Chief Nursing Officer

As a critical member of the executive leadership team, the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) reports directly to the President of Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center (The Wester Region). The CNO, Western Region will be responsible and accountable for the overall delivery and management of nursing professional practice, education, professional development, research, administration, and clinical services. The Opportunity The CNO will be a visionary leader, guiding the execution of the strategic plan to achieve the organizational mission and vision. The CNO’s vision will support the existing high standards and goals for nursing practice while he/she will work closely with the Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center, senior leadership, physician leaders, as well as leaders across the Atlantic Health System ensuring and enhancing AHS as a clinical practice environment that is patient centered, with unsurpassed clinical quality and patient safety. Key Responsibilities Ensures the organizational values, goals, and objectives are transformed into daily operations resulting in an excellent quality, efficient, effective, caring, and respectful environment. Provides leadership for the practice of nursing and is accountable for nursing practice, quality, education/professional development, and research throughout the hospital. Provides leadership to define the scope of nursing practice and establishes structures, role accountability and systems to ensure clinical competence of all nursing personnel aligning with AHS nursing. Recommends and is responsible for annual operating and capital budgets for nursing and ensures prudent management of Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center’s resources. Creates a healthy work environment that is safe, respectful, and collaborative. Builds credibility trust and partners with physicians as a champion for patient care, quality, service, and nursing professionalism. Collaborates with the Chief Medical Officer, Officers of HMC & NMC medical staff, and System VP of Quality and Safety to improve quality, patient safety and service efforts. Fosters a multidisciplinary approach to quality improvement with a focus on coordination of services and improving patient outcomes. Develops effective working relationships with key stakeholders and system leaders. Manages organizational relationships in a way that builds and maintains a climate of trust and inspires commitment from others to achieve organization goals. Partners with HR team in the development of strategies to promote the recruitment, retention, workforce management, and recognition of excellence in nursing. Promotes professional nursing practice and assures that standards of care are developed, implemented, and evaluated. Builds and expands upon partnerships with nursing education institutions to develop a talent pipeline and contribute to the education and training of future nurses. Assures standards of patient care and standards of nursing practice are consistent with current research and professional standards. Provides consultation and collaboration with nurses, physicians, and leaders in establishing policies for patient care. Collaborates with Graduate Medical Education (GME) program directors to integrate nursing and medical education efforts. Drives continuous quality improvement, standards of care, discovery, and innovation through research and use of best, evidence-based practices. Involvement in HMC & NMC Foundation efforts. Acts as a resource. Acts as a resource to nurses, and other disciplines. Serves as an advocate for Community resource to services offered at HMC & NMC. Coaches, mentors, advises, develops and supports his/her direct management reports, other nursing leaders, councils, work groups and committees. Develops, maintains, and strengthens standards of patient care in concert with the Chief Medical Officer, president of the medical staff, department chairs, staff committees and individual practitioners. Goals & Objectives Establish trust and credibility with the leadership team, physicians, nursing team and colleagues in other departments. Build collaborative relationships that are based on open communication and mutual respect. Evaluate and assess the nursing leadership structure and make changes to that structure, if necessary, to ensure nursing has the right leadership to meet the needs of patient care, now and into the future. Support a vision of established AHS nursing which reflects Atlantic Health’s vision, mission, and values for quality, safety, and patient experience. This work will include expanding on the "Shared Governance" model for nursing at HMC & NMC that provides a voice for nursing, as well as grounds nursing practice in the delivery of care through unit-based councils and strong engagement. This exciting work will propel the nursing practice and ensure nursing has a voice in strategic decision-making, as well as encourage nurses to own their practices and be engaged in decision-making across the hospital. Promote a nursing culture that recognizes excellence in clinical care; champion participative decision-making regarding nursing practice and work environments through active rounding on units; and develop shared goals with the Quality Department and AHS Patient Experience. Foster an environment of collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer and other Medical Staff leaders, which will resulting further developing standards of work in nursing and clinical care. This will include a disciplined approach to standards of work and service excellence that are implemented, evaluated, and sustained. Strive to maintain Atlantic Health System’s amazing work culture for nurses who want to dedicate their careers to community-based patientcare. The CNO will inherit a nursing team where nurses have the respect and support of their medical staff and administrative leadership. The next CNO will engage leaders across the system to provide an environment where nurses can do their best work and leave the day energized. The CNO will have support to develop a strong nursing team and foster an environment of shared goals to propel the service. Qualifications The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with strong strategic skills, exceptional communications skills and a track record of fostering transparent, positive relationships. Experience in and commitment to creating and leading innovative quality and safety programs that exceed national best practices in complex hospitals and health systems. Preferred familiarity with Lean and High Reliability Organization (HRO) approach and model. Understand how to support and mentor new nurses with a focus on first-year turnover, recruitment and retention of staff. Extensive knowledge of the clinical and business aspects of nursing. Experience in a high-performing, measurement-driven organization that also has established an open and inclusive culture. A contemporary leader who can lead change effectively at the executive level in a complex environment with a diverse range of constituencies. Continually identifies opportunities for innovation Experience and Education Master’s degree required. If this degree is not in nursing, the officer must have a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN). Advanced Certification in Nursing Administration recommended. Registered Nursewith current licensureor ability to become licensedin New Jersey. Extensive clinical nursing and management experience with a minimum of 5- 7 years in senior nursing leadership roles. An advanced level of knowledge acquired through completion of formal and continuing education in Nursing, health policy, regulatory compliance, process redesign and management are essential Nursing leadership experience in a hospital is required, a hospital within a healthcare system preferably. Knowledge and experience in Magnet principles as well as prior experience in a Magnet facility is preferred. Knowledge of nursing staffing methods, retention, recruitment, and finance. Proven strategic-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.