Director, PCU

Job Description

Job Description

Director, Nursing: Ambulatory Care/PACU/PAT/ENDO (Post Anesthesia Care Unit/Pre Admission Testing/Endoscopy), ICU, PCU, Med-Surg / Peds, Women’s Pavilion, ED (Emergency Department), OR/SP (Surgery/Sterile Processing) , Inpatient Rehab, TCU (Transitional Care Unit), Wound Center

MAIN FUNCTION:

The Director is responsible for planning, administering and evaluating the operation of their assigned department(s). In conjunction with the Vice President of Patient Services / CNO, the Director is responsible for overseeing implementation of patient care via WCH policies and procedures, evidence based practice, acceptable nursing standards of care, regulatory agencies and the Ohio Nurse Practice Act. Assures that nursing care is implemented via the Nursing Process, WCH Nursing Philosophy and Practice Model which are derived from the Synergy Model.

The Director provides leadership for the development and implementation of departmental projects / initiatives and long and short term goals. The Director is responsible for the fiscal management of the department including all budgets and day to day operations. In conjunction with the CNO, develops long and short term goals for their department(s) promoting quality care and optimal patient outcomes in a fiscally responsible manner. Maintains effective communication with all WCH employees, patients, families, physicians and stakeholders modeling the WCH Service Standards. The Director, as appropriate, represents patients services in the absence of the Vice President of Patient Services.

RESPONSIBLE TO: CNO/COO

MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS:

• RN licensed in the State of Ohio
• Bachelors degree
• Current specialty related leadership experience.
• 3-5 years current related experience. Works well under pressure.
• Demonstrated initiative and project completion skills. Positive communication skills.
• Committee/team membership. Strong customer service philosophy.
• Maintain a current AHA (American Heart Association) Healthcare Provider BLS card while in this position.
• Personal computer experience and keyboard skills

PREFERRED ATTRIBUTES:

• Masters Degree
• Specialty/Leadership certification
• Committee/ team leadership experience

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Employees in this position may be exposed to blood, body fluids and/or airborne pathogens and are required to wear personal protective equipment
• Employees in this position must be able to push, pull, lift, carry, turn, crouch, and bend as necessary to complete nursing care tasks

POSITION EXPECTATIONS : All expectations detailed below are considered ADA (American Disabilities Act) Essential.

Leadership

1. Demonstrates support of employee involvement through reward and recognition activities, both formal and informal, on a hospital wide and unit level basis (e-mails, gain sharing, etc.). Seeks out innovative ways to recognize and encourage staff.
2. Promotes team building with staff and other department Directors
3. Responds to change productively, promotes enthusiasm for change
4. Role models professional nursing practice and behavior
5. Demonstrates conflict resolution skills
6. Maintains awareness of professional standards for Nursing, ongoing health care policies and economics, maintains awareness of future trends and implications of research for improving nursing practice
7. Demonstrates clinical expertise in specific patient population served
8. Participates on assigned teams &/or committees: unit, departmental and hospital based
9. Demonstrates initiative and responsibility to develop personal, leadership and professional goals/ objectives and determines methods to meet these goals and objectives

Communication

1. Maintains awareness of verbal/ non verbal communication in interactions with staff, other departments, physicians, patients, families and students
2. Collaborates and communicates effectively with all members of the health care team; shares information to ensure staff, physicians, and affected departments are aware of unit changes
3. Maintains patient, staff and hospital confidentiality in all communication interactions: written, verbal, electronic and digital
4. Demonstrates ability to initiate and manage crucial conversations and coach leadership team/staff in same; resolves and manages conflict
5. Utilizes AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Expectations, Thank You) strategies to foster positive communication
6. Makes unit/department and patient rounds frequently to keep channels of communication open. Gives appropriate feedback in a timely manner to questions and concerns.

Operations:

Plans, directs, and coordinates operations of the department:

a. Staff meetings / communication sessions are conducted and documented.

b. Oversees the department activities, develops methods of communication and monitoring the off-shift activities

c. Approves unit schedule and vacation requests

d. Maintains ongoing effective and collaborative communication with the medical staff

e. Fosters interdisciplinary collaborative relationships

• Is an advocate for patients/ family and staff
• Takes appropriate action on patient/family/staff/physician issues and concerns
• Collaborates with all hospital departments to meet the hospital's mission, vision and value statement

1. Participates in marketing strategies for department/hospital as applicable

1. Develops annual goals and objectives for unit; develops strategies for meeting the goals, communicate the plan to staff and evaluate the outcome

Responsible for fiscal management through the Capital, Operating and FTE Budgets:

a. Maintain awareness of hospital financial data, ongoing healthcare policies/ trends and their impact on department

b. Develops and manages unit budget, proactively developing methods to improve financial performance. Demonstrates ability to interpret financial data as a means to determine appropriate intervention strategy. Maintains awareness and understanding of financial tools available.

c. Assesses departmental needs in order to staff appropriately for patient needs while maintaining fiscal responsibility

d. Monitors equipment, and supply usage/ par levels necessary for unit operation

Customer Service

1. Displays positive attitude. Treats others with honesty and respect. Speaks positively in all customer interactions internal and external.
2. Assess customer satisfaction when rounding on patients and use appropriate chain of command for unresolved issues or problems.
3. Use AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank you ) to:

• Optimize the patient’s experience by reducing the patient and family’s anxiety and increasing the patient’s compliance
• Develop positive relationships with other departments to foster patient satisfaction

1. Intervene with patients /staff using crucial conversation skills in situations in which customer needs have not been met to determine a positive, mutually agreeable resolution
2. Assesses customer service by reviewing and responding to patient satisfaction surveys

Staff Development / Professional Growth:

Demonstrates ability to select and develop all employees:

a. Oversees ongoing educational and professional growth of all employees

b. Facilitates staff growth in position expectations

c. Provides for comprehensive orientation and annual/ongoing competency validation to assure proficiency in performing assigned tasks based on developmental needs

d. Promotes staff compliance with hospital expectations. Counsels staff and documents deficiencies, sets improvement objectives, completes follow-up.

e. Completes performance evaluations within specific time limits

g. Demonstrates support of all affiliated student programs

Accepts responsibility for and demonstrates personal professional growth:

1. Identify own learning needs, develops and implements a plan to address those needs
2. Accepts feedback/input from peers, direct supervisor and direct reports, as necessary, to identify areas for growth or deficiencies
3. Obtains specialty certification or training and maintains active membership in professional organizations

Process Improvement:

In conjunction with Clinical Manager and Staff:

1. Develops unit key measures with input from all employees
2. Consistently utilizes PI principles for inter/intra departmental interactions
3. Develops tools and collects data as indicated
4. Uses data to drive Performance Improvement: able to aggregate data and present information so that Director/ assistant manager/ staff can determine a course of action.
5. Initiate changes in practice based upon PI data
6. Maintain mechanism to inform/ involve staff of PI processes and data
7. Develop and maintain ongoing understanding of nursing best practices for the types of patients for which care is provided
8. Develop and maintain awareness of DNV, CMS (Centers for Medicare Services) and other required quality and safety measures

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCY

Dependent upon department and the population served:

Neonatal (Birth thru 28 days)

1. Handles infants in gentle manner
2. Speaks in soothing voice
3. Holds and cuddles infant when necessary
4. Facilitates parental interaction and care of infant

Infant (29 days thru 12 months)

1. Approaches infant in slow, non-threatening way
2. Speaks in soothing way
3. Holds and cuddles infant as much as possible
4. Encourages parental interaction with infant
5. Allows for familiar toys/blankets to be brought from home

Pediatrics (one year thru 11 years)

1. Allows choices when possible
2. Speaks directly using few, clear, simple terms and explanations
3. Limits number of strangers entering room
4. Provides consistent nursing assignments
5. Does not shame parents for lack of cooperation
6. Holds child for painful procedures

Adolescents (12 years thru 18 years)

1. Allows participation in care and choices as appropriate
2. Provides for patient's modesty
3. Tells patient exactly what will be expected
4. Allows patient control
5. Speaks directly to patient in simple medical terms

Geriatrics (65 years and older)

1. Identifies physical/social/emotional barriers and physical limitations at discharge
2. Teaches patient about one item at a time
3. Repeats instructions several times
4. Speaks slowly and distinctly when talking to the patient

04/13; 3/18, 7/19, 2/20, 2/23