Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

nnovation, research, and professional standards to improve patient safety, outcomes, and nurse-sensitive indicators. The CNS partners with surgical services leadership and interdisciplinary teams to support high-quality, efficient, and compliant perioperative care.

Key Responsibilities
Perioperative Clinical Practice & Quality
• Advance perioperative nursing practice through evidence-based interventions, best practice guidelines, research, and professional standards impacting the operating room and related surgical services areas.
• Establish, monitor, and evaluate standards of perioperative care, initiating practice changes based on data analysis, outcomes, and regulatory requirements.
• Design, implement, and evaluate innovative individual and population-based perioperative programs to improve patient safety, quality outcomes, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure nursing care is age-appropriate across the lifespan and delivered in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, and surgical services standards.
Leadership & Regulatory Compliance
• Collaborate with Surgical Services leadership, managers, surgeons, anesthesia providers, and interdisciplinary teams to support clinical excellence and operational goals.
• Provide expert clinical consultation and resources to perioperative staff, leadership, administration, and external agencies related to surgical services practice.
• Partner with leadership to monitor and ensure compliance with local, state, federal, and accrediting body requirements (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, OSHA) within the operating room environment.
• Support and lead change initiatives to improve perioperative workflows, patient safety, infection prevention, and nurse-sensitive indicators.
Education & Professional Development
• Provide input, guidance, and expertise in the development, implementation, and evaluation of perioperative orientation programs, annual competency assessments, and specialty education for operating room nurses and staff.
• Coach clinical nurses within the professional development framework and mentor perioperative leaders, clinical coaches, and peer review participants as applicable.
Research & Evidence-Based Practice
• Promote research and evidence-based practice within Surgical Services through review, interpretation, and implementation of current perioperative research and guidelines.
• Facilitate the development of abstracts, research proposals, and clinical research projects related to perioperative nursing practice.
• Mentor and coach perioperative caregivers to engage in research and quality improvement initiatives, serving as a role model for evidence-based decision-making.
Required Qualifications
Education
• Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN)
Licensure & Certifications
• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice
• One of the following certifications required within 2 years of hire:
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – ANCC
• Orthopedic Clinical Nurse Specialist – Certified (OCNS-C) – ONCB
• Other specialty nursing certification from ANCC or an approved national certifying body related to perioperative or surgical practice
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers – American Heart Association (required within 6 months of hire unless department-specific exemption applies)
Experience
• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience, preferably in Surgical Services or the perioperative environment
• Completion of 500 clinical hours in a Clinical Nurse Specialist program
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Demonstrated expertise in perioperative or surgical services nursing, including strong clinical competence and in-depth knowledge of operating room practice.
• Proven leadership skills, including teaching, project management, delegation, decision-making, team development, and conflict resolution.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills with the ability to engage multidisciplinary surgical teams.
• Strong organizational skills and commitment to patient-centered, safe surgical care.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-acuity environment.
• Intermediate computer proficiency, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Why Join Us

This role offers the opportunity to lead clinical excellence in Surgical Services, influence system-wide perioperative practice, mentor nursing teams, and drive evidence-based improvements that enhance patient safety and surgical outcomes.