Nurse Specialist

Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.

Coordinate or conduct educational programs or in-service training sessions on topics such as clinical procedures.

Maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or infection control standards.

Plan, evaluate, or modify treatment programs, based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients or by analyzing patient records.

Participate in clinical research projects, such as by reviewing protocols, reviewing patient records, monitoring compliance, and meeting with regulatory authorities.

Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.

Identify training needs or conduct training sessions for nursing students or medical staff.

Provide consultation to other health care providers in areas such as patient discharge, patient care, or clinical procedures.

Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty area such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics.

Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Lead nursing department implementation of, or compliance with, regulatory or accreditation processes.

Chair nursing departments or committees.

Develop or assist others in development of care and treatment plans.

Instruct nursing staff in areas such as the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of disability, illness, management, technology, or resources.

Direct or supervise nursing care staff in the provision of patient therapy.

Provide direct care by performing comprehensive health assessments, developing differential diagnoses, conducting specialized tests, or prescribing medications or treatments.

Provide specialized direct and indirect care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty, such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal care.

Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs.

Prepare reports to document patients' care activities.

Develop nursing service philosophies, goals, policies, priorities, or procedures.

Write nursing orders.

Perform discharge planning for patients.

Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards, based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinion.

Present clients with information required to make informed health care and treatment decisions.

Make clinical recommendations to physicians, other health care providers, insurance companies, patients, or health care organizations.