Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS Certified)

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.

Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital in Mooresville, North Carolina. The smallest of the four Duke Health hospitals at 123-beds, it offers a comprehensive range of medical services, including 24-hour emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics, women's services, and surgical specialties.

Hiring Incentives

• A relocation budget (up to $8,000) is available for candidates who reside and relocate 50 miles or more from Duke facility)
• $7,500 Commitment Bonus (paid in 4 equal installments; $1875 for every 6 months completed with the last installment after 24 months completed)

Job Description

Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health, Duke Health Lake Norman

Job Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Code: 5264

FLSA: E Pay Target : H2

Date: 12/1/2024 Supervisory Requirement: No

Position summary

The Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist collaborates with members of the healthcare team to enhance patient care across the organization (inpatient, ambulatory) by serving as an expert resource and consultant to nursing staff and providing evidence-based clinical expertise to patients. They are a clinician, educator, consultant, role model and leader. They make clinical judgments based upon a synthesis of current research, concepts, principles, theories, and outcomes to solve complex problems. The Adult Health 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

1. • 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.

1. Direct Care

• Conducts comprehensive patient assessments and applies advanced clinical judgment to plan and evaluate care.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates evidence-based interventions to improve patient outcomes.
• Prescribes nursing therapeutics, interventions, diagnostic measures, equipment, procedures, and treatments to meet the needs of patients, families and groups, in accordance with professional preparation, institutional policy, state and federal laws and practice acts
• Coordinates transitions of care using system and community resources to optimize outcomes.
• Provides education and counseling to patients and families to promote understanding and engagement in care.

Hours: Monday-Friday with other hours as needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.

Required Qualifications at this Level

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 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 2 years of experience as a clinical nurse specialist required .


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.

Working conditions:

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.


Duke is an 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 (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military 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.



Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.