Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS Certified) - Cardiac Stepdown

Join Duke Health

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.

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 Health hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Hiring Incentives

$7500 Commitment Bonus (paid in four equal installments over 2 years).

Relocation assistance up to $8,000 available for Nurses relocating greater than 50 miles to Durham, NC.

Job Description

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - Cardiac Stepdown Services

Duke University Hospital | Duke Heart Center

Advance Cardiovascular Nursing Practice at One of the Nation's Leading Academic Health Systems

Duke University Hospital is seeking an experienced Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to join the Duke Heart Center and serve as the clinical practice, quality, and patient safety expert for our cardiovascular stepdown services.

This highly visible leadership role supports six cardiac stepdown and intermediate care units encompassing approximately 200 beds and caring for some of the most complex cardiovascular patients in the region. The CNS partners closely with nursing, physician, quality, and educational leaders to improve patient outcomes, advance professional nursing practice, and lead evidence-based innovation across the continuum of cardiac care.

As a member of Duke Health's robust Clinical Nurse Specialist practice, you will join a collaborative community of more than 35 CNSs across multiple specialties while working alongside a dedicated Cardiovascular Critical Care CNS to support seamless care across the Heart Center.

Why Join Duke Health?

At Duke, Clinical Nurse Specialists are recognized as essential clinical leaders who influence care at the patient, nurse, and system levels.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead quality, safety, and practice initiatives across cardiovascular stepdown units
• Influence care delivered to patients with advanced heart failure, heart transplantation, LVADs, mechanical circulatory support devices, structural heart disease, electrophysiology conditions, and complex cardiothoracic surgical procedures
• Partner with nationally recognized cardiovascular physicians, advanced practice providers, nurse leaders, and frontline nurses
• Practice within a mature CNS infrastructure led by dedicated CNS leadership
• Focus on professional practice and outcomes improvement rather than routine staffing responsibilities
• Collaborate with a dedicated Heart Center nurse researcher
• Participate in research, evidence-based practice, publication, and national presentations
• Join an organization committed to professional development, innovation, and nursing excellence

What You'll Do

As the Cardiac Stepdown CNS, you will serve as a clinician, consultant, educator, researcher, change agent, and systems leader. Key responsibilities include:

Clinical Practice Leadership

• Serve as the advanced clinical expert for complex cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery populations
• Consult on challenging patient care situations and support evidence-based clinical decision-making
• Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative care strategies designed to improve outcomes and patient experience
• Facilitate safe transitions of care and promote patient and family engagement

Quality, Safety, and Outcomes Improvement

• Lead quality and patient safety initiatives across cardiovascular stepdown services
• Analyze clinical and operational outcomes data to identify opportunities for improvement
• Design, implement, and evaluate interventions that improve patient outcomes and nursing-sensitive indicators
• Support system-wide implementation of evidence-based standards, guidelines, policies, and protocols

Professional Practice and Staff Development

• Mentor nurses and interdisciplinary team members in evidence-based practice and clinical excellence
• Support professional growth through formal and informal education, coaching, and consultation
• Foster a culture of inquiry, continuous learning, and professional accountability

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

• Translate emerging evidence into clinical practice
• Lead and support evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research initiatives
• Contribute to scholarly dissemination through presentations, publications, and professional engagement

Systems Leadership

• Partner with operational, quality, and educational leaders to advance strategic priorities
• Identify system-level barriers and lead sustainable improvement efforts
• Influence practice across the Heart Center through collaboration, innovation, and leadership

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking an experienced CNS who is passionate about improving outcomes for complex cardiovascular patients and developing the nurses who care for them.

Successful candidates will bring:

• Strong clinical expertise in cardiac, cardiovascular, critical care, stepdown, or cardiothoracic surgery populations
• Experience leading change, quality improvement, or evidence-based practice initiatives
• Excellent consultation, communication, and partnership skills
• A commitment to advancing both nursing practice and patient outcomes
• Interest in scholarship, dissemination, and professional leadership

While new CNS graduates may be considered, this role is most appropriate for candidates with substantial cardiovascular nursing expertise and a demonstrated ability to influence practice in complex clinical environments.

Required Qualifications

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

Licensure Current unrestricted RN license issued by or recognized by the North Carolina Board of Nursing with recognition to practice as a CNS in North Carolina

Certification Adult-Gerontology CNS certification (AGCNS-BC, ACCNS-AG, or equivalent)

Experience Minimum 5 years of RN clinical experience required. Inpatient cardiovascular nursing experience strongly preferred

Join Duke Heart Center

If you are looking for an opportunity to influence cardiovascular care at scale, mentor the next generation of nurses, lead meaningful quality and safety improvements, and practice within one of the nation's most established CNS programs, we invite you to explore a career with Duke Health.