The Specialty Practice Leader (SPL) is a Professional Practice Leader (PPL) who is the identified clinical role model and content expert for a program or defined area of nursing practice. They provide leadership in the integration of new knowledge and innovation within a specialty area(s) and they facilitate excellence in the provision of nursing care through the implementation of evidence-based standards of care and the Professional Practice model.  The SPL demonstrates a strong knowledge base in specialty practices and systems theory and they utilize their specialized knowledge and skill to positively influence outcomes within the following spheres: individual patients and populations, nurses and other multidisciplinary team members and the organization/system.  They lead programs and initiatives that are congruent with OHSU and Patient Care Services strategic plan and they contribute to the advancement of nursing practice at the unit, system, regional and national levels. The SPL partners with the Assistant Nurse Managers, Managers, Professional Practice Leaders and the interdisciplinary care team to ensure the delivery of safe, quality patient care and compliance with administrative and clinical policies and procedures. They adhere to regulatory standards, bargaining unit agreements, hospital and clinical standards of performance, and human resource management. The SPL implements quality and safety initiatives, engages in process improvement and conducts patient care consultation while role modeling transformational leadership behaviors. The SPL ensures a patient care environment that supports a safe, knowledgeable, compassionate, productive, and engaged staff.

Strategic Planning:

• Partners with others to develop a department strategic plan that reflects the division strategic plan and nursing’s vision.
• Participates in formulating objectives/ goals and integrating evidence-based strategies and professional practice standards to advance strategic initiatives.
• Assists in coordinating the implementation of interventions to meet department-level goals.
• Assists with communicating implementing, and evaluating the unit/department/program strategic plan.

Operational Leadership

• Partners with others to enhance healthcare and, ultimately, patient care through interdisciplinary activities, such as education, consultation, management, technological development, or research opportunities.
• Ascribes to systems theory with an understanding that how parts of a system relate to the overall system.
• Maintains knowledge of current nursing practice and the roles and functions of care team members (e.g. charge nurse, code team, RRT)
• Facilitates the development and implementation of evidence-based interventions and systems to achieve defined patient and system outcomes.
• Facilitates the development and revision of standards of care and practice to reflect national and regional standards and current research.
• Provides expert nursing consultation to nurses, interdisciplinary team members, patients and families to promote quality care and to strategize interventions for complex patients who do not follow the expected plan of care.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on program/departmental, hospital and system-wide committees and task forces.
• Evaluates staff’s professional practice and intervenes to optimize performance and ensure safe, quality, effective and efficient patient care. 
• Collaborates with nursing leadership to identify educational and clinical activities to facilitate specialty nursing development.
• Collaborates with others to determine division specific versus nursing wide educational needs and learning plans. 
• Facilitates the translation of research for integration into practice and participates in and supports nurses in the conduction of research.
• Promotes and practices patient/family advocacy and promotes patient-centered decisions and outcomes with consideration for cultural influences.
• Provides clinical input in the evaluation of products, services and new technologies and assesses their impact on patient care outcomes.
• Communicates plans and decisions to department staff and other stakeholders.
• Practices within shared-governance structures and promotes that decision-making by  the group who has the authority within the governance structure

Financial Management

• Collaborates in determining department/division level learning and practice priorities; and collaborates with manager in allocating and measuring fiscal resources. 
• Develops innovative solutions and applies strategies to obtain appropriate resources for nursing initiatives.  Measures cost effectiveness of evidenced-based strategies, innovative learning and professional development approaches. 
• Promotes activities that inform others about cost, risks, and benefits of care, including the plan and solution to minimize risk and maximize benefits.

Human Resources

• Uses evidence-based leadership to promote desired behaviors
• Collaborates with department leadership, develops high performing nurses, advancing and rewarding their practice along the novice-expert continuum. 
• Mentors and coaches nurses to self-reflect on their practice against identified clinical standards and self-direct their ongoing professional development. 
• Monitors, evaluates, and communicates the application of specialty practice standards in the initial and on-going competency evaluation processes.    
• Collaborates with department leadership to facilitate behaviors that impact safety, quality, patient satisfaction, and employee satisfaction.
• Provides leadership in maintaining a healthy work environment in coordination with nursing department and organizational initiatives. 
• Influences the hiring and retention of clinical RNs who are aligned with the OHSU Nursing Vision. 
• Participates in succession planning.
• Identifies individual practice issues and engages with clinical nurses to develop improvement approaches. 
• Coordinates with the PPLs in the implementation of the nursing orientation program and with the management team in the evaluation of new nurses’ progression towards benchmarks.  
• Collaborates with the NM and PPL to identify individual professional practice issues, develop improvement strategies and evaluate specialty performance for all nursing staff in assigned unit(s)
• Collaborates with staff educators, facilitates progressive development, and consults with RN director and managers to determine the role of staff educators in the following:
  • Competency, training, information, & education
  • Initial and on-going competency of nursing staff in specialized skills unique to assigned clinical area.
  • Educational programs for assigned areas.

Performance Improvement

• Partners with others to develop the department/division quality plan.
• Uses data to identify areas for improvement based on assessment and current states.
• Monitors and uses data to determine patient care quality improvement objectives.
• Engages staff in department initiatives.
• Evaluates the practice environment in relation to existing evidence, research, specialty standards, and care delivery best practices. 
• Designs and implements quality improvement strategies to patient population outcomes meet or exceed established goals.
• Evaluates the impact/benefits of organizational, nursing, and department initiatives, and communicates learning to disseminate best practices.
• Identifies areas of risk and makes suggestions for reducing risk and improving outcomes.
• Investigates concerns and errors to identify risky or reckless practice decisions, systems issues or barriers to nurses enacting their role.  Consults with the Professional Practice Role Board in apply just culture principles when reviewing individual nursing practice concerns. 

Professionalism

• Maintains knowledge of professional and current practice standards.

• Reflects on own method of decision-making and the role of beliefs, values and inferences in leading effectively.
• Promotes clinical nurses’ translation of  theory, scope & standards into practice to exercise autonomy and decision-making authority
• Advances practice excellence by communicating a clear and consistent vision about the ownership of role and standards -based professional practice
• Particpates in local and national specialty organizations and maintains professional certification
• Promotes communication of information and advancement of the profession through writing, publishing, and presentations for professional or lay audiences.
• Mentors and supports others to access resources for their professional development
• Engages in informal and formal processes of giving and seeking feedback regarding role performance from individuals, professional colleagues, representatives, administrators, and others.

Education:

BSN required

Relevant graduate degree

 

Experience:

Three years of experience as a registered nurse in a related clinical area of practice

 

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

Experience in complex organization environments

Ability to effectively manage multiple conflicting priorities

Proficient with word processing, computational spreadsheet (e.g., Excel), and presentation software

 

Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:

Professional certification in nursing leadership or specialty practice area within 3 years of assuming position

Unencumbered Oregon and Washington State RN License

AHA BLS for healthcare providers

Education:

Completed Master’s degree in nursing

 

Experience:

Recent formal management experience in the related clinical area of practice

 

Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:

Current Professional certification in nursing leadership-Nurse Executive/Administrator or Professional Development or specialty practice area. 

Requires prioritization of multiple projects, activities, and assignments. Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations. May be exposed to excessive auditory and visual stimulation. May be required to attend out of town conferences according to hospital travel and reimbursement policies. May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes. Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed. Able to utilize all patient care equipment and office equipment within work area. Exercise the ability to implement a flexible work schedule to meet the unit needs and to create a work-life balance.

 

The candidate must be able to perform the essential duties, with or without accommodation.

 

Orientation 1-3 months depending on experience.  

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.