Clinical Nurse Specialist

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Union: ONA WP

Number of Vacancies: 1

New or Replacement: Replacement

Site: West Park Healthcare Centre

Department: Collaborative Academic Practice

Reports to: Director of Professional Practice

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Wage range: $62.47 - $72.91

Status: Temporary Full-time (12-18 months contract)

Closing Date:  February 12, 2026

Position Summary

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) contributes to development of nursing knowledge and evidence-based practice and facilitates system change, addresses complex health care issues for patients, families, other professions, administrators, and policy makers, specializes in specific area(s) of practice that may be defined in terms of a population, a setting, a disease or medical subspecialty, type of care, or type of problem.

The  CNS works in partnership with Clinical Service Managers and Clinical Nurse Educators to support the ongoing development of nursing staff. This includes fostering the acquisition and application of knowledge, skills, and evidence-based practices to enhance patient safety and optimize outcomes. The CNS provides clinical practice leadership for the direct care of complex patients by working with staff, physicians, patients and families to develop individualized plans of care; collaborates with nursing and interprofessional staff within units/programs and across the organization to design, implement and evaluate clinical practices for both individual patients and specific populations, and leads the development of relevant polices and education programs. 

Duties

• Provide nursing leadership for care of complex patients within specialty focus on complex wound care and experience working within the geriatric population
• Participate within interprofessional team rounds to provide nursing leadership and guidance in the provision of patient care, use multiple assessment strategies to anticipate a wide range of patient responses to actual and changing health status and choices
• Use theoretical and empirical knowledge to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care
• Role models and facilitates partnerships with patients and their families to promote, enhance and champion person-centered care
• Use multiple strategies to support the integration of nursing standards, best practices, clinical policies and procedures within the practice setting and at point of care
• Provide leadership in the interpretation of regulatory issues that impact practice and organizational policy and promote accountability at the unit level
• Advocate for and participate in creating a practice environment that supports safe patient care, interprofessional collaborative practice and professional growth
• Provide consultation across the organization regarding both patient specific needs and corporate practice initiatives 
• Identify nursing staff’s learning needs and facilitates or provide ongoing development support to staff for their clinical practice
• Support unit/department orientation and identification of ongoing learning needs of new staff
• Identify changes in competencies and skill sets of nursing staff in relation to changes in specific patient care needs and/or patient populations
• Facilitate learning and provide mentorship for nursing staff to help meet their needs for changes in their clinical competencies and skills
• Plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate initiatives to support the development of critical thinking, knowledge translation and achievement of person-centered care  
• Partner with Clinical Service Managers and Clinical Practice Leaders to develop, implement and evaluate interprofessional approaches to care and support the application of interprofessional collaborative model of care practices in the practice setting
• Facilitate development, revisions, monitoring, and dissemination of practice related policies and procedures
• Participate in the interviewing process for hiring of staff for all professions as appropriate
• Engage in continuous professional self-development that demonstrates responsibility and commitment for ongoing learning and maintenance of competence.
• In partnership with relevant stakeholders, develop, implement and evaluate educational materials for patients/families, nurses and interprofessional team members.
• Lead and collaborate in planning, development, implementation and sustainability of quality improvement initiatives that are based on best practices
• Engage in quality improvement frameworks e.g. Practice Development methodologies to develop sustained person-centered, evidence informed practice through 1) transformation of care, and 2) shifting the culture and context of care.
• Support Nursing Professional Standards and Issues Committee (PSIC) and Interprofessional Council through membership and leadership on specific initiatives and sub-committees arising for its business.
• Lead and/or support practice initiatives through membership on corporate committees to positively impact patient care.
• Form alliances and collaborations with experienced researchers for co-investigations, participates in research activities
• Involve staff in research for data collection and analysis activities as appropriate
• Disseminate research and quality improvement findings in publications and through presentations in local and external venues, seeks joint appointments to build coalitions, and to share resources, knowledge and expertise · Mentor undergraduate and graduate nursing students, staff undertaking specialty certifications/courses, RNAO fellowships, etc.

• Master’s degree in Nursing or relevant Masters e.g. Education
• Undergraduate Bachelors of Science in Nursing
• BCLS, specialty certifications pertaining to patient population at WPHC, NSWOCC Member, cross-appointment(s) to academic institutions preferred
• Current registration in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Specialty certification; RNAO;
• CNA Certification preferred
• Minimum of five (5) years clinical experience in an acute care, rehabilitation or complex continuing care organization(s)
• Demonstrated ability in best practice and/or protocol development, implementation and evaluation
• Experience in research and quality improvement methodologies
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, consultation and teaching abilities
• Knowledge of evidence based practice and the ability to apply  research to practice
• Evidence of satisfactory attendance and punctuality
• Good performance work history and attendance record

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.