Director of Labor and Delivery

Director of Labor and Delivery

Maine

115-130 K

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Nursing Director

REPORTS TO: Chief Nursing Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Nursing Director is responsible for ongoing leadership and operations of a clinical department and for nursing care, safety, and quality. The Nursing Director uses sound human resource and financial management principles and techniques to guide the provision of nursing services to patients and families. The Nursing Director supports comprehensive patient and family services through effective participation with the interdisciplinary team. Collaborates with physicians for the implementation of policies, procedures, standards, and regulations for the departments to facilitate optimal nursing care.  Assumes 24-hour responsibility, authority, and accountability for patient care activities and service operation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in the classification. Shown are duties intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Staff may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

Provides leadership for nursing staff and the interdisciplinary patient care team to support high quality care of patients and families

• Acts as a role model and steward to the shared vision, mission, values, and service excellence standards of the organization and the Department of Nursing, demonstrating application of the Relationship-Based Care Model©
• Strives to instill the same values in staff and holds them accountable to the standards set for service excellence and the professional practice of nursing
• Cultivates an atmosphere that promotes recruitment, retention, and employee appreciation
• Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and nursing services in units assigned, analyzing appropriate internal and external data and information to identify opportunities in collaboration with stakeholders for improving services and patient outcomes
• Promotes integrating evidence-based knowledge into the identification of best practice in the delivery of nursing care to the appropriate population
• Accepts responsibility for nursing outcomes, conducting comprehensive work analysis and performance coaching for process and quality improvement
• Creates opportunities that empower staff to provide input and make decisions to improve patient and family care and the work environment
• Coaches and mentors nursing staff to set clear professional goals; involves staff in projects that encourage and provide opportunities for professional development
• Promotes cohesive work teams and constructive conflict resolution, actively supporting intra- and inter-disciplinary teamwork, within the department and across the organization
• Systematically evaluates the department’s standards for care and scope of practice, redefining them when needed based on new evidence
• Maintains knowledge of regulatory requirements and legislation that impact clinical services and professional practice
• Commits to regular time in the clinical area in order to maintain competence, working with staff to provide patient and family care

Assures the personnel, workplace, and technology resources necessary for the provision of safe, high quality patient and family care

• Sets the standards for and oversees daily department operations in collaboration with the department leadership team, staff, and interdisciplinary stakeholders.
• Advocates for additional, different, and/or new personnel, workplace, and technology resources necessitated by changes in the standard of care or scope of practice.
• Designs the structures that support personnel selection, clear performance expectations, and professional development.
• Accepts responsibility for personnel selection, setting performance expectations, and completing timely performance evaluations; including staff input in each process.
• Interviews and hires applicants. Cultivates an atmosphere that promotes recruitment, retention, and employee appreciation. Promotes good employee relations.
• Ensures necessary staffing is provided for all shifts of operation of the department by monitoring, evaluating, and modifying staffing patterns utilizing national staffing guidelines and departmental staffing plan. Collaborates with the Administrative Clinical Supervisor  (or similar role) and other Nursing Directors to evaluate work schedules as needed to ensure adequate coverage on all shifts.
• Monitors the adequacy of supplies and equipment necessary for patient care and advocating for additional supplies when needed.
• Evaluates the technology resources available for patient care, seeking staff input during the decision-making and selection processes.
• Evaluates her/his own performance based on professional practice standards, relevant studies and regulations, and organizational criteria identifying areas of strength, as well as areas for professional/practice development.
• Demonstrates reflective leadership and uses self-appraisal, performance appraisal, and peer review to assist with professional development.
• Maintains membership in at least one professional organization, participating on key practice issues, when able.

Leads the application of new knowledge and innovation to advance improvements at the department and organizational level

• Sustains personal professional curiosity and willingness to explore new knowledge and ideas
• Contributes to department and organizational education programs, meetings, committees, and professional initiatives
• Accepts responsibility for the outcomes of quality improvement initiatives, contributes to improvement efforts, and champions change by removing obstacles and providing resources for effective improvement programs
• Sets an expectation for staff participation in continuous improvement efforts and facilitates their contribution
• Makes a measurable commitment to personal professional development in order to adapt effectively to ongoing change and coach and mentor staff to do the same
• Sets an expectation and provides the resources that permit staff participation in internal and external continuing education, specialty certification, and professional development
• Approves and contributes to the orientation and education programs for assigned personnel
• Coordinates the educational activities of the department with the Nursing Director of Professional Practice
• Creates an environment of professional growth and development

Manages human, fiscal and other resources

• Evaluates the efficiency of department daily operations and accepts responsibility for cost-effective resource utilization and financial outcomes
• Coaches and mentors department leadership to make cost effective decisions and use resources prudently
• Accurately and efficiently completes personnel time and attendance records to assure compliance with organizational and department standards
• Educates the patient care team about time and attendance, department and organization financial matters, encouraging dialog to generate ideas that promote efficient operations and wise use of resources
• Prepares, monitors, and adjusts annual departmental operating and capital budget in conjunction with administration to assure cost effective utilization of personnel, equipment, and supplies while maintaining quality patient care
• Monitors approved budgets on a monthly basis, explaining variances

Business Development

• Utilizes financial data to evaluate existing programs, develop alternative plans, or formulate plans to develop new programs or services
• Develops new business opportunity by defining a target population of customers and their needs
• Creates a product and/or service offering to meet need(s) which includes determining volume, profitability, and return on investment from business opportunities
• In collaboration with finance and planning assists in writing an effective and comprehensive business plan

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

• Participates in the process of developing a challenging and realistic vision for Nursing Services, ensuring that the vision reflects institutional and individual values and ideas; establishes specific goals to help people connect the vision to the necessary actions and long term strategies
• Collaborate with nursing staff at all levels, interdisciplinary teams, executive officers, and other stakeholders in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and services
• Develop and implement recruitment and retention programs for staff
• Evaluate factors related to safety, outcomes, effectiveness, cost, and social impact when developing and implementing practice innovations
• Delegate responsibilities appropriate to licensure, education, and experience of staff
• Utilize evidence-based practice to develop and implement standards of practice that guide practice improvement initiatives
• Recognize the diverse skill levels of individual staff members and the unique needs of the patient population when developing staffing plans
• Serves as a professional role model and mentor to nursing
• Actively participates in process improvement, QI, safety and educational committees as delegated
• Recognizes his/her reaction to change and strives to remain open to new ideas and approaches
• Serves as a change agent by assisting others in understanding the importance, necessary impact and process of change; supports the staff
• Creates an environment that facilities the team to initiate actions that produce results, holding self and others accountable for actions and outcomes
• Creates an environment in which others are setting expectations and holding each other accountable
• Develops own career plan and measures progress to that plan

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required *
• Master’s Degree in Nursing preferred. Masters in Health Care Business Administration considered.

* Current personnel without a BSN are required to enroll in an academic program promptly in order to complete degree requirements within 3 years.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• Three years progressive management/leadership experience required
• Five years progressive management/leadership experience preferred
• Previous experience as a Director preferred

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Current licensure in the state of Maine as a Registered Nurse or Compact licensure. Must be in good standing with the Board of Nursing.
• Specialty certification preferred (i.e. NE-BC, NEA-BC, RN-BC)

SPECIFIC SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND/OR COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrate leadership/managerial skill
• Perform effectively in stressful situations
• Use effective communication skills
• Active listening skills
• Ability to define problems collects data, establish facts and draw conclusions
• Problem solve in a solution orientated manner
• Demonstrate financial management, personnel management, and adaptability
• Excellent project development
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Commitment to teamwork and team
• Understands and is able to apply Quality Improvement Theory and tools
• Has basic and intermediate computer skills, must be able to work with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PowerPoint

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee frequently is required to stand and walk and is occasionally required to sit. The employee is required to frequently use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with arms and legs.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.