Clinical Nurse Program
The Clinical Nursing program supports the identification of nurse leaders and coordinates their leadership activities in the advancement of evidence-based nursing practice, performance improvement activities, and the advancement of efforts to meet the SMMC’s publicly reported patient care metrics. The program is coordinated through a Clinical Nurse Committee.
A. Clinical Nurse Program Committee:
Membership:
The Clinical Nurse Committee is composed of 3 Nurse Managers or Deputy Directors selected by the SMMC Chief Nursing Officer and 3 represented nurses selected by CNA. At least two of the represented nurses on the committee shall be in the clinical nurse status.
Work of the Program Committee:
This committee shall determine the eligibility of nurses applying to the clinical nurse program, oversee the annual renewal process, and determine the continued eligibility for nurses in the clinical nurse status. Clinical nurses who fail to remain eligible shall be removed from the Clinical Nurse Program.
The Clinical Nurses Program Committee will also meet as necessary to discuss:
i. The application process for becoming a Clinical Nurse
ii. The elements that comprise the initial application and scope of work per applicant
iii. The annual renewal process for current Clinical Nurses
iv. The elements that comprise the renewal process
v. Promoting excellence and the continuation of the Clinical Nurse Program
vi. Advocating for the continued success of Clinical Nurses
Initial Review Outcomes:
The Committee has three options after interview and review of the nurse’s application:
- Accepting the application without conditions with a one year Clinical Nurse appointment.
- Accepting the application with conditions to be completed and resubmitted in 90 days and be assigned a Clinical Nurse mentor. Failure to meet the conditions will result in not being granted the Clinical Nurse status.
- Rejecting the application resulting and not granting the Clinical Nurse status.
Annual Review Procedures:
The Committee will determine the criteria and requirements for the annual review for Clinical Nurses who are appointed through the Clinical Nurse Committee process. Current Clinical Nurses under the application process will have one year following Board approval of the successor agreement to complete their renewal.
The Committee shall annually review the status of each Clinical Nurse in the Clinical Nurse Program. The Clinical Nurse shall be advised of the criteria and requirements for the annual review upon the Clinical Nurse Review Panel’s-initial approval of the Nurse’s application, and upon the Clinical Nurse Review Panel’s-approval of each annual review thereafter. If the Clinical Nurse has met the Panel’s requirements, the Nurse shall remain in the Clinical Nurse Program for a subsequent twelve (12) months following.
Each Clinical Nurse shall submit a report of their progress toward the requirements to the Clinical Nurse Review Panel nine (9) months following completion of the annual review. The Committee shall notify the Clinical Nurse, the CNO, and the Union if a Clinical Nurse has not made significant progress toward completion of their requirements within the first nine (9) months of their annual review period. Upon receiving such notice, the Clinical Nurse may request an advisor to advise in the completion of the requirements.
Clinical Nurses who fail to remain eligible shall be removed from the Program and the Classification as Clinical Nurse. If the Clinical Nurse fails to meet the requirements by the date of the annual review or the Clinical Nurse fails to submit an application for renewal by the date of the annual review, the Clinical Nurse shall take a voluntary, non-disciplinary demotion to his or her previously-held classification. Following a voluntary non-disciplinary demotion, the Nurse may reapply for the Clinical Nurse Program following twelve (12) months after the date of the voluntary demotion.
B. Clinical Nurses with Specific Job Descriptions
The following nursing assignments require specific job descriptions with some requiring certifications. Such assignments are exempt from the application and renewal requirements described in Section 17(a), and are automatically considered Clinical Nurses. These assignments include:
- Quality Assurance Nurses
- Nurse Educators
- Infection Disease Control and Prevention Nurses
- Nurse Case Managers
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (OB)
- Clinical Informaticists
- Utilization Review Nurses
- Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurses
- Nurse Diabetic Educators
- Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nurses
Other Clinical Nurse positions may be created to meet accreditation, licensing, and business needs of the organization. Recruitment opportunities for Clinical Nurse positions with Specific Job Duties will be posted on Human Resources’ web site in accordance to Civil Service Rules. Clinical Nurse Program positions through the application process are not subject to these requirements.
The addition of other Clinical Nurse positions may be created to meet accreditation, licensing, and business needs of the organization. Recruitment opportunities for Clinical Nurse positions with Specific Job Duties will be posted in Human Resources’ web site in accordance to Civil Service Rules. Clinical Nursing positions through the application process are not subject to these requirements.
C. Transfers:
If a Clinical Nurse elects to transfer to a like specialty the nurse will be allowed six (6) months to submit the renewal requirements to the Committee that is relevant to the new clinical area.
If a Clinical Nurse elects to transfer or is reassigned to an unrelated specialty, the Clinical Nurse will be given six (6) months and assigned a Clinical Nurse mentor to submit an application for the Clinical Nurse Program. If the Nurse fails to submit an application, the nurse will be reassigned to the appropriate Staff Nurse status.
D. Compensation:
The salary for Clinical Nurse shall be at the same salary range as that of Charge Nurse.
A nurse who receives Preceptor Differential at any point during the calendar year is ineligible to use preceptor duties for the Clinical Nurse Application.