Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS), PRN

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of the four Duke Healthhospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

The Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (PRN) collaborates with the Senior Director, Advanced Practice Nursing, DUHS and members of the healthcare team to enhance patient care across the health system by serving as an expert resource and consultant to nursing staff and providing evidence-based clinical expertise to clinicians and nurse leaders. They make clinical judgments based upon a synthesis of current research, concepts, principles, theories, and outcomes to solve complex problems. The Adult Gerontology CNS is a role model for nursing staff. They function as an integral part of a larger interdisciplinary clinical and operational leadership team contributing to excellence in patient care, research, teaching, and in providing leadership to the nursing staff and to the organization.

Specific Job Responsibilities and Standards

1. Coaching

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   • Support education of nurses and other health care providers to include but not limited to pre-professional, graduate and continuing education opportunities.
   • Mentor health professionals in applying the principles of evidence-based care.
   • Uses coaching and advanced communication skills to facilitate the development of effective clinical teams.
   
   
   
   

1. Collaboration

• Builds effective interdisciplinary relationships to support coordinated, high-quality care.
• Serves as a clinical resource and consultant to nurses, physicians, and other team members.
• Facilitates communication and collaboration within and across units and services.
• Partners with leaders to develop innovative and cost-effective care models and programs.

1. Evidence based practice, Quality Improvement and Research

• Promotes a culture of clinical inquiry, continuous learning, and evidence-based care.
• Evaluates and translates research and best practices into clinical application across the system.
• Identifies barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based practices and designs strategies to improve adoption.
• Leads and participates in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety, effectiveness, and outcomes.
• Uses data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement and evaluate impact.
• Supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of standards of practice, guidelines, policies, and protocols.
• Provides leadership in the system-wide implementation of quality improvement and innovation.
• Mentors staff in applying evidence-based practice principles and engaging in research or quality improvement projects.

1. Systems Leadership

• Leads initiatives that promote excellence in clinical practice and professional nursing standards.
• Identifies system-level barriers and develops solutions to improve care delivery and outcomes.
• Advances nursing practice through leadership, ethical decision-making, and continuous professional growth.
• Contributes to a supportive and healthy work environment that fosters staff engagement and retention.
• Supports the development of standards, policies, and care protocols to ensure high-quality, safe, and patient-centered care.

Hours: Monday-Friday, As-Needed

Location: On-Site or Virtual (based on role needs)

Education: Graduate of an accredited MSN or DNP Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program

Licensure: Current unrestricted RN license issued by or recognized by the North Carolina BON with recognition to practice as a CNS in the state of North Carolina.

Certification: Adult-Gerontology (AGCNS-BC, ACCNS-AG, or equivalent).

Experience: Minimum 5 years of RN clinical experience is required. Minimum 1 year of CNS experience is required. Experience with inpatient harms reduction initiatives and coaching/mentoring of newly graduated clinical nurse specialists strongly desired.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas- an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

The work environment involves risk discomforts that are typical of an acute care setting to include working with patients under isolation and universal precautions. It requires safety precautions, ongoing education and health risk monitoring. Contact with specimens, chemicals, sharps; radiation, technical equipment and fumes are possible. Employees are required to wear personal protective attire according to hospital policies and OSHA guidelines. The work activity and patient acuity levels can create a stressful atmosphere.

Estimate average of 8 hrs/week (max 16 hrs/week). Combination of on-site and remote (50/50), but this is somewhat flexible depending on the specific individual and what they bring in terms of experience.