Director of Nursing

The role of the Director of Nursing is to provide an administrative and overall managerial authority for all functions of the Nursing Department including but not limited to care delivery and service functions, training, staffing, and budgeting. The Director of Nursing is accountable to the center's administrator for the management of the Nursing Department.

The Director of Nursing supports the mission of HCSP, exemplifies The Better Way through leadership and demeanor; represents the center in a positive manner both in the medical community and in the community as a whole.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• RN – graduate of an accredited school of nursing and currently licensed to practice nursing in this state (Baccalaureate or master's degree in nursing is preferred).
• Professional experience in the practice of geriatrics, nursing administration, and other related areas.
• Minimum of 3-5 years' experience as a DON at a 150+ bed center.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills in the areas of nursing administration, nursing practice, rehabilitation, and partner relations management.
• Ability to perform physical and mental requirements of the job.
• CPR certified.

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND CAPABILITIES:

• Is responsible for maintaining clinical competency as evidenced by application of integrated nursing knowledge and skills, leadership, and communication skills.
• Utilizes the nursing process in assessment, planning and implementing care.
• Exhibits organizational ability related to workflow, prioritizing to meet patient care needs.
• Practices continuous quality improvement thinking and problem-solving skills.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Special Demands:

• Be responsive to urgent patient care matters 24 hours/7 days per week (or delegates to a qualified RN).
• Ability to communicate effectively with the medical/health care community, patients, and families.
• Ability to interpret and implement regulations (state and federal).
• Ability to organize and implement systems to manage and enhance patient services.
• Ability to manage through delegation, goal setting, and building respect from all nursing partners through use of positive leadership principles.
• Ability to plan and direct nursing service in an interdisciplinary team environment.
• Competent to make administrative decisions as required during administrator's absence.
• Working knowledge of center's fire, safety, and disaster procedures.
• Implements federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to nursing service.

Physical Demands:

• Able to be on feet standing or walking 8-12 hours per day.
• Able to lift 60-70 lbs. on occasional basis.
• Able to bend, stoop, squat, and twist numerous times daily.
• Able to see and hear adequately to respond to auditory and visual requests form patients.
• Able to speak in clear concise voice to communicate with patients who may be hearing impaired.
• Able to carry out fine motor skills and manual dexterity.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT:

• Maintains a system to ensure knowledge of patient status (such as: makes daily rounds of patients and nursing units).
• Coordinates and implements Patient Care Plan conferences (or have working knowledge of process if delegated).
• Develops and implements a rehabilitative nursing program to assist patients to reach maximum level of functioning.
• Monitors to see that treatments and medications are administered as ordered.
• Participates in conferences with patients and families.
• Monitors to see that there is accurate and adequate documentation in the medical record including electronic health record.
• Coordinates or is responsible for assuring accurate and timely completion of Patient Assessment (MDS) forms.
• Establishes, reviews, and amends systems and processes as indicated by Quality Measure Scores and center key performance indicators.
• Plans and encourages participation in in-service and continuing education for all levels of nursing personnel (including CNA training program when applicable).
• Serves as an active member of the center's QAPI Committee.
• Coordinates Level of Care meeting on a weekly basis.
• Reviews and reports finding of level of care meetings to attending physicians.
• Maintains a current knowledge of infection prevention and control and current standards of practice as well as local, state, and federal regulations related to IPC practices in the center.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

General Description:

• Serves as a member of management team and develops effective working relationships with the administrator and the medical director.
• Participates in the development of center goals.
• Develops and implements procedures to meet the goals of the center.
• Develops positive partner relations policies and environment to achieve firm, fair, consistent supervision.
• Administers policies and formulates procedures for the nursing department.
• Formulates and administers a departmental budget based on the nursing department's goals and projected revenues.
• Participates in establishing a competitive wage, salary, and benefit plan for nursing service partners.
• Operates the nursing department in a cost-effective manner.
• Manages the recruitment, selection, training, evaluation, and retention for all nursing partners.
• Develops and implements a master staffing plan based on patient's needs, nursing service goals and standards, department budget and state law.
• Initiates and approves position descriptions for nursing personnel.
• Promotes nursing department orientation programs and encourages partner development through on-going education and tuition reimbursement programs.
• Promotes consistent assignment scheduling to meet patient care needs.
• Formulates, implements, and evaluates a department plan for orientation and partner development.
• Promotes and delegates accountability for maintaining an effective performance appraisal system for nursing.
• Promotes resolution of conflicts through delegation and accountability for positive supervision.
• Promotes and delegates personnel policy compliance with supervisors.
• Creates a work climate that promotes a positive quality of work and minimizes institution's legal risk.
• Establishes linkage with existing community resources.
• Assesses supplies and equates needs for Nursing Department and sees that units are adequately stocked and maintained.

Specific Items: (Performed by DON or delegated to qualified partner).

• Participates in development and maintenance of nursing services' philosophy and objectives, standards of practice, policy and procedure manuals and job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel.
• Develops 3 – year capital expenditure budget for Nursing Department.
• Develops at least biweekly (every two weeks) work schedules for Nursing Department – post and maintains copy as worked.
• Acts upon recommendations from RN Supervisors and/or supervisory LPNs regarding hiring and termination of nursing personnel; assist with recruiting as needed.
• Delegates and monitors orientation and initial training for nursing personnel.
• Coordinates with other department heads on any patient care needs.
• Participates in all center leadership team meetings.
• Cooperates with consultants and implements their recommendations, if determined appropriate to the nursing department.

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.:

2626 Walker Rd.

Chattanooga, TN 37421