MANAGER, NURSE

Member of the management staff of Patient Care Services, participates in the development and implementation of the philosophy and goals and the effective operation of the Critical Care Department. The Nurse Manager has 24-7 responsibility to oversee a dedicated patient population, ensuring the delivery of safe, quality care specific to that population. Responsible for financial oversight including budget development and monitoring, and for maintaining high standards of professional practice.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Manages all activities and operations of the department(s).
• Participates in overall department and program-specific planning. Initiates unit-specific programs and/or programmatic changes to increase efficiencies.
• Participates in the recruitment and retention of personnel. Initiates retention activities (e.g., recognizing exceptional staff, planning recognition events). Selects appropriate staff who are qualified to support the needs of the unit.
• Develops, mentors, and motivates staff to assure the provision of safe, quality patient care.
• Ensures productive use of staff by scheduling appropriate personnel to meet staffing ratios. Proactively addresses staffing issues. Assumes a clinical role to ensure quality of care. Involves staff in solving staffing challenges. Recognizes and actively contributes staff to assist in meeting other unit needs.
• Makes decisions consistent with position authority.
• Identifies and effectively addresses employee performance issues requiring coaching, counseling, and discipline. Effectively resolves employee performance issues.
• Serves as an appropriate role model, creating an environment of respect and exhibiting the highest ethical and professional standards.
• Oversees the coordination of nursing services with other healthcare disciplines by working cooperatively and maintaining effective communication with hospital employees, departments, and medical staff. Initiates changes in process flow to improve interdisciplinary communication.
• Promotes staff professional development and continuing education.
• Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to professionalism through active membership in community health-related and professional organizations. Facilitates staff involvement in professional/community organizations.
• Participates in various hospital committees and meetings.
• Serves as a liaison to educational organizations related to student orientation and precepting.
• Participates in the development of departmental procedures and policies, ensuring manuals are updated regularly and staff are informed. Initiates new policy/procedure formulation to ensure quality care meets new needs.
• Recommends changes in the development and procurement of new equipment, processes, and systems that support the operation of the department. Provides justification for changes based on established evidence of staff, patient, or environmental needs.
• Adheres to established completion timeframes for performance appraisals and other mandatory requirements, delegating as appropriate.
• Provides relevant information on work activities in a timely manner.
• Fosters open lines of communication through regular staff meetings.

Quality

• Accepts accountability for the provision of safe, quality patient care.
• Evaluates the quality and appropriateness of care by making rounds for quality improvement, evaluation of nursing practice, and patient satisfaction. Initiates research projects to improve patient outcomes. Utilizes evidence-based data to identify and carry out unit-based changes. Improves patient satisfaction scores on the unit.
• Proactively implements changes to improve patient outcomes. Works collaboratively to investigate and respond appropriately to patient/family complaints. Intercedes to prevent patient-identified areas of potential complaint and initiates change.
• Oversees staff interactions to ensure excellent customer relations and improve patient/customer/staff satisfaction.
• Monitors the work environment to ensure compliance with regulatory and hospital safety standards.
• Ensures adherence to patient safety goals.

Operational (Critical Care Specific)

• Provides clinical and administrative coverage for the Emergency Department Nurse Manager.
• Maintains/updates the Critical Care Nurse Practice Manual.
• Monitors trends in evidence-based practice for Critical Care.
• Is an active member of the multidisciplinary Critical Care Committee.
• Routinely makes patient care rounds with the Intensivist and Trauma Services Teams.
• Is an active member of the multidisciplinary Trauma Committee.
• Ensures the availability of current Critical Care technology needs (e.g., Cardiac, Neurological, Respiratory monitoring equipment/supplies).
• Coordinates the utilization of all Critical Care beds in conjunction with the Critical Care Medical Director.

Financial

• Participates in the preparation of the departmental budget and provides input into variance monitoring.
• Identifies new cost-saving opportunities and/or new potential revenue-generating opportunities based on changes in patient population.
• Implements changes required to meet financial constraints through creative staffing, utilization of supplies, and adherence to appropriate change posting.
• Monitors the budget to remain within budgetary constraints. Identifies ways to reduce the use of agency staff.

Other

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Experience

• RN minimum of five years full-time medical/surgical experience and 3 years leadership/supervisory experience.

Education

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• BSN required; MSN or certification in Nursing Administration preferred.

Licenses/Certifications

• Current New York State Nursing License.
• Certified in CPR.

Other

• If applicable, the individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.