Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Emergency Department
Are you ready to lead transformational change in emergency care? ChristianaCare is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to join our dynamic Emergency Services team at Christiana Hospital and our Middletown Emergency Department. This is your opportunity to make a lasting impact on patient outcomes and nursing practice.
ChristianaCare’s Emergency Departments offer a unique opportunity to practice across a high-performing, nationally recognized health system that combines the intensity of a major academic medical center with the accessibility of a community-based setting.
Christiana Hospital is home to one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the nation, caring for more than 200,000 patients annually. As Delaware’s only Level I Trauma Center, it delivers the highest level of emergency and trauma care, supporting a broad range of complex and high-acuity patients in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary, academic environment. With a strong focus on evidence-based practice, innovation, and care delivery transformation, Christiana Hospital provides an exceptional setting for clinical leaders to drive quality and influence outcomes at scale.
Complementing this is the Middletown Emergency Department, a dynamic, community-based site serving a rapidly growing population. This location provides high-quality, patient-centered emergency care in a collaborative, team-oriented environment with a strong emphasis on efficiency, safety, and patient experience. Fully integrated with Christiana Hospital, the Middletown ED offers seamless access to advanced specialty care and transfer capabilities while maintaining a close-knit team culture.
Across both settings, ChristianaCare fosters a culture of clinical excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation—offering Clinical Nurse Specialists the opportunity to influence practice, lead quality initiatives, and enhance patient outcomes across diverse emergency care environments.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Acts as transformational leader, catalyzing and facilitating change toward higher levels of professionalism and
competency.
Provides advanced clinical consultation and serves as a resource for patients, families, and staff in specialty
areas.
Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes and promote structural empowerment.
Leads and disseminates research and quality improvement initiatives, supporting new knowledge, innovations,
and clinical improvements.
Models exemplary professional practice through direct patient care, mentorship, and staff development.
Evaluates and reports empirical outcomes, using data to drive practice improvements.
Ensures care delivery is evidence-based and consistent with the relationship-based care model.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
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Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
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Clinical Nurse Specialist license in Delaware OR Maryland with willingness to obtain in both states.
- Master’s degree in nursing with completion of a CNS program.
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National CNS certification required ANCC CNS-BC.
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Minimum five years of relevant clinical and leadership experience.
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Current Registered Nurse License in Delaware.
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Current Clinical Nurse Specialist license in the state of DE.
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Current BLS certification required.
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Nurse Executive Board Certification preferred.
Schedule: This position is an exempt position with typically a Monday - Friday day shift schedule, requiring flexibility to meet the needs of the department.
What we Offer:
- Robust medical, dental and eyecare benefits, effective Day One!
- 403b with defined contribution.
- Generous paid time off with annual roll-over and opportunities to cash out.
- 12 week paid parental leave. ChristianaCare fully absorbs cost of Delaware PMFL.
- Incredible work/life benefits including membership to care.com, access to back up care services for dependents, retirement planning services, financial coaching, fitness and wellness reimbursement and great discounts through several vendors for hotels, rental cars, theme parks, shows and sporting events.
Annual Compensation Range $100,152.00 - $160,243.20
This pay rate/range represents ChristianaCare’s good faith and reasonable estimate of compensation at the time of posting. The actual salary within this range offered to a successful candidate will depend on individual factors including without limitation skills, relevant experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements.
Christiana Care Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
EEO Statement: ChristianaCare Health System is an equal opportunity employer, firmly committed to prohibiting discrimination, whose staff is reflective of its community, and considers qualified applicants for open positions without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
