Specialty Services Nurse Supervisor

Job Title: Specialty Services Nurse Supervisor

Job Code: SPSERNS

Department: Procedure Suite

Division: Nursing

Salary Level: Non-Exempt 14

Reports to: Specialty Services Nurse Manager

Last Revised: August 2024

Primary Function

The RN Supervisor will perform clinical nurse duties 85% of the time and supervises and coordinates activities of nursing personnel in patient care units 15% of the time. The RN Supervisor is a role developed to work in coordination with the nursing leadership in the Nursing department to ensure the work is accomplished effectively. The RN Supervisor is the first line support for staff, physicians and other related providers on specific clinical issues. The RN Supervisor is generally a long-term role, requiring clinical and interpersonal skills. The RN Supervisor collaborates with the manager on clinical and non-clinical issues (employee relations, individual behaviors, physician relationships, etc.). The RN Supervisor is the support for the department when the manager is unavailable. The RN Supervisor is responsible for supervising, directing, coaching and mentoring their assigned core group of staff. The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Description

• Duties and Responsibilities include all those required of the team members as well.
• Plan and coordinate clinical requirements for staff. Ensure that all competencies and requirements for staff are current utilizing best practice models to identify, incorporate or develop best practices for patient care.
• Plan and assist with coordination of staff schedules and submit for manager approval.
• Coordinate clinical requirements with staff regarding equipment and supplies.
• Consult with preceptors and orienteers on a regular basis to provide support and determine how orientation should proceed on an individual basis.
• Collaborate with the manager for issue resolutions and projects to improve workflow processes throughout the department utilizing a quality improvement/LEAN approach.
• Collaborate with different departments (pharmacy, radiology, and lab, patient registration) to resolve issues and improve work flow processes throughout the department.
• Collaborate with the nurse managers in the interview process for new applicants.
• Collaborates with other teams to share and establish best practice for health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
• Mentor/coach staff to enhance their professional development.
• Assesses the performance of assigned new hires and orienteers including all team members and provides ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Collaborates with manager to complete performance feedback.
• Understand and communicate potential clinical equipment or supply issues to appropriate team members (Materials, Biomed, Sterile Processing, etc.) and manager.
• Mentor and monitor the preceptors for all new employees.
• Provide clinical/education updates and skill check-offs to staff on a regular basis.
• Provides immediate support and education on policy, procedures, equipment and supplies.
• Responsible for learning, implementing and teaching new technology/procedures.
• Demonstrates awareness of current problems and basic plan for all patients within Specialty Services.
• Provides clinical consultation and guidance as needed to facilitate patient care.
• Gives assistance and/or direction to staff to facilitate quality patient flow.
• Assess staffing needs according to workload and staff competency.
• Re- assigns and adjusts staffing based upon patient care needs.
• Delegates responsibilities within the scope of practice and validated competencies in order to meet the workload demands of the shift.
• Facilitates assignments that support learning for the orienteer or nursing staff.
• Promotes an atmosphere of open communication that facilitates staff input into decision-making, resolution of conflict, quality improvement and collegiality among all health team members.
• Communicates in an effective, professional manner.
• Facilitates staff performance audits/quality checks related to attitude, team performance, as outlined by the Department Manager.
• Facilitates and encourages staff participation in departmental/interdepartmental and hospital quality improvement efforts and committees by developing incentives to promote positive working relationships to boost morale.
• Attends interdepartmental and hospital committee meetings as assigned or delegates this role to available team members.
• Coordinates, facilitates, participates and directs departmental projects with follow through and appropriate follow-up.
• Other projects and duties as assigned by the Department Manager.

Education/Experience

• Associate’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited program required.
• Applicant must have an unrestricted valid Registered Nurse license within the state of North Carolina or a state that is accepted as reciprocity.
• Five years of nursing experience required with at least two years’ experience in one of the following areas: critical care, emergency department, and/or recovery. Additional nursing experience in ambulatory infusion therapy preferred but not required.
• Two years leadership experience in supervisory or managerial role required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) minimally required upon hire, must obtain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) which can be acquired through the facility following appointment to position. ACLS and PALS must be acquired within 3 months of date entering on duty.
• Applicant must have a valid North Carolina driver’s license.
• Other department required certifications at the discretion of the Specialty Services Nurse Manager must be completed within one year of formal written notice.
• Proficiency rated at 1 year for an RN with one-year clinical nursing experience.

Job Knowledge

• Knowledge of principles, practices, techniques, and theories of professional nursing in order to plan and provide nursing care to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual, and socio-cultural needs of patients of all ages; specifically, Infancy (Birth-1 year), Toddler and Early Childhood (2 years), Latency (6-9 years), Preadolescence (10-12 years), Early Adolescence (13-15 years), Adolescence (16- 20 years), Adult (21-64 years), and Elderly (65-+ years).
• Knowledge of the nursing process and its application to clinical practice.
• Knowledge of the biological aspects of the disease process and illness in order to recognize complications and therapeutic interventions required.
• Knowledge of medications and dosages in order to recognize desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use.
• Knowledge and ability to analyze the results of various medical procedures and translate into appropriate nursing interventions.
• Knowledge and ability to independently plan, manage, and organize work in order to meet priorities, accomplish work within established time frames and work in stressful situations.
• Knowledge of the occupational functions of multi-disciplinary health care team.
• Knowledge of the culture and medical health profile of the patient population.
• Knowledge and ability to teach and counsel patient/family on health maintenance and disease prevention.
• Knowledge of available health care programs and community resources.
• Knowledge of processes and procedures for establishing, revising, continually monitoring, and evaluating standards for the practice of nursing.
• Knowledge and skills in operating specialized medical equipment, such as, monitoring devises, incubators, suction pumps, oxygen equipment, etc.
• Knowledge of problem oriented medical record methods.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical aspects of nursing practice.

Complexity of Duties

The nurse provides a full range of comprehensive nursing care that includes assessing patient needs, development of a plan of care, administration of medications and 5 therapeutic measures, operation of specialized medical equipment, evaluation of the plan of care to ensure that the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient are met and counseling and teaching of patient and families. The nurse must recognize and respond appropriately to patient conditions that deviate from normal and identify, analyze, and report on causative factors and reactions.

Guidelines consist of professional standards of practice as determined by the nurse practice act, nursing and medical policy and procedures, standing orders, and hospital and agency policies. Complies also with federal, state, accrediting and local regulations. These guidelines are not always specifically applicable to the individual patient or situation and independent judgment is required in selecting the most appropriate guideline, and applying the intent of the guideline to the specific situation at hand. The nurse receives assistance from the Specialty Services Nurse Manager or his/her designee with difficult or unusual problems.

Supervision Received

The nurse independently plans, schedules, and provides nursing care in coordination with the medical care plan and attempts to solve problems only within established procedures. This is done under the supervision of Specialty Services Nurse Manager or his/her designee. The work is evaluated for technical soundness and adherence to professional standards.

Responsibility for Accuracy

The incumbent has a positive effect upon the recovery of the patient and is responsible for following policies and procedures, which serve as hospital guidelines and prevents errors from occurring. Errors can have a negative patient outcome since the incumbent’s performance affects the health, recovery, and rehabilitation of patients, and the quality of care provided. Evaluations and observations are used to modify and develop clinically appropriate treatment plans. Work can be verified or checked by the immediate supervisor, other health care providers or systems checks, but usually the responsibility for accuracy relies solely on the incumbent.

Contact with Others

Contacts are with patients, families, hospital personnel, and community agencies. Contacts with patients, families, and hospital personnel are to exchange, provide, and obtain information concerning the patient’s physical and psychosocial health care problems, and needs. The nurse uses teaching and counseling methods to influence and motivate patient and family behavior. Contacts with other health care or related disciplines within the hospital are for the purpose of collaboration and consultation

Confidential Data

The incumbent has access to highly confidential patient medical and personal information. The Privacy Act of 1974 mandates that the incumbent shall maintain complete confidentiality of all administrative, medical and personnel records and all other pertinent information that comes to the individual’s attention or knowledge. The Privacy Act carries both civil and criminal penalties for unlawful disclosure of records. Violation of such confidentiality shall be cause for adverse actions.

Mental/Visual/Physical

Work in the various services within the nursing department requires considerable walking, standing, bending, pushing, and lifting in helping patients to and from beds, wheelchairs, and stretchers. These same activities are required in moving equipment and medical supplies. May occasionally move more than 15 pounds.

Environment

The work environment involves moderate risks of exposure to infectious disease, radiation, electrical hazards, irritant chemicals and explosive gases. Incumbent is required to comply with Employee Health Program guidelines including current immunization status of identified communicable diseases and safety precautions are sometimes necessary, such as use of personal protective equipment as required by hospital policy.

Customer Service

Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills to patients/customers by demonstrating characteristics that align with CIHA’s guiding principles and core values. Ensure excellent customer service is provided to all patients/customers by seeking out opportunities to be of service.