UI Health - Clinical Nurse Consultant II Surgical Coordinator - Orthopedics

Position Summary

The Clinical Nursing Consultant II (CNCII) – Orthopedic provides comprehensive patient navigation and clinical leadership for patients within the UI Health Orthopedic Department. This role utilizes advanced clinical expertise to guide patients through the surgical continuum, including improving preoperative evaluations, ensuring timeliness of care, coordinating complex clinical processes, addressing barriers to care, and developing plans for postoperative and long-term follow-up. As an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, the CNCII builds therapeutic relationships with patients, families, and colleagues to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care and support optimal outcomes. In alignment with the CNCII role, the position is accountable for facilitating patient care using the Nursing Process and Relationship-Based Care model, while providing direct care, consultation, and coordination for complex orthopedic cases. The CNCII leads and supports the educational development

Duties & Responsibilities

• Accountable for perioperative care coordination, ambulatory clinic surgical patient care and follow ups, effective scheduling and perioperative patient preparation to include medical and financial readiness for surgical cases, pre and postoperative care planning.

• Engages in quality improvement projects for the unit, and actively participates in quality improvement projects within the Division and Hospital. Monitors quality improvement outcomes and compliance.

• Develops, coordinates and/or mentors staff in surgical coordination, patient care plan development and ongoing clinical assessment. Uses clinical expertise to collaborate with nursing staff and health care team to improve patient outcomes.

• Consults with and implements orders from credentialed providers by performing interventions as prescribed by and documenting accurately in the electronic medical record.

• Assesses, engages and obtains clinical information from multidisciplinary team, patient and/or family, and external care adjuncts, to develop an appropriate patient perioperative and educational plan. Work in close liaison with the interprofessional perioperative team to include Ambulatory Clinic, Financial, Anesthesia, Operating Room, Sterile Processing, and Purchasing Teams. Obtain records from outside facilities as needed to coordinate surgical care and facilitate medical and financial readiness.

• Recognizes symptoms, establishes priorities, and responds to patient changes and dynamic surgery scheduling needs to promote safety, quality care delivery, efficiency, and block optimization.

• Engages nursing and support personnel by delegating appropriate tasks per the Illinois State Nurse Practice Act and provides support and feedback as needed. Ensures there is effective, closed loop, communication.

• Demonstrates a commitment to UI Health’s values through teamwork and effective communication to achieve quality outcomes, patient safety, customer satisfaction and a clean, safe and therapeutic environment.

• Integrates theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice and clinical experience to provide quality patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies.

• Completes required orientation program and unit-specific competencies.

Professional/Leadership

• Advocates for patients, families, and their significant others, the community, and the nursing profession. Assists in the coordination and management of daily unit activities.

• Integrates theoretical knowledge, evidence-based research, current standards of practice and clinical experience to provide “quality” patient care as measured by established nursing quality standards and other governing/accrediting health care bodies.

• Recognizes and supports Shared Leadership as the selected method of nursing governance.

•Participates in organizational, departmental, and shared leadership activities; supports department and unit goals in daily behavior.

•Demonstrates accountability for job performance by: (1) seeking opportunities to enhance job skills and knowledge; (2) maintaining conditions of employment (RN licensure, BLS and other required unit-specific certifications).

•Receives and provides feedback to members of the health care team regarding performance/practice

Organizational
•Adheres to the UI Health Code of Conduct. Upholds UI ICARE values.

•Treats patients/families, staff, students and visitors with respect and dignity. Adheres to department’s time, overtime, and attendance policies.

•Complies with all organizational mandatory requirements such as Title IX training, annual learning modules, University Health Services TB and fit-testing requirements within the established due date.

•Utilizes established communication channels/chain of command to escalate or resolve patient care problems.

•Identifies recurring clinical practice and/or related unit problems and participates in problem solving and resolution.

•Collaborates with, supports, and participates in departmental and organizational education and initiatives.

•Plans, presents, and evaluates learning/educational experiences for staff and students.

•Initiates, conducts, and analyzes evidence-based practice research to improve patient care outcomes. Serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to other nursing staff and students.

•Accesses Medical Center intranet for relevant communication and to review and interpret changes in policy, procedure and other information pertinent to practice.

•Conducts and supports multidisciplinary research efforts in the department and across UI Health.

•Takes responsibility for continued professional growth/development by identification of learning needs and initiates strategies to meet such needs.

•Other duties as assigned