Clinical Nurse Specialist, Professional Practice Leader
Company : IWK Health
Req ID: 214180
Department/Program: Nursing Practice and Clinical Supports, Professional Practice
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly PT (50% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date:
Union Status: NSNU Nursing, Nursing Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $49.8608 - $61.5765 /hour
Closing Date: February 23, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Director of Interprofessional Practice & Learning, the Clinical Nurse Specialist, Professional Practice Leader (PPL) facilitates and advances excellence in quality person centred care and practice through the integration of a variety of services aimed at supporting and enhancing professional practice. The PPL takes a collaborative leadership role in fostering a culture of learning with a focus on clinical practice, clinical leadership, inter/intra professional collaboration and the development, implementation and maintenance of a model for inter/intra professional practice and standards consistent with health professional regulatory bodies and associations. The Clinical Nurse Specialist, Professional Practice Leader serves as a consultant to the organization with respect to professional practice issues at the individual, team, program and system level. The PPL works with all members of the interprofessional team including physicians to promote evidence-based practice, reflecting best practices and a culture of patient centred care. The PPL prioritizes commitment to Clinical Nurse Specialist recruitment and retention, recognizing opportunities for improvements and innovation in support of APN education and practice. This is conducted at an individual, team, and systems level. The PPL practices in alignment with the Nova Scotia Nurses Act (2019), and the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN) Standards of Practice for both Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners, and the NP Practice Guideline. The PPL demonstrates competency in practice, program.
Hours of Work
Monday to Friday
Your Qualifications
- Master of Nursing - policy or thesis streams required. Applicants with equivalent experience and education may be considered.
- Eligible for licensure as a nurse practitioner in Nova Scotia and is currently registered as an RN or masters in good standing with Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN).
- Minimum of three to five years clinical experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
- Previous management and/or demonstrated practice leadership experience, is an asset.
- Experience in initiating, managing and evaluating projects.
- Demonstrated cultural competence and a strong understanding of the impact of social determinants of health on mental/physical health.
- Expert knowledge to critically analyze evidence-based practices to inform strategy development and organizational planning.
- Demonstrated success in collaborating with others, working with teams and fostering team development.
- Demonstrated ability to be an effective change agent with strong interpersonal, relationship building and team building skills.
- Ability to manage conflict and foster conflict management strategies.
- Demonstrated aptitude for progressive, creative and innovative thinking. A high degree of judgement and initiative.
- Competency in other languages an asset
Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Nursing bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
Job Segment:
Clinic, Clinical Research, Medical Research, Nursing, Registered Nurse, Healthcare