Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Adult Medicine and Oncology

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) provides administrative and financial leadership, management, and oversight to assigned area. Responsibilities include strategic planning, legal and regulatory compliance, financial management, relationship development, operations, and human resources management. This position directs, manages, and coordinates the nursing activities of assigned departments or areas in the health system and/or clinics and ensures that processes and procedures in patient care comply with VCU Health System and regulatory standards. The position provides guidance and leadership in the delivery of optimum patient care. The ACNO works in collaboration with the Department of Medicine Leadership, Cancer Service Line Leadership, as well as the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Director and Deputy Director, and health system leadership to lead, develop, and operationalize programs and services to meet goals across the care continuum and VCUHS entities. The Associate Chief Nursing Officer supports the VCU Health System in efforts that lead to recognition within the healthcare community for excellence in nursing, maintenance of program and fellowship accreditation, and designation as a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Essential Job Statements

* Assists the Chief Nurse Executive in leading the organization's efforts to promote a culture focused on delivering world-class patient and family focused care achieved through an exceptional and highly engaged workforce.


* Engage in the planning, execution, and implementation of overall nursing plana consistent with hospital policies and objectives, to provide continuous nursing care and services


* Collaboratively works with operations, population health, physician practice, and other system functions to insure an integrated approach to high quality clinical services.


* Participates in the hospital quality assurance and improvement program through evaluation of services rendered, quality improvement, and audit of medical records, patient visits, and counseling with hospital staff


* Provides leadership, on behalf of Chief Nurse Executive, for key organizational projects working in partnership with stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient planning and successful project implementations that achieve on-time and budget targets


* Collaborates with operational areas to develops and implements strategic business plans. Operationalizes business plans for assigned areas. Translates initiatives into action plans at the system level with appropriate performance measures. Assumes fiscal responsibility through budgetary planning and implementation.


* Develops and provides key performance indicators (KPIs) to establish the appropriate framework for nursing and patient care services metrics to align with overall organizational strategy. Evaluates and advises on the impact of long-range planning of new nursing programs/strategies and regulatory action, as those items affect the community hospital (business unit) and consequently VCUHS. Works collaboratively with nursing leadership across business entities to ensure policies, procedures, strategy, and program are aligned.


* Oversees human resource management for the assigned area creating a culture of employee engagement. Ensures HR policies are administered consistently across function. Organizes nursing through appropriate structure and delegation of functions using staffing models/tools to achieve productivity and optimize the delivery of patient care. Identifies succession planning needs within the nursing team.


* Promotes team building and collaboration. Motivates, encourages, and empowers staff to achieve personal, organizational and team goals. Recognizes accomplishment. Encourages and provides opportunity for staff input and feedback regarding improvement opportunities. Mentors and coaches the leadership team. Regularly informs and updates staff on organizational and industry issues. Advocates for patients.


* Partners across the organization to support smooth transition of care for patients across care settings to ensure optimal setting of care to address patient needs. Create and lead organizational models of care that drive effective communication, enhance operational efficiency, and establish meaningful partnerships driving coordinated care.


* Demonstrates compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations, including those related to Medicaid, Medicare, and HIPAA and monitors compliance by staff as evidence by: emphasizing security measures for patient, staff, and organization to maintain confidential and private information; providing information to staff and customers regarding reporting options for potential violations; cooperating with investigations of complaints; taking prompt and appropriate actions for violations; participating in regulatory rounds to monitor adherence by staff with standards and regulations; monitoring compliance with legal, regulatory, or policy practices for subordinates.


* Collaborates with other areas to maintain a contemporary knowledge of urban teaching hospital and community hospital approach, lean process improvement, safety and quality developments, cost of care and industry trends. Identifies and articulates the vision and direction for nursing and patient care services and collaborate on the implementation of strategies to achieve them. Promotes continuity, consistency, and standardization, to the extent possible, of nursing and patient care services care across the organization.


* Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.


* Demonstrates a commitment to the mission of VCUHS and the department as evidenced by: Performing other duties as assigned and/or participating in special projects in order to support the mission of VCUHS and department; Providing assistance to team members; Accepting alternate assignments, as required, graciously.



Patient Population

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide equitable care appropriate to the age of the patients served on their assigned unit.

Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.

Pediatrics (1-12 years)

Adolescents (13-17 years)

Adults (18-64 years)

Geriatrics (65 years and older)

Employment Qualifications

Required Education:

Bachelor's degree in nursing.

Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing, Health Care Administration, Business Administration, Public Health Administration, or related field.

Preferred Education:

DNP or PhD preferred

Licensure/Certification Required:

Current Registered Nurse licensure in Virginia and eligible AHA BLS Certification or equivalent

Licensure/Certification Preferred:

Certification in nursing administration (NE-BC, NEA-BC, CENP)

Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)

Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI)

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience

Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible healthcare supervision/management, financial management, and administrative/operational experience in a healthcare setting, including a minimum of seven (7) years in a management and/or leadership role within hospital operations

Progressive nursing leadership experience leading Medicine and Oncology inpatient adult areas

Experience in leadership role at a Cancer Center, Magnet Designated hospital, university or academic cancer center

Demonstrated leadership and initiative in healthcare service excellence and business growth.

Demonstrated success working in a matrixed management model.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Must be willing and able to work evenings, weekends and holidays as role necessitates including Administrator On-Call (AOC) duties

Must be willing to commute to inpatient and ambulatory clinics across VCUHS entities

Cultural Responsiveness

Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

Previous experience leading and/or partnering within a matrixed Cancer Service Line structure

Previous Experience working in health care system with either a:

Commission on Cancer Accredited Program

National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Cancer Center or as a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Preferred: Previous leadership experience designing and opening a new adult hospital and facility

Previous ambulatory care experience

ACNO/AVP Adult Medicine and Oncology

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.