Nurse Manager

Under the general supervision of the Senior Director of Nursing, Patient Care Services (SDON), the Nurse Manager is responsible for the overall administrative direction of the assigned nursing units at CareWell Health Medical Center. The Nurse Manager is responsible for the management of nursing practice and operations on a designated unit/service. This includes, but is not limited to, the management of: clinical nursing practice, staff recruitment, retention, labor relations, supply chain and budget, staffing, employee performance evaluation, quality improvement, staff education, medical records, internal and external regulatory and survey requirements.

The Nurse Manager collaborates with multiple professionals to support and coordinate the provision / management of patient care. He or she works closely with the DON, Physician Leader and staff in insuring that the Service/Unit maintains the highest standards of patient care and is responsive to the needs of the patient & family as well as the organization.

The Nurse Manager is the Nursing Leader of their designated unit / service. The NM has the ability to create and empower teams to embrace and implement change that will improve the clinical, operational, and financial performance.

Leads nursing practice using the established Nursing Care Delivery Model for the promotion of the patient experience for nursing operations.

Demonstrates proficiency in all aspects of Purposeful Hourly Rounding (PHR) and role models' expected behaviors.

Confirms that staff members round hourly on all patients by review of rounding validation data and observation of unit rounding.

Synthesizes quantitative and qualitative feedback regarding the patient experience and staff engagement to Directors, Nurse Managers, staff, and the Interdisciplinary Patient Care Team that leads to the development and implementation of an action plan.

Follows up on all patient concerns in a timely manner, provides service recovery as needed, and escalates patient concerns as appropriate.

Demonstrates caring, respect, compassion, empathy, and active listening through dialogue, body language, and actions.

Does related work as required.

Essential Functions:

• Role models service standards in actions and communications with patients, families, staff and other disciplines.Functions as a respectful leader of the health care team.
• Participates in hospital committees and projects, and hospital-wide implementation programs.
• Coordinates and facilitates activities to promote service and interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Works collaboratively, demonstrating partnerships with physician leadership and service line administrative staff to develop and maintain clinical practice standards of care and operational programs.
• Establishes collaborative relationships with nursing staff, leadership, medical staff, and other administrative staff and throughout the medical center.
• Participates in the design of new clinical facilities and renovations of existing facilities to represent a patient care and nursing perspective.
• Hires, develops and evaluates nursing leadership from orientation through termination, if necessary, according to established standards.
• Establishes accountability while providing support and guidance for role advancement and professional development of formal and aspiring leadership.
• Coordinates activities pertaining to patient care based on the hospitals and the Departments' of Nursing philosophy and mission.
• Contributes to recruitment and retention through advocacy with other departments on behalf of nursing to optimize systems that contribute to patient care delivery.Initiates and sustains structure standards for the department, service line, service, and unit level.
• Develops capital budget submissions within the clinical service in conjunction with the services Labor Manager; and participates in the Departments-wide capital budget submissions with the Vice President of Operations
• Facilitates use of the Labor Productivity Tool, discharge and/or volume targets, and Patient Profiling to assist Directors and Nurse Mangers to plan and to validate staffing patterns.
• Establishes the operating budget for the clinical department (salary and non-salary where applicable), in conjunction with the Directors and Nurse Managers; monitors expenses as balanced with patient volume and other indicators; and evaluates outcomes, making modifications and adjustments as indicated.
• Demonstrates visibility, accessibility and effective communication that convey a strong sense of advocacy and support for staff and leadership.
• Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing staf practices
• Participates in developing and implementing interdisciplinary outcome standards.
• Participates in and/or leads interdisciplinary quality and performance improvement projects pertinent to service line goals and objectives.
• Participates in and fosters staff involvement in evidence based practice and other nursing research activities.
• Plans, implements, and annually evaluates service and unit-based quality and performance improvement programs consistent with the departmental and hospital plan.
• Establishes processes to create, evaluate and improve or sustain an environment that promotes patient/family, physician and staff satisfaction.
• Coordinates and facilitates interdisciplinary patient and family educational programs and activities using a variety of media, to promote quality patient care.
• Supports academic affiliations for purposes of providing clinically rich experiences for students of nursing, and enrichment of nursing staff.
• Works collaboratively with clinical and educational resources and experts to plan and implement educational offerings for staff
• Maintains clinical and leadership competency by participation in continuing education, professional organizations and other related activities.
• Evaluates own performance based on professional practice standards, and criteria established by accrediting/Regulatory agencies.
• Serves as resource to staff and leadership for development of nursing standards that are consistent with the established model.
• Facilitates an environment of learning that supports patient safety, and all levels of nursing practice and personnel.
• Fosters opportunities for staff and leadership participation in activities and educational programs that promote learning and professional development.
• Establishes and maintains processes to ensure competency and appropriate utilization of staff.
• Leads efforts to develop and implement evidence-based clinical practice.
• Initiates and sustains development of service-level nursing and interdisciplinary process standards.
• Demonstrates understanding of the value of professional nursing, the conceptual framework in which it is practiced, and the features of an organization that attracts and retains nurses.
• Demonstrates and enhances others understanding of nursing and patient care standards as integral and supportive of professional practice, participatory management, and values adopted by the Departments of Nursing, the hospital, and the medical center.
• Develops, maintains and evaluates systems that support nursing process and the delivery of safe and effective patient care.
• Articulates an understanding of nursing process, interdisciplinary collaboration, customer service, patient/family education, and continuum of care concepts, particularly as they apply to the population served.
• Directs all personnel in these areas to ensure appropriate levels of staff training, recruiting, corrective action, staff development;
• Reviews protocols, policies, procedures and standards of practice to ensure compliance with New Jersey State Nurse Practice Act
• Understands and articulates patient care standards reflected in federal and state regulation, The Joint Commission, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Work with CareWell Health physicians to build relationships, monitor performance, improve processes and solve problems.
• Ensure assigned areas of responsibility comply with the company’s Compliance Program.
• Collaborate with the company’s legal counsel and compliance officer as needed.
• Provides leadership and guidance for operational areas as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education/Certification:

• Master’s degree preferred (MBA, MHA or MSN similar degree from an accredited university)
• Valid Registered Nursing License in New Jersey
• National Certification in area of specialty preferred (i.e. NEA-BC, NE-BC)

Minimum Work Experience:

• Minimum of 2 to 5 years as a a Registered Nurse in Medical Surgical, Telemetry or Critical Care
• Minimum of 1 to 2 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare (i.e. preceptor, charge nurse, clinical coordinator or assistant Nurse Manager roles)

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of fiscal planning, analysis, and management principles
• Ability to work in a fast-moving (and sometimes ambiguous) environment, while managing toward clarity and solutions
• Knowledge of health care management principles and practices, enough to direct operations within a health care organization
• Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences in small and large group settings
• Ability to exercise a high degree of initiative, sound judgement, discretion, and decision-making skills
• Ability to solve management issues and direct numerous and varied operations simultaneously
• Ability to set and maintain high standards of performance, hold people accountable for achieving deliverable metrics, encourage team participation, and motivate others through a shared vision
• Knowledge of human resource management practices
• Knowledge of related regulatory and compliance requirements
• Possesses and maintains a current knowledge of healthcare industry operations and trends

Working Conditions:

• May be required to sit for long periods of time.
• May be required to kneel, bend, crouch, crawl, reach or climb.
• May be required to stand or walk, for a good portion of the workday.
• May be required to exert significant force to push, pull or lift objects or move patients.
• May be subject to on rot more of the following conditions: fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases or poor ventilation.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, biological or chemical hazards.
• May be subject to extreme temperature conditions indoors and/or outdoors, such as extreme heat or cold and exposure to weather elements.
• May be required to operate machinery or equipment.
• Exposed to unpleasant odors, and communicable diseases.
• Encounters stress, crisis, emergencies, and death.
• Lifts some equipment/supplies.
• Interacts with family, visitors, health team members and other hospital and referral agency
• In an office space, interacts daily with managers, all nursing and ancillary personnel.
• Will be covering alternate shifts as requested. Shift differential does not apply to day shift.