Distinguishing Features of the Class: Under general supervision an incumbent of this class assists in providing for the management of patient care by means of clinical expertise gained in a specialized aspect of nursing care such as oncology, hemodialysis, burn care, perinatal care, acute psychiatric care or cardiothoracic surgery. This class is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse Specialist by educational preparedness. Supervision may be exercised over a small support staff. Does related work as required. Examples of Work: (Illustrative Only) Clinical: Assists staff in carrying out the nursing process of physically caring for selected patients in the area of expertise; Provides specialized care for a select patient population in a defined area of clinical practice; Collaborates with health care team in assuring and documenting clinical status of patients in the area of expertise; Collaborates with nursing staff and other health professionals in providing educational programs for selected patients and families; Acts as a role model for staff, providing guidance in the area of expertise;Acts as a resource person for patients and families; Participates in selected research activities, collects data and applies current research findings to selected patient population;Collaborates with other leadership staff in the formulation and/or revision of standards of care; Outreach: Assesses the educational needs of nursing personnel in the referring institutions and trains personnel; Collaborates with other health care professionals to plan outreach programs; Identifies and/or provides the resources necessary for the implementation of outreach programs; Evaluates the effectiveness of outreach programs on an ongoing basis; Nurse Clinician (con't)Staff Development:Assists nursing staff to develop, refine & update nursing skills; Provides clinical expertise for the orientation and continuing education of nursing personnel; Provides clinical guidance in collaboration with Clinical Nurse Specialist and Instructors of Nursing in Staff Development to develop, implement and evaluate staff educational programs; Participates in and jointly develops multi-disciplinary educational programs; Participates in professional programs to enhance self-development; Systems Maintenance: Participates in nursing and hospital committees Represents agency in responding to regulatory report requirements and inquiries. Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Attributes: Thorough knowledge of current professional nursing theory, principles, methods and practice; thorough knowledge of medical principles and practices as they apply to the clinical area of specialization; knowledge of the general structure of patient-care institutions; familiarity with the principles and practices of nursing supervision, including in-service training; ability to develop, implement and evaluate needs for clinical expertise in the area of specialization; ability to collect and verify valid data; ability to maintain logs and systems for data collection; ability to set priorities; ability to communicate effectively; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of medical, nursing, and non-professional staff, and with patients and their families; resourcefulness; flexibility; assertiveness; initiative; tact; creativity; thoroughness; sound professional judgment; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position. Minimum Acceptable Training and

Experience:

Graduation from an approved school of professional nursing and either (a) A Bachelor of Science Degree* in Nursing or related field and three years of nursing experience in a hospital or health care agency, one of which was in a leadership role in an area of specialization; or (b) completion of a minimum of 60 credits* toward a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing or related field and four years of nursing experience in a hospital or health care agency with one year of specialized experience as stated in (a); or (c) six years of nursing experience in a hospital or health care agency, three of which must have included the specialized experience as stated in (a); or (d) a satisfactory equivalent combination of the foregoing education and experience. Special Requirements: Possession of a valid license and current registration, issued by the State of New York, to practice as a Registered Nurse. Substitution: Possession of a valid license and current registration, issued by the State of New York, to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in the field of specialty may be substituted for one year of experience in a leadership role in the specialty field. Nurse Clinician (con't)*Special Note: Education beyond the secondary level must be from an institution recognized or accredited by the Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department as a post-secondary, degree-granting institution.

About Us:

Westchester Medical Center

Westchester Medical Center is the premier provider of advanced medical care in New York's Hudson Valley. The flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, this 895-bed academic hospital in Valhalla, NY, provides local residents with acute-care services -- Level I trauma and burn care, organ transplants and advanced neurovascular procedures and more -- found nowhere else in the region. Westchester Medical Center is the primary referral facility for other Hudson Valley hospitals and serves as a lifeline for more than 3 million.