Clinical Nurse Specialist - Stroke

About the Role We are seeking a senior nurse for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role to join our Stroke Service. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by stroke by providing expert clinical care, leadership, education, and service development across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Key Responsibilities Provide expert clinical assessment, treatment, and care coordination for patients with stroke across inpatient and community settings. Lead nurse‑led stroke clinics and deliver ongoing follow‑up care to support recovery and secondary prevention. Support admission avoidance through early intervention, community‑based management, and nurse‑led home visits. Provide specialist stroke consultation and advice to multidisciplinary teams, inpatient wards, START, and AMU services. Facilitate timely patient assessment and management to improve patient flow and reduce delays in care. Deliver education and training to healthcare professionals, patients, whānau, and community groups. Maintain national stroke databases and reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with quality and performance standards. Contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and implementation of evidence‑based practice. Promote equitable access to stroke care, particularly for Māori, Pacific peoples, and other priority populations. Act as a clinical leader and advocate for excellence in stroke care across the continuum of care. About the Service Waikato Hospital has an organised Stroke Service that includes hyper‑acute, acute and rehabilitation delivery by a specialised interdisciplinary team. The service is supported by Neurology, General Medicine, Geriatrics and other specialties and contributes to the National Stroke Network and Community groups. The primary focus is to deliver person‑centred care to support stroke recovery. Qualifications and Experience Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current APC. Minimum 7+ years of nursing experience. Postgraduate nursing qualifications (Postgraduate Diploma degree or working towards one preferred). Extensive experience in stroke, acute care of older people, or related specialties. Advanced assessment and clinical decision‑making skills. A commitment to equity, including improving outcomes for Māori. Strong communication, leadership and teaching abilities. A proactive, solution‑focused approach to service improvement. Knowledge and understanding of TeTiriti oWaitangi. Essential Requirements Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a current practising status. Evidence of Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) or attainment of senior nurse level on the Senior Nurses PDRP. 7+ years of experience in leadership within a complex health‑related environment, including medicine, older persons, rehabilitation and related clinical expertise. Equity and Diversity We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled and rainbow communities. #J-18808-Ljbffr