The CNS – Modality Educator will play a key leadership role in supporting patients and families to make informed decisions about renal replacement options, including home dialysis, in-centre dialysis, conservative care, and kidney transplantation. This role will also be central to building modality education capacity across the interprofessional team and ensuring timely vascular and body access planning to support optimal patient outcomes.

The CNS will work closely with physician leads and the Clinical Manager to advance strategic priorities, clinical quality, and program development within the kidney care program that reflects the vision, mission and values of St. Michael’s hospital.

Reporting to the Clinical Manager, the Clinical Nurse Specialist – Modality Educator works collaboratively with nephrologists, nurses, allied health professionals, program leadership, internal and external partners to advance best practices in renal modality education, access planning, and transitions of care. The CNS provides expert clinical consultation, leads education initiatives, and supports quality improvement and research activities related to CKD management and renal replacement therapy.

The CNS demonstrates advanced knowledge, skill and judgment in providing care to patients that are consistent with the College of Nurses of Ontario. At St. Michael’s Hospital, a CNS must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Support the delivery of quality care to chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient population, and facilitate the development of comprehensive care plans in conjunction with the interprofessional team to enhance patient safety, outcomes, access to care, and experience
• Assess, plan, educate, implement and evaluate the needs and assist patients and their families in navigating the kidney care journey by providing solutions and resources.
• Blend clinical expertise with education, knowledge translation, leadership and research skills to serve as a consultant and resource to nurses, nursing leadership, interprofessional teams and external partners in the process of decision-making, developing clinical guidelines and protocols, promoting the use of evidence, and facilitating system change

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The CNS works within 4 domains of practice.

Clinical Domain:

• Provides individualized modality education for patients and families, ensuring timely, informed decision-making aligned with patient values and goals
• Serves as an expert clinical nursing resource in CKD management and renal replacement therapy, including home dialysis and transplantation, for patients, families, nursing colleagues, and the interprofessional team
• Collaborates with the interprofessional team to ensure early and timely referral for vascular access and body access procedures (e.g., AV fistula, PD catheter)
• Collaborates internal and external partners to coordinate access planning, transplant work-up pathways, and transitions across care settings
• Supports care planning for patients with complex medical and psychosocial needs across the CKD continuum

Knowledge Translation

• Critically appraises renal-related research and seek patient and family input to apply evidence to clinical practice, education, quality and patient safety initiatives
• Builds nursing capacity by supporting evidence based practice at the point of care
• Mentors nursing students (undergraduate and graduate) and staff, e.g., professional development and quality improvement initiatives
• Leads and collaborates in the development of modality education programs and resources for patients/families, nurses and interprofessional team members, based on current evidence and evaluates system interventions to decrease risks and complications of patients with CKD.
• Promotes best practices in renal modality education through the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, procedures, and educational pathways aligned with provincial and national standards

Scholarship

• Identifies emerging trends in CKD care, home dialysis utilization, and transplantation, and collaborates with regional partners to adapt practice accordingly
• Leads and supports nursing research and quality improvement initiatives related to modality education, access planning, and patient experience
• Mentors nurses in the development of abstracts, presentations and publications
• Participates in presentations/publications of research and quality improvement initiatives
• Eligible for cross appointments with affiliated/approved institutions to build coalitions, share resources, knowledge and expertise

Leadership

• Provides clinical and professional leadership to advance exemplary CKD and renal replacement care
• Leads and supports nursing research and quality improvement initiatives related to modality education, access planning, and patient experience
• Leads and participates in unit and hospital wide committees and working groups to develop, implement and sustain best patient care practices
• Supports interprofessional collaboration in planning, implementation, evaluation and sustainability of initiatives by regional renal programs, transplant centres, and community partners
• Facilitates collaboration with regional renal programs, transplant centres, and community partners
• Facilitates and leads team-based activities, e.g., clinical rounds, strategic planning
• Acts as a change agent to support innovation, sustainability, and quality in renal care delivery

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current General Class (Practicing) Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
• Master’s degree in Nursing or related clinical specialty required
• Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification in Nephrology Nursing (CNeph (c)) preferred
• Minimum five (5) years of clinical specialty-related experience in nephrology, CKD care, or renal replacement therapy in an acute care hospital setting
• Demonstrated expertise in home dialysis modalities and strong working knowledge of kidney transplantation pathways
• Experience leading education initiatives, quality improvement, and/or nursing research
• Demonstrated leadership in committee work, program development, and knowledge translation
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within interprofessional teams
• Excellent attendance record
• Evidence of sound knowledge and skill with adult education theory and techniques
• Demonstrated ability to work in a self-directed manner using well developed leadership, criticalthinking, organizational and problem solving skills
• Demonstrated flexibility to work occasional shifts off-site and weekends to support operational needs

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.