Nursing Team Leader - 6SE - Pulmonary Unit

About the role

The Pulmonary Unit is a 36-bed telemetry unit focused on diagnosing and treating a wide range of patients with respiratory disorders. Nurses in this unit maintain a 1:6 patient-to-nurse ratio and deliver high-quality, specialized care to patients and families affected by various lung diseases or injuries. The unit collaborates closely with departments such as respiratory therapy, physical therapy, care management, and pharmacy. This specialty requires a strong foundation in general medicine and specialized respiratory skills.

Responsibilities

• Functions as the unit-based clinical supervisor, responsible for staff direction, patient flow, patient safety, resource utilization, shift assignments, and overall quality of care.
• Coordinates and participates in performance improvement (PI) activities; collects data to assess employee performance and participates in staff evaluations.
• Must be available to work weekend and holiday shifts based on unit needs.
• Coordinates unit activities, provides leadership for staffing and patient assignments, and leads responses to crisis and emergency situations.
• Supervises and evaluates nursing care for each patient in the assigned clinical department.
• Evaluates care for each LPN-assigned patient upon admission and as appropriate, on an ongoing basis in accordance with accepted standards of nursing practice and hospital policy.
• Promotes efficient patient flow, including timely discharges and admissions.
• Encourages a safe environment by promoting adherence to established protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Serves as a clinical resource and subject matter expert for staff.
• Provides timely feedback with appropriate accountability as needed.
• Implements evidence-based practices.
• Rounds on patients, physicians, and employees.
• Leads unit-based daily huddles and represents the unit at house-wide daily huddles.
• Maintains records related to orientation, in-service, and unit competency assessments.
• Adheres to productivity, revenue, and expense goals.
• Displays sound judgment and critical thinking in decision-making and problem-solving.
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships by working with other unit leaders and departments to define and work toward common goals.
• Ensures compliance with various quality standards and regulatory agency requirements.
• May take management call as directed.
• Facilitates bidirectional communication to ensure timely exchange of information to all stakeholders.
• Treats all people (customers and employees) fairly and with respect.
• Creates an environment that supports employee recruitment and retention.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Adheres to the DCH Behavioral Standards, including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, and colleagues.
• Performs essential job functions to ensure the safety of patients, visitors, and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors, and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety.
• Uses electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, and the intranet.
• Adheres to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse with current Alabama or Multistate License required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience as a registered nurse required.
• Specialty nursing experience preferred in the applied area.
• Must obtain within 6 months:
  • American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted Cardiac/Critical Care ACLS
  • Emergency Department-both campuses ACLS
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Emergency Department - Regional Campus only
  • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
  • Perioperative ACLS PACU
  • PALS Women’s/Children NICU
  • Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) Labor & Delivery
  • ACLS, NRP, and Intermediate Fetal Monitoring Mother Baby Unit
  • NRP Pediatrics
  • PALS Clinical Support Cardiac Monitoring Unit
  • Dialysis ACLS
• International RNs: Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required or obtain within 30 days of start date.
• BSN preferred; minimum Associates required.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
• TNCC must be completed within 12 months of hire date.

Working Conditions

Work Context

• Must be able to use computers, electronic mail, telephone, and texting.

Physical Factors

• Medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit, and stoop.
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, and carry objects.
• Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must possess stamina to provide 24-hour management for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.