The Professional Practice Specialist (PPS) supports both the acute and chronic dialysis programs at Children’s National Hospital. This role serves as a clinical expert, providing leadership in practice development, education, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. The PPS collaborates with nursing, medical, and administrative teams to ensure safe, evidence-based dialysis care and optimal patient outcomes. Responsibilities include staff education and competency validation, policy development, quality and safety initiatives, and clinical consultation across inpatient and outpatient dialysis services.

Position Summary

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, CNMC Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. CNMC supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically, those relationships associated with the health and wellbeing of the community at large. In collaboration with the department's Nurse Managers acts in a staff role to support optimal service outcomes by providing for the development of professional staff and other direct care givers in a defined service specialty. As member of the department's leadership team, participates in and is accountable for the continuous assessment of service needs, strategic planning, process design and goal attainment. The PPS also functions on the interdepartmental level and acts on behalf of CNMC as a resource to other health care institutions.

Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) (Required)
Master's Degree (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
5 years Nursing experience (Required)
2 years Experience in area of specialty (Preferred)

Functional Accountabilities:
Professional Practice

• Participate/support Shared Leadership.

• Contribute to CNMCs Magnet Journey.

• Ensure that nursing practice is based on evidence of best practice.

• Accountable for participating in the Division of Nursing’s Performance Improvement process (division or unit level).

• Participate in community activities.

Education

• Provide for the continuous assessment of assigned staff educational needs.

• Develop educational plans that meet organizational and departmental goals.

• Coordinate service/unit/individual orientation.

• Provide basic orientation in specialty area as appropriate.

• Coordinate and provide continuing education for clinical staff.

• Assess and assure the competency of assigned staff in accordance with regulatory requirements.

• Facilitate CNMC sponsored lectures and conferences.

• Use teaching methods that facilitate the education process for adult learners.

Clinical

• Demonstrate and maintain clinical expertise in area of specialty by periodically providing direct patient care.

• Facilitate problem solving of clinical care issues by working with staff through individual consultation and facilitation of patient care rounds and conferences.

• Maintain knowledge of individual patient care needs and identify and communicate complex care requirements to the care team.

• Participate in clinical pathway development.

• Accountable for establishing, implementing, communicating and evaluating interdisciplinary plan of care with outcomes.

Quality/Research

• Ensure that nursing practice is based on evidence of best practice.

• Accountable for supporting the Division of Nursing’s Performance Improvement process (division or unit level).

• Assess and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Direct and guide clinical quality improvement efforts for the service.

• Facilitate staff learning the concepts and theories of quality improvement and their participation in the quality improvement process.

• Participate in the creation of new knowledge in the specialty area.

• Facilitate research into practice.

Consultant

• Conduct programs relative to area of specialty for other departments as necessary.

• Is recognized and called upon as an expert resource to support patient care at CNMC.

• Provide expertise in support of organizational initiatives.

• Act as a resource to affiliated organizations on behalf of CNMC

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Organizational Accountabilities:
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Partner in the mission and upholds the core principles of the organization

• Committed to diversity and recognizes value of cultural/ ethnic differences

• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity

• Maintain confidentiality at all times

Customer Service

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Primary Location

Work Locations

Job

Organization

Job Posting

Full-Time Salary Range