Clinical Practice Specialist (Professional Practice/Education)

Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS)

The Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS) is an expert clinician responsible for advancing nursing practice, improving patient outcomes, and supporting evidence-based care across the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and Cardiovascular Intermediate Care Unit (CVIMC). This role partners with nursing leadership, interdisciplinary teams, and frontline staff to drive clinical excellence, professional development, quality improvement, and practice standardization across the cardiovascular service line.

The CPS serves as a clinical leader, educator, and change agent, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, regulatory standards, and best practices in high-acuity cardiovascular care.

Key Responsibilities

• Promotes evidence-based practice and ensures integration into CVICU and CVIMC workflows.
• Leads and supports quality improvement initiatives targeting patient outcomes (e.g., glycemic control, ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, infection prevention).
• Analyzes clinical data and identifies trends to drive improvements in care delivery and patient safety.
• Collaborates with unit leadership to implement and sustain best practices and clinical protocols.

Education & Professional Development

• Assesses learning needs and develops targeted education plans for nursing staff in CVICU and CVIMC.
• Provides onboarding support and competency validation for new hires, including orientation and skills development.
• Facilitates ongoing education, simulation, and just-in-time training to maintain clinical excellence.
• Supports certification efforts (e.g., CCRN, PCCN) and professional growth of nursing staff.

Clinical Expertise & Consultation

• Serves as a clinical resource and expert in cardiovascular critical care and intermediate care.
• Provides real-time consultation and support for complex patient care situations.
• Rounds with interdisciplinary teams and contributes to clinical decision-making and care planning.
• Supports adoption of advanced therapies and technologies (e.g., mechanical circulatory support, EndoTool, ECMO, where applicable).

Leadership & Collaboration

• Partners with nurse managers, educators, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams to align practice with organizational priorities.
• Participates in shared governance councils, committees, and service line initiatives.
• Leads or contributes to policy, procedure, and clinical guideline development and revision.
• Fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensures clinical practice aligns with regulatory requirements (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS) and organizational policies.
• Supports readiness efforts for surveys, audits, and accreditation processes.
• Monitors compliance with clinical standards and implements corrective actions as needed.

Research & Evidence-Based Practice

• Promotes a culture of inquiry and supports implementation of research and evidence-based initiatives.
• Participates in or leads practice-based research projects and dissemination of findings.
• Encourages staff engagement in EBP and quality initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in Nursing or related field (MSN) required.

Experience

• Minimum 35 years of recent clinical experience in cardiovascular critical care (CVICU required)
• Experience in CVIMC or step-down cardiac care strongly preferred
• Previous experience in education, quality, or professional practice roles preferred

Licensure & Certification

• Current RN license (State of Florida or compact state)
• BLS and ACLS required
• Specialty certification required (CCRN preferred; PCCN acceptable for CVIMC focus)

Core Competencies

• Advanced cardiovascular clinical expertise
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Data-driven decision making and quality improvement
• Education and staff development
• Change management and leadership
• Collaboration and relationship-building

Working Conditions

• Primarily based in clinical units (CVICU and CVIMC)
• Requires flexibility to support staff across shifts as needed
• Participation in committees and projects across the organization

Impact of Role

This position plays a critical role in enhancing patient outcomes, supporting frontline staff, and ensuring high-quality, standardized care across the cardiovascular continuum. The CPS directly contributes to improved clinical performance, staff engagement, and organizational excellence.

Position Highlights and Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit packages available, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 403B, and education assistance
• We serve together in the spirit of the Gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities
• We live and breathe our guiding behaviors: we support each other in serving, we communicate openly, honestly, respectfully, and directly, we are fully present, we are all accountable, we trust and assume goodness in intentions

Ministry/Facility Information :

• Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is a full-service, non-profit Catholic hospital, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and a member of Trinity Health.
• We are committed to providing compassionate and holistic person-centered care.
• We are the only Catholic hospital in Broward and Palm Beach counties and are not for profit. We are part of Trinity Health, one of the largest multi-institutional Catholic health care delivery systems in the nation. Together, we serve people and communities in 21 states from coast to coast, providing nearly 2.8 million visits annually.
• Comprehensive benefits that start on your first day of work
• Retirement savings program with employer matching

Legal Info

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.