Clinical Nurse Specialist- Facial pain & Cranial Nerve Disorders

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Union: Non-Union

Number of Vacancies: 1

New or Replacement Position: New

Site: Toronto Western Hospital - 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8

Department: Krembil Brain Institute - Neurosurgery

Reporting to: Clinical Director

Salary Range: $49.86 - $62.32 per hour 

Hours:  37.5 hours per week

Shifts: Days

Status: Permanent Full-Time

Closing Date: March 25, 2026

 

Position Summary

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the Facial pain & Cranial Nerve Disorders functions in an advanced practice nursing role demonstrating a high level of autonomy and expert skill to formulate clinical decisions and appropriately care for patients. The CNS role acts as a leadership and change agent role in the advancement of nursing practice and standards; supporting the implementation of interprofessional best practices in the care of patients.

The key responsibilities of the Clinical Nurse Specialist include:

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment goals for patients with neurosurgical needs to full scope, with a focus on neurosurgical patients with facial pain, cranial nerve disorders and other neuropathic pain indications.
• Apply specialized knowledge and expertise on recent advances in nursing best practices to facilitate the effective management of clinical activities, coordination of patient care and continuity in patient care through integrated care strategies.
• Provides patient and family with education and nursing care as it relates to the diagnosis and treatment plan. Assures that patient/family and healthcare providers are educated/informed as to ongoing care needs relative to discharge planning. This involves participation in outpatient clinics as well as providing advice, in collaboration with surgical staff, regarding ongoing patient questions and concerns.
• Gather metrics of referral to and referral from neurosurgical facial pain, cranial nerve disorders and other neuropathic pain indications, help coordinate, triage and prioritize clinic visits.
• Provide patients with advice, in coordination with surgical staff, about medication management and flare up plans.
• Foster organizational culture of learning, quality and safety through mentorship, role modelling and coaching of nursing staff and inter-professional teams to build capacity in management of patients with neurosurgical needs.
• Contribute to the development and/or refinement of policies, procedures, medical directives related to neurosurgery care of facial pain and cranial nerve disorder patients.
• Participate in procurement, evaluation processes and committees related to function, as needed.
• Support best Practice in nursing in meeting the best available evidence and benchmarks.

Other responsibilities include:

• Supports quality health care through teaching, mentoring, quality monitoring and program development.
• Initiates and participates in quality improvement and research that will expand nursing knowledge, and disseminate advances in nursing care.
• Delivering, coordinating and participating in education in conjunction with the Advanced Practice Nurse Educators and other nursing leaders including professional development activities.
• Participates in outcome evaluation nurse-sensitive indicators.
• Liaise with different neurosurgical and collaborating specialists in setting up multidisciplinary case conference meetings when necessary.
• Help with the triage and booking of patient referrals.
• Participate in academic and educational activities that will expand the role’s reach into the larger academic nursing community.

• Current certificate of registration from the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Master degree in Nursing or recognized equivalent required
• Subspecialty certification in Neuroscience, High Acuity Nursing Care, Pain Management and/or Critical Care Preferred
• 3-5 years nursing experience in neurosurgical or neurosciences programs within an acute care setting
• Three (3) years of relevant experience including experience in an advanced clinical practice role, preferably in an acute care and/or neuroscience setting preferred
• Completion of Basic Cardiac Life Support (B.C.L.S.) program, Level II Rescuer certification
• Sound understanding and demonstrated ability to enact the Core Competencies of the CNS framework as outlined by the Canadian Nurse Association Related to clinical care, system leadership, advancement of nursing practice competencies and evaluation and research
• Eligible for cross-appointment to an academic institution
• Excellent coaching and mentoring skills
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Excellent problem recognition and complex problem-solving skills
• Experience with Quality Improvement, program planning an evaluation an asset
• Commitment to collaborative practice, effectively functioning within an inter-professional team
• Ability to work effectively and autonomously within a fast paced, high demand environment
• Experience with Electronic Health Information Systems and Microsoft office Suite including Excel
• Experience with outpatient management of neurosurgical patients
• Understanding and practice in care of patients with facial neuropathic pain

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.