Assistant Chief Nursing Officer- Physician Organization

At Houston Methodist, the Assc Chief Of Nursing, Sr Director position is responsible for working under the direction of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) to create an environment in which nurses are able to perform their jobs effectively to create excellent patient outcomes and a professional nursing culture. As a member of the administration team, this position has direct operational responsibility for various departments and service, and is responsible for planning as defined by the strategic direction established by CNO and senior leadership which includes the development of policies and procedures related to practice operations, staffing models, patient safety and quality, training and customer service. The ACNO position works closely with the directors of patient care services and partners with medical staff leadership to coordinate and integrate services aligned with the strategic plan, mission and vision of Houston Methodist. This position is responsible for ensuring that patient services are in compliance with nursing care standards, evidence-based practice, as well as state and federal regulations. The ACNO position has responsibility and authority for enhancing and integrating systems, programs, support, and human resources, such as nurse recruitment and retention, across operational areas of responsibility with a particular focus on excellent patient care, staff engagement, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and integration of service delivery across the network. This position must be able to leverage technology to achieve system goals and to ensure linkages between the ancillary and acute care settings. In the absence of the CNO, the ACNO assumes responsibility for the entire scope of the CNO's responsibilities.
The position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

FLSA STATUS
Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, one of which must be in Nursing

EXPERIENCE

• Five years of progressively responsible leadership roles within an acute care, public and/or academic healthcare system that demonstrates a high level of understanding of the required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Experience must include demonstrated leadership ability, preferably working in a related nursing management position in a healthcare setting.
• LEAN/Six Sigma training preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency) and
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association and
• Magnet-ANCC Recognized Leadership Certification

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes
• Demonstrates highly effective communication skills—strong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software
• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information
• Ability to work with information technology applications
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques involved in administering a multi-faceted program of general nursing services in a hospital setting, serving acute care and psychiatric patients
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of nursing education
• Ability to lead sustainable change through collaborative and emotionally intelligent leadership
• Ability to work collaboratively with interproffessional team members who are mutually accountable
• Ability to inspire and motivate others, while promoting the mission and vision of the organization; and related capacities and abilities
• Strong demonstrated transformational and complex, matrixed leadership skills (inspiring, analyzing and problem solving, communication across multiple organizations, executing) to champion Nurse Excellence
• Membership in American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) preferred

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.
• Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.
• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
• Meets with leaders of operational teams to monitor the activities of nursing practices and addresses any problems, needs or other significant occurrences that reflect the status of nursing performance. Works collaboratively with other patient care and support departments, fostering a climate of open communication and mutual problem-solving activities.
• Provide leadership to nursing staff that will engage their support, create ownership of goals, and have them actively participate in decisions that impact their practice. Serves as a mentor and coach for nursing leadership, including hiring, coaching, professional development and corrective/disciplinary actions. Acts as a positive professional role-model and demonstrates adaptability to nursing trends.
• Visits department/staff units, in assigned areas, to improve visibility and communication with nursing staff. Tours assigned areas regularly to solicit feedback regarding performance, needs, etc. Acts as a liaison for the CNO when immediate contact with the CNO is unavailable.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
• Coordinates/prioritizes plans through the CNO to assure organizational objectives are in line, enhancing and integrating systems, programs, support, and human resources, across operational areas of responsibility, with a particular focus on excellent patient care, staff engagement, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and integration of service delivery across the network. Maintains/initiates frequent updates to CNO routinely.
• Visits department/staff units, in assigned areas, to improve visibility and communication with nursing staff. Regularly rounds on key constituents (patients, families, employees, and physicians) to solicit feedback regarding performance, needs, etc., and enhance communication, ensuring alignment that the experience is exceptional. Provides a feedback loop for all aspects of patient care to the CNO. Acts as a liaison for the CNO when immediate contact with the CNO is unavailable.
• In collaboration with the CNO, actively creates a professional practice environment that formulates policies and procedures consistent with recognized standards of professional practice and reflecting the intent of regulatory standards and maintain authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing services and meets the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Magnet status criteria.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.
• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
• Identifies system problems that may contribute to errors and monitors corrective actions to ensure effective resolution. Initiates and participates in joint performance improvement activities and that these initiatives are designed to measure and improve the quality of care delivered and are consistent with the organization priorities. Independently seeks opportunities to identify and streamline inefficiencies in clinical areas through action plans and follow-up with leaders in assigned areas.
• Improves the quality of patient care and services while increasing patient satisfaction which support a nursing practice environment where a model of Patient Family Centered Care is practiced, leveraging technology to achieve system goals and to ensure linkages between the ancillary and acute care settings. Ensures follow-up to patient complaints and occurrence reports is thorough and timely.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
• Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
• Manages nursing expenditures and staffing resources for improvement activities, ensuring the efficient delivery of cost effective services to patients, physicians, and hospital departments, continually seeking data that will identify opportunities and takes action to eliminate non-value costs.
• In partnership with CNO and Human Resources, develops and implements leading edge recruitment and retention strategies, as well as innovative management systems to drive low turnover and vacancy rates in nursing.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development plan on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: No
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, one of which must be in Nursing

EXPERIENCE

• Five years of progressively responsible leadership roles within an acute care, public and/or academic healthcare system that demonstrates a high level of understanding of the required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Experience must include demonstrated leadership ability, preferably working in a related nursing management position in a healthcare setting.
• LEAN/Six Sigma training preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency) and
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association and
• Magnet-ANCC Recognized Leadership Certification