Nurse V

Job Description:
Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of each other, teamwork, and inclusivity? HSCS is dedicated to building a diverse community atmosphere where employees feel valued, supported, and accepted while providing specialized care for Texans in need. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interest you, we welcome your application for the position below.

The Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) performs highly advanced nursing work establishing policies and procedures for, and guiding, directing, and overseeing the daily operations and activities of the nursing programs and services for the State Hospital (SH) within the scope of practice attributed to the skills of a registered nurse at the SH. Leads in the design, development, and implementation of systems that evaluate and contribute to the quality of patient care. Performs tasks, demonstrating involvement in furthering performance improvement and quality assessment initiatives between nursing and other professional disciplines. Seeks and utilizes suggestions to effectively streamline work efforts and minimize redundancy. Keeps Central Administration apprised of nursing services resource allocation and reallocation needs. Develops, implements, and oversees a high-quality system of care to patients using a multi-disciplinary approach. Directing operations to effectively achieve the vision and strategic, financial, and operational plans that have been developed for the hospital. Reviews medical records and patient assessments to determine compliance with policies and procedures, correctness of assessment, standards of care, and quality of service. Oversees implementation of quality assurance processes including overseeing and evaluating progress of Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) related to nursing services. Supervises and manages all nursing staff. Works under the minimal supervision of the Superintendent with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Leads in the design, development, and implementation of systems that evaluate and contribute to the quality of patient care. Performs tasks, demonstrating involvement in furthering performance improvement and quality assessment initiatives between nursing and other professional disciplines. Assigns project teams of essential stakeholders to address improvement opportunities using the principles of continuous quality improvement and documents appropriately. Utilizing data, assures a system of concurrent reporting of general patterns and trends of nursing care provided (e.g., 24-hour nursing report). Incorporates program specific monitoring into ongoing performance improvement activities. Establishes vehicles to assure readily available, accurate, and useable data, congruent with goals and objectives, and meets reporting responsibilities.

Evaluates and oversees the continuous 24 hour a day coverage and timely availability of nursing staff to meet patient care needs. Establishes and evaluates, a campus-based plan for nursing service delivery that identifies minimum staffing for all levels of personnel to ensure a safe environment capable of complying with all regulatory and professional standards (e.g., Texas Administrative Code, accrediting agencies, and the Nurse Practice Act). Seeks and utilizes suggestions to effectively streamline work efforts and minimize redundancy. Keeps Central Administration apprised of nursing services resource allocation and reallocation needs. Identifies opportunities for improved recruitment and retention efforts of qualified nursing personnel (e.g., participation in job fairs, school visits, advertising, addressing job satisfaction issues, review of all exit interviews, tracking of program specific turnover, etc.).

Supervises and manages all nursing department staff. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, selecting and hiring potential employees, scheduling and assigning workload, establishing performance measures, evaluating work performance, providing feedback and guidance, recommending staff development and training, recommending personnel and disciplinary actions, scheduling and approving leave.

Catalyst for the operation of campus-based nursing services and is responsible for the mutual achievement of patient centered organizational goals. Leads, attends, and participates in key organizational meetings and disseminates information from meetings to appropriate staff; assesses unit operations and evaluates the status of hospital mission and nursing roles. Analyzes available data in relation to state hospital wide nursing practices and activities to support decision making.

Oversees implementation of quality assurance processes including overseeing and evaluating progress of Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) related to nursing services. Reviews audit reports for citations and develops and implements a CAP to correct any citations. Reviews special investigations involving nursing staff where Abuse, Neglect and/or Exploitation (ANE) is asserted. Alerts leadership to safety/risk management issues and actively facilitates problem-solving strategies.

Reviews medical records and patient assessments to determine compliance with policies and procedures, correctness of assessment, standards of care, and quality of service. Formulates, completes, and submits data regarding findings to the CNE following designated guidelines. Takes action to correct deficiencies. Oversees and conducts clinical reviews to ensure adequate clinical care is provided to patients when assigned. Evaluates the treatment plans developed by the RN Managers to ensure they accurately and definitively direct the implementation of all necessary care based up on the trend analysis of health care needs and/or issues to the appropriate person.

Develops, implements, and oversees a high-quality system of care to patients using a multi-disciplinary approach. Pilots with Assists the Nurse Educator in providing clinical rotations for academic linkages with colleges, universities, and training programs. Participates in assigned committees, workgroups, and task forces as requested. Promotes positive working relationships with outside agencies (e.g., Provider Investigations (PI), Office of Inspector General (OIG)), other hospital departments, programs and divisions including ancillary/support services, (e.g., Pharmacy, Medical Staff, Information Management, Clinical Laboratories, Dietary, etc.). On an annual basis, utilizes a customer feedback questionnaire to help identify opportunities for improvement.

Directing operations to effectively achieve the vision and strategic, financial, and operational plans that have been developed for the hospital. Maintaining open channels of communication among nurses and nursing managers to enhance operational methods and provide optimal patient care within a medical facility. Creation and submission of a variety of reports to Central Administration recapitulating problems, goals and any pertinent developments influencing the operation of the hospital. Remaining up to date with the latest information about products, equipment, and services relevant to the field of nursing and healthcare.

Supervises and manages all nursing staff. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, selecting, and hiring potential employees, scheduling and assigning workload, establishing performance measures, evaluating work performance, providing feedback and guidance, recommending staff development and training, recommending personnel and disciplinary actions, scheduling and approving leave.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of state and federal laws and Intermediate Care Facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID) rules, regulations, policy and procedures related to State Hospital or ability to quickly gain that knowledge.
Knowledge of Texas Nurse Practice Act, including the Texas Board of Nursing
Rules and Regulations, and the role of nursing peer review in the provision of
both professional nursing and vocational nursing.
Knowledge of emergency procedures and emergency equipment, i.e., CPR., and ability to assess and care for residents and/or staff members in emergency situations.
Knowledge of nursing care standards, the Settlement Agreement and the Healthcare Guidelines or ability to quickly gain the knowledge.
Skill in the care and treatment of patients and in the use of nursing treatment tools and equipment.
Skill in analyzing problems, formulating and implementing plans of corrections, and successfully leading change as evidenced by positive outcomes.
Skills in the use of computer/software and an electronic health record system. Skill in time management and prioritization.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely in both written and oral communications.
Skills in the care and treatment of residents
Strong interpersonal skills which promote teamwork
Ability to appropriately interact with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with their family members, and with staff members.
Ability to provide patient care and to prepare and maintain records.
Ability to work independently and productively with all levels of staff. Must maintain current CPR certification. Must have strength and flexibility to safely perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Ability to interpret regulations and communicate them effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to analyze, assimilate, and integrate information in order to make nursing judgments about conditions and the acuity of conditions, to develop plans of care, and to evaluate outcomes of care.
Ability to organize, coordinate, and evaluate nursing activities.
Ability to instruct, train, oversee and provide guidance to others Graduation from a Masters’ degree program accredited by the Texas State Board of Nurse Examiners
Licensed to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Texas (or a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact), or an Advanced Nurse Practitioner credential.
Experience with a psychiatric population and/or with severe and persistent mental illness.

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