At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Scientist position is responsible for leading the development, coordination, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of nursing research activities. This position works closely with the Director and Manager for Nursing Science to strategically plan, and outline priority initiatives based on hospital quality measures. The Nurse Scientist position ensures the highest quality of scholarly and scientific activity by Houston Methodist nursing staff. This position serves as a role model and consultant related to the nursing research process and coordinates the IRB approval and grant funding process for nursing research. The Nurse Scientist position promotes and facilitates evidence-based interventions at the bedside, a key component for the role

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serves as a consultant to nursing leadership, executives, and nurses to develop, implement and sustain evidence-based high impact initiatives. Role models efficient and effective communication to establish and maintain a team environment.

• Promotes, supports, and facilitates individuals engaging in research activities to advance research in practice: evidence-based practice, the conduct of research, research utilization, and research dissemination. Collaborates and develops innovative programs to educate, mentor, and enhance the knowledge of nursing staff.

• Serves as an active member of the Research Council. Coordinates, guides, leads, and provides support for council activities and serves as the liaison to the nursing shared governance structure.

• Conducts self in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. Fosters staff engagement by demonstrating active listening, requesting, and acknowledging feedback, providing rationale when appropriate, and supporting organizational goals. Contributes towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e., peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Facilitates and directs the development of interdepartmental and interprofessional research activities, including generating individual and/or group programs of research.

• Encourages and promotes nursing publications in peer reviewed journals.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies nursing quality metrics outliers and creates evidence-based nursing interventions for improvement. Supports hospital efforts to improve quality care, linking research to improved patient outcomes.

• Plans, directs, and ensures execution and sustainability of all initiatives to ensure that the goals of the program are met. In collaboration with the Director, develops program outcome measures and monitors for sustainability.

• Conducts investigator-initiated research that supports and adds to nursing's scientific foundation.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Seeks research funding through grant application. Assists departments and individual healthcare professionals to apply and obtain such funding for research projects and activities.

• Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and mentors others to do the same, optimizing efficiency and other areas according to department specifications.

• Utilizes resources with cost effectiveness and value creation in mind. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops initiatives and held accountable for increasing the number of HM nursing research, EBP and quality improvement dissemination activities at the national and international level.

• Generates and communicates new ideas to lead teams to creative strategies that improve quality or service and impact entity departments and address organization or department priorities. Analyzes and presents research and quality improvement data.

• Fosters an institutional environment conducive to the conduct of inquiry, research, and evidence-based practice, as evidenced by the number of nurse-generated projects. Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's and Master's degree, one of which must be in nursing

• Doctoral degree in medical field

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years clinical nursing experience

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
• RN-Temp - Registered Nurse - Temporary State Licensure within 60 days AND
• Magnet - ANCC Recognized Certification within 1 year

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Acts as effective change agent

• Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

• Demonstrates expert time management skills

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.