Director of Nursing

Leadership

Utilizes advanced clinical knowledge to develop and maintain a delivery system for individualized, appropriate, and compassionate patient care. Supports and encourages staff, patients, and significant others in the determination of treatment and rehabilitation goals for desired outcomes. Provides leadership and participates in emergency measures for sudden adverse patient developments.

Provides leadership and demonstrates critical thinking ability in all areas of responsibility, treats all co-workers with respect, strives to enhance co-worker performance through cooperation and effective communication, and demonstrates hospitality and courtesy in all interactions.

Unit Management and Daily Operations

Estimates future departmental personnel, equipment, and supply needs in order to ensure the attainment of operating goals. Develops, recommends, and implements the annual capital equipment, personnel, and operating budget for the department. Conducts periodic reviews of departmental performance, analyzes budget variances, and implements responsive action.

Demonstrates clinical expertise in facilitating the timely availability, access, and utilization of multidisciplinary health care services, alternative levels of care, and community resources in a manner that ensures optimal continuity and expediency in the health care delivery process.

Implements strategies that use current scientific knowledge to prevent and reduce the risk of infection transmission. Promptly and appropriately reports infections between and among staff, patients, and visitors in order to improve patient outcomes.

Develops and maintains documentation required for successful employee development and administrative and divisional communication. Supervises and participates in the efficient recording of pertinent patient care data utilizing the computerized medical record and manual documentation in order to promote timely and efficient access to required information throughout the organization.

Preserves the confidentiality of data and information identified as sensitive in order to ensure the protection of patient dignity and privacy.

Maintains own clinical expertise and ensures the demonstrated clinical competency of staff members to deliver patient care services in accordance with the specific identified needs of adult and geriatric patients. Utilizes appropriate resources as needed for assistance in the planning and delivery of care to infant, pediatric, and adolescent patients.

Performance Improvement and Quality

Provides ongoing assessments of the patient care delivery system in order to identify existing and potential health care needs within the scope of care for the unit. Evaluates and makes recommendations for current and potential unit staffing needs, assesses and introduces technological and procedural changes that enhance the efficiency and quality of patient care services and outcomes, and supervises the ongoing assessment of patients for physical, psychological, and social status needs and discharge planning.

Collaborates with nursing management, nursing staff, and Clinical Nurse Specialists in the development of instructional materials for patients and family members which will provide the specific knowledge and skill required to increase their understanding of the patient's illness, meet the patient's ongoing health care needs, and improve patient health outcomes.

Ensures that patient care demonstrates respect for personal values and beliefs and is focused on the unique needs of each individual and their family. Utilizes continued analysis and evaluation of patient care outcomes to enhance the quality and efficiency of services and optimize the utilization of hospital resources.

Participates actively in unit-specific and multidisciplinary continuous quality improvement and quality assurance studies in a manner that promotes compliance with hospital and divisional regulations and standards.

Affirms and promotes the growth and development of staff members by encouraging their participation in approved continuing education activities such as professional conferences, seminars, and workshops. Advocates continuing education as a means of promoting the high quality services provided by all departmental personnel.