Clinical Practice Leader (CPL) - Orthopedics, Trauma Spine Unit (3RC)
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives.®
The clinical practice leader (CPL) is an advanced nurse leader and clinician. The CPL is accountable for patient care outcomes through assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement and evaluate patient care.
The CPL leads clinical care delivery within a healthcare setting; provides and manages care for individuals and cohorts of patients. The CPL designs, implements and evaluates patient care by coordinating, delegating, and supervising the care provided by the health care team, including nurses, technicians, and other professionals.
The CPL leads and supports a culture of evidence-based practice (EBP); and supervises, develops, and implements EB standards; provides staff education; and facilitates quality and process improvements.
The CPL is an expert who oversees the clinical care of an inpatient unit and focuses on improving patient outcomes and reducing costs. The Clinical Practice Leader improves the quality of patient care and enhances the unit’s effectiveness by:
- Promoting critical thinking and innovation in nursing care.
- Using evidence–based practice and research to enhance patient care.
- Implementing effective decision making and productively managing change.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
- Staff Education: Leads and provides unit-based staff education and development
- Quality: Leads quality and process improvements
- Onboarding new employees to the unit
- Patient and family-centered care: Models and ensures Patient and Family-Centered Care
- Lead with Purpose: Champion clinical care at the microsystem level, fostering improvements in patient outcomes and staff development.
- Inspire Innovation: Drive evidence-based practice through education, quality initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Be the Expert: Provide mentorship, ensure staff competencies, and guide the implementation of cutting-edge nursing practices.
- Ensure Excellence: Maintain compliance with regulatory standards and proactively support a culture of continuous improvement.
Why 3RC?
The 3RC Ortho/Trauma/Spine Unit is a 48-bed inpatient unit that is dedicated to providing patient-centered care for a diverse range of surgical and level 1 trauma center patients, including:
- Orthopedic Surgery: hand, shoulder, foot/ankle, reconstructive joint surgery (hips, knees, shoulders), amputations, spine, traction, young adult hip preservation procedures in sports injuries and orthopedic trauma cases
- Neurosurgery: spine
- Trauma Surgery: polytrauma including but not limited to rib plating, subdural hematomas, rib fractures and solid organ lacerations
Percent of Time: 100%
Schedule: Monday-Friday, day shift, on-call coverage
Location: University of Iowa Hospital
P&S Pay Scale: https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/professional-and-scientific-pay-structure-b
Benefits Highlights:
- Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
- Fringe benefits package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life, and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans
- For more information about Why Iowa?, click here
Education or Equivalency Required:
- Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Nursing required. If Master's/Doctorate Degree is in related field, Baccalaureate in Nursing required
Required Qualifications:
- Current, valid license to practice nursing in Iowa
- Considerable clinical experience (minimum 3 years) in adult acute care
- Demonstrates knowledge and experience with:
- Staff education and development
- Evidence-based practice
- Outcomes based practice and quality improvement
- Staff education and development
- Demonstrates strong leadership including:
- Analytical thinking/problem solving
- Self-starter and motivated; takes initiative
- Serves as change agent; leads change process including implementation of EBP
- Motivates/influences others
- Analytical thinking/problem solving
- Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and collaboration with interdisciplinary team. Demonstrates team leadership
- Demonstrates excellent verbal communication skills, including ability to articulate issues professionally, yet assertively and persuasively
- Demonstrates excellent written communication skills
- Demonstrates ability to understand and deliver care in a complex and diverse environment
- Role models professional practice and has reputation for clinical and service excellence
- Proficient in computer software applications
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience working in a large academic medical center
- Certification: (Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) - Certification by the Commission on Nurse Certification
- Experience with Nursing Research
- Experience creating/managing microsystems of care
- Member/active participation in professional organization(s)
Application Process: In order to be considered, applicants must upload a cover letter and resume/CV (under submission relevant materials) that clearly addresses how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications for this position. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This position may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be asked to provide five (5) professional references. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Please contact Regan Lampe at regan-lampe@uiowa.edu with any questions.
Equal opportunity/affirmative action employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
