Position Summary:

The Nursing Practice Leader (NPL) for Pediatric Pain Management serves as a nursing leader in implementation and evaluation of evidence-based care and national standards to prevent and manage pain in children of all ages across multiple healthcare experiences. The NPL is an expert in clinical practice related to pediatric pain management, implementation of change, patient and staff education, knowledge of evidence-based practice, and skilled in interdisciplinary communication and collaboration to support and enhance patient care. The NPL for Pediatric Pain Management serves in a consultative resource capacity to staff by providing expert knowledge and role modeling behavioral skills that impact clinical practice and patient outcomes as well as interacts outside of UI Healthcare through pediatric pain management collaborations. The NPL serves as a recognized advocate for pediatric patients and families, promoting evidence-based, equitable pain management practices and ensuring pediatric considerations are represented in organizational planning, resource allocation, quality initiatives, and interdisciplinary decision-making across UI Health Care.

Position Summary

• Provide Leadership and Direct Care for Specialized Patient Population
  • Serves as a nursing expert and organizational resource for pediatric pain assessment, prevention, and management across the organization.
  • Conducts ongoing surveillance of pediatric patients to identify actual or anticipated pain management concerns and collaborates with appropriate members of the patient's healthcare team to develop individualized, patient-specific multimodal pain management plans.
  • Provides direct just-in time clinical consultation and just-in-time coaching, education, resources, and/or support to safely and effectively implement interdisciplinary, multimodal, evidence-based pain management strategies.
  • Advocates for equitable, patient-centered pain management strategies and standards of care that address the unique needs of patients with attention to vulnerable pediatric populations such as pre-term infants, children with neurodevelopmental differences, children with communication challenges, children with sickle cell disease, and children receiving end-of-life care.

• Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance
  • Leads divisional pediatric efforts to improve pain management outcomes, patient safety, and patient and family experience through quality improvement methodologies including methodologies from the Solutions for Patient Safety.
  • Reviews, trends, analyzes, and communicates pain-related quality, safety, and patient experience data to identify opportunities for improvement and prevention of patient harm (e.g., Riskonnect reports, patient satisfaction comments, nurse leader comments related to pain).
  • Develops, implements, and evaluates pain management initiatives. Including assessment/reassessment, utilization and effectiveness of multimodal pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, opioid stewardship efforts, procedural pain management strategies, and treatment side effects.

• Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Program Developmen
  • Translates current research, clinical guidelines, and national standards into nursing practice to provide safe patient care, improve patient outcomes, and care delivery.
  • Leads and supports implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of evidence-based pain management practices across clinical settings.

• Education, Professional Development, and Mentorship
  • Designs, coordinates, and delivers formal and informal education and programs to enhance staff knowledge and competency in pediatric pain management including but not limited to pediatric pain assessment, pharmacologic and non-pharmacology intervention strategies, and evidence-based management approaches.
  • Assists with pediatric orientation, ongoing learning, competency validation, and continuing education activities related to pain management.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Professional Leadership
  • Fosters collaborative relationships with nursing leaders, physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, therapists, child life specialists, and other stakeholders to advance pediatric pain management initiatives.
  • Represents UI Healthcare in local, regional, and national pediatric pain management collaborations and professional organizations.

• Strategic Program Oversight

o Provides leadership for the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of pediatric pain management programs across the organization.

o Identifies opportunities for innovation in approaches to manage pediatric pain (e.g., VR)

Percent of Time: 100%
Schedule: Monday - Friday, Days

Location: Main Campus

Benefits Highlights:

• Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, IA
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans

Education or Equivalency Required:

• Master's degree (in nursing, MBA or healthcare related) required.

Required License/Certification:

• Current license to practice nursing in Iowa.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of three (3) years of pediatric clinical nursing experience including a minimum of 1 year in a formal or informal clinical leadership role.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including the capacity to independently identify opportunities for improvement, prioritize strategic initiatives, and successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience leading and implementing quality improvement, patient safety, and changing initiatives using evidence-based practice principles. Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively engage interdisciplinary teams and nurses in various practice settings with variable levels of experience.
• Proven success in collaborating with and leading interdisciplinary teams
• Experience developing clinical education, competency, and staff development programs.
• Proficiency with computer software applications including electronic health records, data management systems, and Microsoft Office applications; experience utilizing software to track quality metrics, support interdisciplinary communication, and develop educational resources.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in pediatric pain management, symptom management, palliative care, pediatric anesthesia, or a related specialty area.
• Active membership and involvement in professional nursing and healthcare organizations.
• Professional certification in relevant nursing or clinical specialty with willingness to obtain certification in Pain Management Nursing within 18 months.
• Experience presenting at professional conferences or contributing to publications, guidelines, and/or organizational initiatives.

Please attach a resume as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions or additional information, please contact Megan Garton at [email protected]