Director of Acute Care

Under the general supervision of the Vice President Nursing & Clinical Services, is responsible for implementing the objective of Nursing Service on a designated patient care unit to insure that patient standards are being met. The Director of Acute Care also plans, directs and evaluates patient care and personnel performance.

Responsibilities:

Professionalism

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; and/or participating in professional societies
• Participate in the CMS Survey Readiness activities, CMS surveys and any remedial measures or corrective action plans
• Participate in organizational meetings as deemed necessary

Patient Advocacy

• Utilizes appropriate resources for non-English speaking patients, healthcare illiterate patients, hearing and sight impaired patients and caregivers
• Takes proactive steps to recognize and report suspected abuse/neglect, including, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual abuse, and spousal abuse.  Reporting identified cases to supervisor and appropriate authorities
• Clearly communicates to the patient and family at an appropriate level of comprehension

Quality

• Ensures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards.  Making recommendations for adjustments in patient care as necessary. Maintains CMS survey readiness of units
• Adheres to Infection Prevention standards, consistent in hand hygiene practice before and after each patient interaction. Adheres to infection prevention precautions.  Holds team members accountable to IP and hand hygiene standards and room/patient IP precaution measures to prevent infection or the spread of infection
• Develops and participates in quality review, performance improvement, survey readiness and patient satisfaction initiatives within the department

Clinical Competency

• Oversees all aspects of clinical, operational and administrative functions for the Acute Care areas of Med/Surg and ICU. Promotes high quality evidence based best practices
• Serves as Evening Nursing Supervisor, responsible for the judicious distribution of resources: clinical staff, equipment, supplies. Oversees clinical operations, staffing, customer relations, physician relations, interagency relationships
• As Nursing Supervisor initiates emergency/disaster operations per protocol. Serves as initial onsite Incident Commander, notifies and recalls Incident Command and needed staff resources, keeps AOD and CEO and Communications Director apprised of situation
• Responsible for staff resources and scheduling including hiring, educating, terminating staff in conjunction with nursing management goals and human resource policies
• Utilizes evidence best practices to create/oversee effective staffing model and schedules. Monitors staff assignments, patient care and patient response to treatment via observation and chart reviews
• Maintains effective communication with staff through rounds, regular staff meetings, 1:1 meetings, e-mail and memos to promote employee engagement, team work and a safe and effective environment for patient care
• Knowledgeable of departmental equipment, maintains equipment inventory in safe, working order. Ensures annual staff competencies for safe equipment operation
• Maintains policies and procedures reflecting current nursing practices, reviews annually

Leadership Capabilities

• Budget management: prepares department budget
• Decisiveness: displays an appropriate bias for action, mindful problem definition and calculated risks, determines when data is sufficient for decision-making and moves forward, seeks “win-win” outcomes
• Leading others: has a plan and clear expectations. Involves and delegates appropriately. Holds associates accountable and confronts problem behavior or unsatisfactory performance promptly and fairly. Assures that recognition and rewards are linked to quality actions
• Managing relationships: maintains constructive “key stakeholder” relationships; confronts issues without alienating others; uses collegial approach, and positive personal influence to achieve cooperation
• Operational plan: demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement operational plan
• Results-oriented: demonstrates perseverance and focus in the face of obstacles; takes responsibility and moves forward; is timely and comprehensive in follow-through and achievement
• Style flexibility: can be both firm and compassionate; can lead and let others lead; is self-confident, but demonstrates appropriate humility; aware of personal impact and effectively adapts to different circumstances
• Completes all annual evaluations on or before the due date 

Organizational Expectations:

• Attendance: Attendance is an essential job function; employee comes to work daily, on time, and completes scheduled shift
• HIPAA: facilitates to maintain patient confidentiality
• Internal communication: contributes to positive team performance and a culture of service excellence through effective communication, active listening, and respect
• Interpersonal relationships: maintains appropriate interpersonal relationships with staff, patients, and visitors at all times. Works as a team member with other departments.
• Safety: Practices workplace safety daily

Employee Engagement:

• Actively participates in all hospital Service Excellence initiatives and trainings
• Attends and participates in a minimum of 50% department staff meetings and signs off on review of 100% department staff meeting minutes
• Completes all required annual education on or before the due date

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:  Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills, and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the primary functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, using some combination of skills and abilities and possess the necessary physical requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.

• Minimal physical effort required with occasional light lifting to a maximum of 25 pounds; stooping; and pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work primarily with fingers
• Ability to effectively manage considerable mental stress
• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word
• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and convey information in a clear, concise and accurate manner
• Familiarity with computer and other business machines 

Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Certification in acute care nursing and/or Master degree desired

Experience: Demonstrates clinical competence in area of nursing practice and demonstrated leadership potential for managerial competence; ability to deal effectively with people and to plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of others; minimum of 2 years as staff nurse

Current NH RN License, ACLS, BLS required