Nurse Manager, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Major Responsibilities

• Clinical Practice, Patient Flow, Patient Experience:
  • Leads with high reliability principles framework with goal of zero harm.
  • Responsible for a positive work environment that is safe for patients, visitors and staff.
  • Accountable for clinical practice and deployment of resources at the unit level to ensure ongoing implementation of nursing process and adherence to standards.
  • Conducts daily patient care rounds, assessing patient care requirements and monitoring nursing & ancillary staff performance to achieve safe, cost effective and quality patient care.
  • Directs the oversight of clinical practice through continuity of nursing assignments to optimize the patient plan of care.
  • Responsible to oversee that the nursing process is being utilized for each patient and a plan of care is established, coordinated, and delivered to each patient and family.
  • Creates and sustains a collaborative, patient-focused environment supporting excellence in clinical and service practices.
  • Affirms the efficient daily operations of assigned unit(s), including appropriate staffing levels, equipment and supplies, bed and/or examination room management, workflow and productivity to meet patient needs.
  • Implements nursing standards, policies and procedures.
• Leadership/Management, Human Resources:
  • Assesses candidates, through behavioral and peer interviewing, for appropriate positions within the unit and makes recommendations for hire, transfers, promotions and/or other staff changes.
  • Partners with Safety Specialists for orientation of new clinical staff.
  • Provides clinical and administrative oversight of all staff and completion of specific performance reviews.
  • Ensures the proper documentation for recruiting, on-boarding, evaluating and terminating staff are completed timely and thoroughly.
  • (i.e. position requisition, orientation checklist, separation).
  • Affirms licensing certification for all staff is current.
  • Affirms job descriptions are reflective of current job duties and responsibilities and performance evaluations are completed for staff timely according to HR policies.
  • Fosters an awareness of the diversity that exists within the organization and strives to increase it by including culture, ethnicity, gender and age; promoting an environment that is sensitive to the needs of diverse populations.
  • Leads and influences the development of staff by creating a practice climate of responsiveness and learning which supports retention and recruitment of competent nurses and team members.
  • Develops staff by assisting them to identify goals and appropriate opportunities for learning.
  • Provides forums for individual and team recognition.
  • Coaches and supports staff by removing barriers and addressing issues.
  • Uses tools such as employee surveys to measure staff morale with a focus toward recognition and developing action plans for improvements.
• Budgetary Planning and Financial Performance:
  • Develops annual departmental budgets based on established patient care indicators, projected volumes and patient populations.
  • Maintains cost effective staffing patterns based on department of nursing approved staffing budgets.
  • Maintains master staffing plans, position control and produces monthly staffing schedule aligned with departmental standards.
  • Demonstrates fiscal responsibility via monitoring of salaries and supply expenses, prepares and submits Corrective Action Plans on time and on schedule.
  • Develops capital budgets in collaboration with medical staff for assigned units/areas.
  • Educates staff regarding unit and medical center budgets in order to promote awareness and instill accountability for the financial performance of the unit.
  • Sets priorities for projects in line with financial goals and resource allocation of staff and material.
• Quality, Safety and Experience Improvements:
  • Responsible for VMS safety, quality idea boards on unit.
  • Accountable for the execution of daily and shift safety and clinical care huddles.
  • Rounds on existing and new patients, addressing issues or concerns of patients and/or families on the unit.
  • Responsible for the closure of Safety Intelligence reports and appropriate Corrective Action Plans in place.
  • Responsible for reporting all Serious Reporting Events (SRE) to leadership and provide feedback to staff on results.
  • Links departmental goals to department of nursing/organizational goals and strategic plans.
  • Actively coordinates clinical quality improvement and safety efforts on the unit with defined medical center quality and safety goals.
  • Facilitates patient flow through timely admissions and discharges in collaboration with medical staff and case management to assure proper utilization of resources.
  • Works collaboratively to solve problems, improve processes and integrate services within the department and with other departments.
  • Develops and implements service initiatives on unit using/tailoring organizational tools and programs such as Because We Care, Our Commitments, etc.
  • Creates and sustains an environment that encourages feedback, problem-solving, self-evaluation and innovation as the way work is accomplished and improvements achieved.
  • Leads patient satisfaction initiatives at the unit level to address metrics identified below target goals.
  • Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure quality and continuity of care.
  • Communicates quality and safety reports to staff and facilitates active participation of staff to improve metrics and outcome measures.
  • Communicates the importance of Nursing Quality Indicators, Patient’s First Reports, Core Measures and patient satisfaction data to staff.
  • Substantiates patient care standards as published by JC, CMS and professional nursing literature.
  • Understands, articulates, and ensures compliance with the State Nurse Practice Act, State Board of Nursing regulations, state and local regulatory agency standards and policies of the organization.
  • Supports initiatives to incorporate research and evidence-based practice knowledge into nursing practice.
  • Establishes and maintains effective relationships with community agencies, groups, professional affiliations, etc as appropriate.
  • Encourages staff participation and support to meet community needs in conjunction with medical center initiatives.

Standard Management Level Responsibilities

• Directs and supervises assigned personnel including performance evaluations, scheduling, orientation, and training.
• Makes recommendations on employee hires, transfers, promotions, salary changes, discipline, terminations, and similar actions.
• Resolves grievances and other personnel problems within position responsibilities.
• Develops and recommends the budgets for the areas managed.
• Manages activities to assure financial goals are met.
• Coordinates the assignment of tasks and helps resolve technical and operational problems.
• Evaluates the impact of solutions to ensure goals are achieved.
• Provides effective direction, guidance, and leadership over the staff for effective teamwork and motivation and fosters the effective integration of efforts with system-wide initiatives.
• Encourages and supports diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, respect, tolerance, civility, and inclusion.