

Job description

Overview

Join Our Team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Riley Children's Health! Are you a passionate and dedicated nurse ready to make a significant impact on the lives of children? Look no further! Riley Children’s Health, Indiana’s largest and most renowned pediatric healthcare system, is inviting you to join our exceptional team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). With over 50 locations across the state and recognized as one of the nation’s leading healthcare networks for children, we are committed to delivering the highest level of care to our young patients.

Why Choose Riley Children’s Health?

At Riley, we pride ourselves on being the only pediatric research hospital in Indiana, consistently ranked among the top hospitals nationally by U.S. News & World Report. Our multidisciplinary team of pediatric specialists collaborates closely to provide comprehensive healthcare tailored to each child’s unique needs. Our partnerships with the Indiana University School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and School of Health and Human Sciences position us as one of the top pediatric health research sites in the United States, promising a vibrant environment for innovation and professional growth.

Your New Role

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will support pediatric patient populations across Riley Children’s Health, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and quality of care, reducing nursing practice gaps, and implementing evidence-based practice and nursing research. This is an influential role where your expertise can shine. This is a salaried nursing leadership role aligned with the Nursing Practice department.

We also offer secondary roles for those interested in pursuing CNS programs in the future.

Empower Your Career

• Comprehensive training and leadership development opportunities
• A clear path for advancement through promotions and cross-training initiatives
• A competitive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, a matching 401(k), generous Paid Time Off (PTO), and tuition reimbursement
• Wellness programs that support your health and well-being

What You’ll Do

A Clinical Nurse Specialist functions as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse leader dedicated to supporting nursing practice within three spheres of impact: patient, nursing, and system/organization.

Patient Sphere

The Clinical Nurse Specialist supports complex and high-risk pediatric patient populations by providing expert clinical consultation, including advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management, while developing evidence-based care recommendations and advocating for patient rights and preferences.

Nursing Sphere

The CNS mentors and role-models nursing practice excellence, standardizes evidence-based clinical practices, assesses the care and practice environment for improvement opportunities, and partners with interdisciplinary teams to prevent and mitigate patient harm.

Systems Sphere

At the organizational level, the CNS leads unit, hospital, and system evidence-based practice initiatives; advises on nursing policies, guidelines, and protocols; evaluates new clinical products and technology; and supports the implementation and sustainment of nursing practice changes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Master’s degree in Nursing with a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) focus required.
• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Indiana or an active Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) RN license and meets regulatory requirements to practice as a CNS.
• Requires 3-5 years of advanced clinical skills typically gained through nursing experience.
• Pediatric nursing experience preferred; Pediatric ICU (PICU) or Cardiac experience preferred.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the AHA required.
• Other advanced life support certifications may be required based on the clinical specialty and patient care area.

Take the Next Step!

If you’re ready to elevate your nursing career and be part of a team that truly values dedication, innovation, and collaboration, we want to hear from you! Join us at Riley Children’s Health and make a lasting impact on the future of pediatric care.

We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.