Clinical Nurse Specialist - Older Persons Health and Rehabilitation

• Burwood Hospital, Christchurch
• Permanent 0.6 FTE position
• Your chance to promote clinical excellence 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the role

We are seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist to join our Older Persons Health Team.

This role is diverse and encompasses promoting clinical excellence, undertaking specialist care, nursing leadership, education, workforce development and working alongside the wider team to promote continuous improvement and innovation.

About You

Clinical Nurse Specialists work across the organisation within a clinical specialty acting in the roles of practitioner, educator, consultant, researcher, leader/change agent and care coordinator/case manager in the pursuit of clinical excellence and improved health outcomes. They are recognised as expert practitioners, having in-depth knowledge of a speciality that results in expanding boundaries of nursing practice and the implementation of evidence-based practice.

To be successful in this role, you will have passion and commitment for promoting health of older people and will have advanced nursing knowledge. You will be self-directed, can work within a multidisciplinary environment, can cultivate relationships with teams/wider stakeholders and value contributing to positive workplace culture.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Providing advanced nursing knowledge and health assessment skills in relation to the management of client care within the Older Persons Health setting.
• Role modelling expert evidence-based clinical practice.
• Providing professional nursing support to others in their assessment, clinical decision-making, implementation, evaluation, and documentation of care. 
• Providing clinical guidance and mentoring to nursing and allied health colleagues.
• Guide, support, and act as a resource both internally and externally on the health of older adults. 
• Network nationally to identify and implement nursing advances and changes in practice.
• Identify opportunities for general health/wellness supports and initiatives for older populations. 
• Take a nursing leadership role in both direct and indirect client assessment and support interventions for patients and their whanau. 
• Assist in facilitating interdisciplinary team meetings and provide professional support for complex clients with physical and social co-morbidities. 
• Provide nursing leadership and gerontology knowledge to a broad range of hospital, community, and professional groups to achieve positive outcomes for older populations.
• Participate in system change initiatives to improve health outcomes of older adults through evidence-based practice. 
• Demonstrate ability to interpret and implement research findings relevant to the health of older people.
• Supports a culture of evaluation and the ongoing quality improvement of nursing practice. 
• Participate in the development of and reviews current policy, procedures and standards using a best practice approach.
• Conduct, monitors and facilitates clinical audit to ensure quality health outcomes. 

Your skills will include:

Essential:

• Be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand. 
• Hold a current Nursing Council of New Zealand practising certificate. 
• At least five years working with older adults in a primary, community or secondary setting.
• Experience with Older Persons Health and Rehabilitation.
• Holds or is actively working towards a relevant Post-graduate Nursing Diploma. Diploma to be completed within an agreed timeframe. Ideally including advanced health assessment.
• Ability to work autonomously with advanced nursing skills comparable to senior nurse or expert PDRP level. 
• Demonstrated skills in nursing leadership and acts as a clinical role model for nurses. 
• Displays a high degree of confidence, communication skill, organisational skills, and personal motivation. 
• Knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently.
• Full driving licence with no restrictions. 

Desirable:

• Demonstrated ability to develop nursing standards and quality initiatives.
• Demonstrated teaching, mentoring and coaching skills. 
• Demonstrated involvement in research that has changed nursing practice. 

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.
• We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online career’s portal before 11:59pm on Sunday 2^nd February. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Natalie Gaunt at Natalie.Gaunt@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.