Director Critical Care (RN)

At Houston Methodist, the Director of Nursing is responsible for 24/7 management of assigned nursing units and departments, overseeing the quality of nursing care, and planning, organizing, leading, and evaluating nursing services within the area of specialty. The role provides strategic direction for nursing and business operations, establishes strategic and tactical plans for clinical services, new programs, and human‑resource allocation, and promotes a practice environment that empowers nurses to deliver effective, compassionate, efficient, and knowledgeable care. The Director works in cooperation with the Medical Staff to ensure regulations and accreditation standards are maintained and is accountable for employee engagement, staffing levels, budget development, compliance, hiring and termination decisions, coaching, counseling, and policy implementation to ensure a safe and effective work environment.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree (one must be in nursing). If no current Master’s degree, it must be obtained within two years; candidate must be enrolled in a degree program at time of transfer/hire.
• Experience: Three years of experience in a clinical setting, including at least two years of people‑management experience.
• Licenses and Certifications: Required RN – Registered Nurse – Texas State Licensure (Texas Board of Nursing). Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days if establishing Texas residency. Must obtain Magnet‑ANCC Recognized Leadership Certification within one year.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, as determined through ongoing assessments and performance evaluations.
• Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English, especially regarding activities that impact patient or employee safety or security.
• Ability to interact with others in a way that inspires confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.
• Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans, modifying behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals.
• Exhibits leadership qualities, critical thinking, self‑direction, initiative, and effective oral/written communication skills.
• Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; compares data from different sources to draw conclusions; selects appropriate courses of action and develops solutions consistent with facts, constraints, and probable consequences.
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact the department; stays abreast of industry changes.
• Highly effective written communication and platform presentation abilities.
• Works effectively in a fast‑paced environment; demonstrates flexibility and adaptability.
• Capable of leading teams, facilitating groups, building consensus, and earning senior‑leadership confidence.
• Works under pressure, balances competing priorities, and remains solution‑oriented.
• Proficient with spreadsheet, word‑processing, and presentation software.
• Maintains a positive, supportive attitude and demeanor; handles confidential/sensitive information professionally.

People Essential Functions

• Directs, develops, and implements strategic and operational/high‑level projects and processes, either independently or through work‑team facilitation.
• Oversees staff development to meet objectives in quality, service, and cost‑effectiveness; provides timely guidance and feedback.
• Manages selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.
• Meets or exceeds departmental turnover and employee‑engagement metric thresholds.
• Leads regular department meetings, rounds on employees, conducts performance appraisals, new‑hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and recognition activities.
• Builds strategic relationships across areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals.
• Drives teamwork promotion, participates in or leads department process improvements.
• Implements change, motivates employees, and ensures sustained behavior change.
• Researches and implements strategies to keep employees engaged while maintaining compliance with quality standards.

Service Essential Functions

• Oversees department operations, projects, schedules, and activities to achieve goals within prescribed time frames.
• Sets priorities and functional standards, directing staff to ensure optimal service delivery and high patient/customer satisfaction.
• Drives department service standards to impact patient/customer‑based satisfaction scores, modeling accountability.
• Serves on various entity committees as a departmental voice.
• Maintains 24/7 accountability and authority for decisions regarding patient care, department operations, and personnel management for designated units.

Quality/Safety Essential Functions

• Ensures a safe and effective work environment; monitors and revises the department safety plan and accreditation/regulatory safety guidelines.
• Maintains staff credentials and competencies per accrediting/licensing agency and department guidelines.
• Adopts a proactive approach to optimize safe outcomes and information systems by improving workflow, using peer‑to‑peer accountability, and collaborating on solutions.
• Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles; role‑models situational awareness and uses teachable moments to improve safety.
• Ensures employee compliance with policies and procedures; takes action on non‑compliance (e.g., licensure, certification, disaster plan, in‑services, immunizations, wage‑and‑hour, timecard approval, terminations).
• Stays current with regulatory requirements for clinical services and translates them into operational compliance.
• Coordinates comprehensive, interprofessional patient care to achieve clinical excellence, optimal outcomes, and maximum patient/family satisfaction.

Finance Essential Functions

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, ensuring cost‑effective operation.
• Identifies and plans for capital needs related to equipment and future projects.
• Creates staffing plans and schedules that reflect cost‑effectiveness.
• Formulates strategies to achieve financial targets and staffing needs by optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, and minimizing overtime.
• Projects volume and resource demand; conducts cost analysis; monitors budget reports and variances; adjusts human and material resource utilization as needed.
• Analyzes and interprets complex data sets and reports (variance analysis, financial/quality, population‑specific reports).

Growth/Innovation Essential Functions

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity, or system operations.
• Leads unit projects, task forces, and committees; may represent Houston Methodist at community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness during major work‑responsibility or environmental changes.
• Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensures personal career discussions with management; maintains and updates a My Development Plan (MDP); conducts development conversations with staff.

Supplemental Requirements

• Work Attire: Business professional (uniform: no; scrubs: no; other department‑approved attire: no).
• On‑Call: Yes – employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather).
• Travel: May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area; no travel required outside the Houston Metropolitan area.

Company Profile

Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital brings the expertise and latest technology of Houston Methodist to Baytown and surrounding counties. The skilled and compassionate physicians, nurses, and staff provide unsurpassed medical care in a close‑to‑home, state‑of‑the‑art facility. Houston Methodist Baytown is committed to meeting the needs of its growing community through an ongoing facilities master‑plan expansion, which includes a new, expanded emergency department, a five‑story patient tower, outpatient center, renovated Cancer Center, neonatal intensive care unit, and technologically advanced operating rooms.