Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Surgical Services / SDS,PACU and the Surgery Center at St Lukes Medical Center Milwaukee

Position Summary

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for Surgical Services serves as an advanced practice nurse and clinical leader within the Operating Room and perioperative continuum. This role advances perioperative nursing practice through evidence-based care, clinical innovation, 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.