Nurse III

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 Nurse Manager performs advanced (senior-level) nursing functions such as planning, developing, coordinating, and evaluating the provision of nursing care on a 24-hour basis. The Nurse Manager is responsible for directing the day-to-day operations in all assigned areas. The Nurse Manager facilitates the identification and implementation of Standards of Practice that are consistent with the HHSC and State Hospital rules and regulations, The Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and the Texas State Board of Nursing. The Nurse Manager is responsible for ensuring a competent workforce. They provide clinical direction and expertise and ensure care is provided based on individual patient characteristics such as age, developmental level, diagnoses, and/or specialized patient needs. They participate in the development and support of partnerships within the hospital; other divisions and departments, recovery teams, patients and their families; and external organizations such as professional groups, advocacy groups, and the general public to facilitate community involvement and awareness. The Nurse Manager participates in the performance improvement activities. Supervises the work of others. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

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.

Serves as the spokesperson and catalyst for the professional practice of program-based nursing services through active and productive participation in performance improvement activities which include monitoring nursing performance indicators, conducting medical record audits, conducting nursing peer reviews, and participating in patient death reviews. Performance will reflect a high level of involvement, professionalism, and productivity.

Promotes an environment that empowers nurses to provide effective, compassionate, and efficient nursing care by fostering a climate that enhances job satisfaction through productivity and quality improvement. Develops nursing policies and procedures that promote a professional environment. Develops program specific policies and procedures that promote the mission of the program and assures congruence with professional and organizational expectations. Facilitates, coaches, and supervises others in the development and deployment of strategies to ensure optimal levels of nursing services are available to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ensures awards and recognition activities that promote staff morale. Assures the reporting of general patterns and trends of nursing care are provided (e.g., 24-hour nursing report, restraint and seclusion nursing documentation, staff call-ins, etc.). Provides clinical direction and expertise and ensures that care provided is based on an appropriate developmental level to meet specific and specialized patient needs. Works with recovery teams to implement patient-centered trauma informed care. Facilitates the identification and implementation of hospital-based Standards of Practice that are consistent with the Board of Nursing, The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) conditions of participation, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and the rules and regulations of the Agency and state hospital.

Serves as a resource on nursing practices and education programs by performing consultative and administrative work. Ensures a competent workforce by participating in the design, development, and oversight of the implementation of systems that evaluate and contribute to the quality of patient care by participating in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives that address important aspects of nursing care. Incorporates program specific monitoring into on-going performance improvement activities and assures timely reporting. Utilizes data as a basis to identify and address patterns and trends as they relate to the delivery of nursing care. Assures review/revision of program nursing service manuals according to standards. Ensures that patient’s rights are protected by addressing issues found in patient care reports, client abuse and neglect reports, 24-hour reports, patient satisfaction surveys, and other hospital reporting mechanisms. Assures systematic capture, review and analysis, communication, and follow-up in relation to significant events on the program (e.g., Medication Errors, Adverse Drug Reactions, Unauthorized Departures, Emergency Transfers, Deaths, Unusual Occurrences, etc.). Oversees and conducts clinical reviews to ensure adequate clinical care is provided to patients. Alerts leadership of safety/risk management issues and actively facilitates problem-solving strategies.

Works with leadership to meet the nurse staffing plan to support the hospitals mission. Ensures the continuous (24-hours/day, 7 days/week) timely availability of nursing staff to meet patient care needs. Establishes and evaluates annually a staffing plan for nursing service that identifies minimum staffing for all levels of nursing personnel to promote a safe environment that complies all regulatory and professional standards. Seeks and utilizes suggestions to effectively streamline work efforts and minimize redundancy. Works with leadership keeping nursing management apprised of nursing services resource allocation and reallocation needs. Tracks and aggregates information for the purpose of analysis and feedback to program staff as well as leadership. Proactively identifies and seeks opportunities for improved recruitment and retention of qualified personnel. The Nurse Manager actively participates in the budget process that reflects patient activity needs, census variance, and staff vacancy rates, within the context of budget allocations and restrictions. Participates in the development and support of partnerships within the hospital and key stakeholders including patients and their families. Works with external organizations such as professional groups, advocacy groups, courts, law enforcement, and the general public to facilitate community involvement.

Partners with leadership to help design and deliver a high-quality system of care to patients using a multi-disciplinary approach. 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, uses a customer feedback questionnaire to help identify opportunities for improvement.

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 Texas Nurse Practice Act, and the role of peer review in the provision of professional nursing
Knowledge of management theory, organizational planning, plan deployment, and improving organizational performance
Knowledge of the Recovery Model of Care
Knowledge of training principles, practices, and techniques
Knowledge of group process, group dynamics, and interpersonal relations
Knowledge of nursing competencies, standards and psychiatric rehabilitation practices and techniques
Knowledge of professional nursing Standards, CPR, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), Treatment, Intervention, and Protection Strategies (TIPS), and Psychiatric Nursing Assistant (PNA) Curricula

Skills in the care and treatment of patients
Strong interpersonal skills which promote teamwork
Skills in utilizing computer hardware/software
Skills in administering restraint and seclusion
Strong coaching skills

Ability to organize, coordinate, and evaluate nursing activities
Ability to instruct, train, and supervise the work of others
Ability to develop a budget
Ability to provide patient care
Ability to prepare and maintain records
Ability to organize and communicate information both orally and in writing
Ability to interpret and explain standards and regulations
Ability to instruct, train, oversee and provide guidance to others
Ability to create and evaluate training objectives, requirements, and effectiveness of delivery
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Ability to formulate learning objectives
Ability to manage time effectively
Ability to intervene therapeutically with patients experiencing psychiatric disorders (delusions, hallucinations, suicidal/homicidal ideation)
Ability to perform CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver, use the AED, provide First Aid
Ability to provide patient/family education regarding medications, disease processes, and health

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