Clinical Unit Supervisor-MST

Mission Community Hospital Medical-Surgical / Telemetry Services

Clinical Unit Supervisor NIGHTS

Position Summary

This position will primarily work with acutely ill Medical-Surgical, Telemetry-monitored, Orthopedic, and Neurological patient populations in a manner that demonstrates an understanding of the functional and / or developmental age of the individual served. The Clinical Unit Supervisor shall demonstrate a high Level of Commitment to providing direct and indirect patient care to the above identified population, supervises licensed (registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses) and non-licensed personnel as assigned in the acute care setting. Exhibit a Sense of Urgency, appropriate to the situation, while communicating with Physicians / Directors / Managers / House Supervisors / Co-Workers about changes in patient’s clinical condition including abnormal results of diagnostic studies and symptomatology.

The Clinical Unit Supervisor shall perform nursing duties in her / his assigned department exhibiting a Can Do Attitude. In addition, the Clinical Unit Supervisor will be responsible for making patient care assignments based on the skill, experience, temperament of other nursing personnel and based on the acuity of the patients, ensuring patient and staff safety, assist in the evaluation of performance and skills of Agency / Temporary staff, as well as, permanent acute care staff. The Clinical Unit Supervisor will be responsible for directing and orienting staff members as needed / assigned in all aspects of acute care management.

The Clinical Unit Supervisor will participate in quality and process improvement(s) in the department during all phases from planning to implementing, and sustaining efforts, including taking corrective action when employees fail to carry out delegated duties.

Major Responsibilities

Patient Care – 50%

The Clinical Unit Supervisor performs primary patient care tasks / duties as outlined in this job description, as needed to supplement department staffing needs. In addition, the Clinical Unit Supervisor monitors and supervises department staff to ensure the following clinical and patient care procedures, processes, and / or tasks are performed during assigned work shift :

Ensure staff completes admission assessment / triage, history and physical on all assigned patients per Department / unit policy.

Ensure staff identifies psychosocial, spiritual, learning and discharge planning needs.

Ensure staff have the knowledge and ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and

reassessments as per policy and relevant to patient’s needs / diagnosis within 3 hours of assuming assignment or per patient condition / unit policy. This includes : age specific assessments for unit’s patient population.

Ensure staff completes patient transfer assessment within one hour of receiving patients or per unit policy.

Ensure staff completes assessment and instruction upon discharge per unit policy.

Ensure staff recognizes and reports abnormal diagnostic data to physicians immediately or as ordered.

Ensure staff administer medications as ordered.

Ensure staff demonstrates critical thinking skills and problems solving abilities in coordinating and

supervising patient care.

Ensure staff identifies predictable patient problems.

Ensure staff provides appropriate care of the orthopedic patient following physician specific protocols.

Major Responsibilities

Patient Care – 50% (continued)

Ensure staff demonstrates safe use of the supportive equipment for the orthopedic patient including but not limited to walkers, CPM’s, and wheelchairs.

Ensure staff identifies low volume / high risk patient problems and anticipates less predictable problems.

Ensure staff recognizes the relationship between physiological and environmental factors and their effect

on the patient / family.

Ensure staff provides appropriate care for MS / Tele / Ortho / Neuro patients according to physician orders,

standards of care, and hospital policies.

Ensure physician’s orders are signed, dated, timed, transcribed correctly and carried out in a timely

manner.

Ensure staff reports and seeks immediate assistance in life threatening situations by recognizing subtle

changes and trends, identifying abnormal deviations in signs, symptoms, and vital signs; interpreting

these with respect to the patient’s condition and age and taking appropriate action.

Ensure staff respects the Rapid Response Process and work to proactively identify classic signs that

precede codes.

Ensure staff identifies life threatening situations, initiates and coordinates appropriate nursing

interventions

Ensure staff recognizes and routinely performs report at Bedside utilizing available tools and / or reports.

Ensure staff documentation reflects current nursing standards and supports policies and procedures.

Ensure staff communicates information appropriately and clearly to

physicians / directors / managers / charge nurse / co-workers. In a timely manner.

Ensure staff responds appropriately to usual and abnormal diagnostic data and documents interventions.

Ensure staff suggests appropriate interventions for abnormal findings utilizing clinical assessment of the

patient and critical thinking.

Ensure staff evaluates the effectiveness of interventions based on psychosocial, age, and cultural,

religious and educational influences; seeks assistance when necessary.

Ensure staff demonstrates an ability to assist physicians and co-workers with procedures.

Ensure staff sets up / prepares for procedures (less frequently done) and assists the physician effectively.

Ensure staff follows appropriate Code notification procedures and functions in a Code situation quickly

and calmly

Ensure staff follows appropriate Organ Donation procedures.

Ensure staff follows appropriate Morgue procedures.

Ensure staff demonstrates knowledge and application of infection control policies and procedures

supporting standards of care.

Ensure staff effectively prioritizes clinical interventions and care.

Ensure staff understands actions, side-effects, contra-indications of drugs and follows five “rights” of

medication administration always using national patient Safety Goals (NPSG 2) patient identifier

expectation.

Ensure staff administers and documents medications, including narcotics, parenterals and blood

components according to appropriate standards of care and policy and procedure.

Ensure staff questions / withholds medication and notifies appropriate physician, supervisor and / or

pharmacy when the medication, the dose, the frequency, or the route may be harmful to the patient.

Ensure staff detects and reports medication or treatment errors according to policy.

Major Responsibilities

Patient Care – 50% (continued)

Ensure staff identifies drug / drug, drug / food interactions and notifies physician and pharmacy while monitoring for desired effect of medications / treatments...

Ensure staff safely uses alternative routes of medication administration as well as times and adjusts medication administration times to optimize effects of medication.

Develops, implements and evaluates a nursing plan of care for the patient / family – 10%

Ensure staff identifies patient / family support systems and their effectiveness

Ensure staff consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the

patient’s needs.

Ensure staff identifies and implements alternative interventions to achieve expected outcomes; involves and solicits feedback from patient and / or significant others.

Ensure staff evaluates, by direct observation, the effectiveness of interventions based on the plan of care and expected outcomes.

Ensure staff revises patient’s plan of care to reflect changes in patient needs or lack of progress in response to planned interventions.

Ensure staff has the ability to formulate and revise plan of care as indicated by the patient’s response to treatment and evaluate overall plan daily for effectiveness, involving patient and patient’s family when appropriate.

Ensure staff determines and prioritizes patient problems, expected outcome and discharge planning.

Ensure staff formulates plan of care that demonstrates knowledge of age specific needs, conditions, and measurable interventions, including diagnostic process and expected diagnostic values for high volume

cases.

Ensure staff utilizes existing standards of care in formulating the plan.

Ensure staff formulates plan of care that demonstrates knowledge of complex patient conditions and

specific to the patient’s age and revises / updates the plan In collaboration with others

Ensure staff communicates plan of care effectively to other staff members, physicians and

interdisciplinary healthcare team members.

Ensure staff actively participates in Case Management and other interdisciplinary care conferences.

Ensure staff consults with other members of the healthcare team to maximize problem identification and

appropriate interventions towards a positive patient outcome.

Provides education for the patient / family - 10%

Ensure staff identifies current patient / family coping mechanisms and their effectiveness.

Ensure staff independently assesses learning needs of assigned patients and seeks assistance in

identifying / meeting simple to complex learning needs.

Ensure staff formulates a teaching plan, and performs the teaching for routine patient populations, incorporating teaching into the plan of care based upon identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning; family is included in teaching as appropriate. Ask open-ended questions e.g. what questions do you have for me?

Ensure staff avoids closed-end questions e.g. Do you have any questions?

Ensure staff implements instructions for patients / families / significant others about the illness, management of the illness and after discharge care using resources and referrals as necessary.

Provides education for the patient / family - 10% (continued)

Ensure staff teaches others involved in the care of the patient and family with simple to complex problems.

Ensure staff evaluates teaching plan and revises in relation to patient and / or family response / input.

Ensure staff performs teaching for simple to complex patient problems.

Ensure staff evaluates need for further instruction based on patient / family response / input; seeks

assistance when appropriate.

Ensure staff documents patient and / or family response / input.

Ensure staff documents patient and / or family response and progress toward goals in compliance with

plan of care and practice standards.

Customer Service - 15%

Demonstrates ethical decision making in their dealings with employees, patients, and visitors.

Complies with established policies and regulations, and acts in an ethical manner.

Uses customer feedback and data to improve the patient experience, their own performance and Mission Community Hospital processes.

Is actively committed to Mission Community Hospital’s Customer Service Philosophy “Language of Caring, when addressing patients and customers.

Is positive and respectful with their patients and customers, even under difficult circumstances, exemplifying Language of Caring Principles.

Acts with a sense of urgency to correct any matters important to their patients and customers or the hospital.

Demonstrates ability to perform proactive Service Recovery effectively when patient concerns arise.

Consistently uses common courtesies like “please” and “thank you”.

Interacts professionally with patient / family and treats patients / families with respect and dignity; ensures patient confidentiality.

Immediately Greets / acknowledges customers warmly, with a smile, and immediately when they enter department / unit / area.

Does not point out directions, but immediately offers to escort and / or hand-off customers to their destination.

Honors the rights, privacy, and opinions of the patient and their families.

Demonstrates commitment to Telephone / Intercom Etiquette at all times.

Thanks patients and customers for choosing Mission Community Hospital and asks “What else can I do?”

Asks how the customer may be helped with interest and concern.

End each customer interaction with, “Is there anything else that I can get for you?”

Actively and attentively listens to comments and feedback from patients and customers. does not interrupt.

Accepts ownership and takes action to resolve customer needs and / or concerns.

Works to anticipate and exceed their patients, physicians, co-workers , direct reports and customer’s

expectations whenever possible, and follows up to make sure that their needs have been met.

Is generous in acknowledging a job well done.

Customer Service - 15% (continued)

Handles themselves in a positive and professional manner through attitude, communication, interaction and appearance.

Uses words and behaviors that express consideration, concern and respect.

Leadership - 10%

Communicates rationale for interventions to assigned staff and other healthcare team members.

Facilitates appropriate / efficient utilization of resources.

Facilitates and holds self and colleagues accountable for meeting department customer service standards in the performance of duties.

Meets or exceeds customer service improvement targets as demonstrated by dashboards, etc.

Focuses on process improvement, not team members when resolving conflicts. Employee is not

judgmental and does not participate in gossip and rumors.

Accountable through admitting when they make a mistake and actively working to correct the mistake and / or the process that may be in need of change.

Recognizes and values the contribution of each team member and department in the success of Mission Community Hospital.

Assists assigned staff and other patient care team members in completing care efficiently, effectively and safely.

Participates in the clinical development of self and others to provide for personal growth, unit clinical competency, and position retention.

Demonstrates leadership ability by assuming responsibility and accountability for assigned unit activities and healthcare system goals.

Utilizes and role models participant decision making.

Contributes to the team concept and maintains a positive working relationship, both within the department and with other departments, assisting when a need is observed or requested, and offers constructive suggestions for improvement instead of complaints.

Provides coaching and supervision when deficiencies are noted.

Works to achieve excellence in all situations. They go the extra mile when possible within their job and

abilities.

Is continuously aware of changing priorities and resource availability and proactively removes

roadblocks and prevents problems.

Utilizes competent interpersonal skills and conflict resolution technique.

Delegates tasks within the scope of practice, skills and abilities of patient care team members.

Role models and fosters high quality and continuous excellence in patient care.

Conducts hourly / leadership rounds and designated unit huddles with assigned team members to assess

the care being given and those patient needs / expectations are met.

Promotes an environment in which the patient care team is motivated to work cooperatively toward

common outcomes.

Collaborates with staff regarding physician notification especially when patient is discharged and / or

transferred to ensure smooth transition of care.

Role models and assures compliance by patient care team members with hospital policies, procedures,

standards of care, accreditation and regulatory standards.

Actively participates in seeking ways to improve themselves and their department.

Precepts students, new hires, unit floats and registry personnel to promote a positive development and

patient care experience for patients, the staff, and the unit.

Other - 5%

Keeps work area neat and uncluttered; removes, cleans and returns equipment and supplies as appropriate. Removes mal-functioning equipment from the workplace and reports immediately for repair.

Is able to manage and operate unit equipment safely and correctly in accordance with manufacturer’s operating instructions.

Obtains necessary training prior to initial equipment use, while assuring equipment is in operating order prior to use.

Keeps all private information about staff or patients confidential.

Meets dress code standards of assigned nursing unit.

Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated time.

Maintains regulatory requirements.

Completes annual requirements.

Attends staff meetings.

Wears identification while on duty and uses computerized punch time system correctly.

Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the Hospital as well as the focus statement of the

department.

Actively participates in the department’s continuous quality improvement (PI) activities.

Consistently follows through with the commitments they make to patients, physicians, the organization, their department, their job and fellow employees - including attendance and arriving to work on time.

Demonstrates ability to utilize nursing documentation computer systems appropriately, minimizing shortcuts that dilute charting and / or running of reports.

Differentiates between patient complications and equipment malfunction and responds appropriately.

Appropriately documents and / reports all adverse incidents and / or responses to care and / or treatment.

Assures appropriate completion / documentation of unit logs, quality control measures and participation in / compliance with performance improvement activities / projects.

Consistently follows through with the commitments they make to patients, physicians, the organization, their department, their job and fellow employees - including attendance and arriving to work on time.

Participates in appreciating and acknowledging the accomplishments of others.

Participates in marketing activities of the Hospital including but not limited to committees / task forces,

speaking engagements, conducting tours, Hospital sponsored health fairs.

Participates in staff recognition activities in ways that reward behaviors reflecting positively on Mission Community Hospital.

Serves as an active participant in departmental, interdepartmental, multi-department or house-wide process improvement forums / task forces / committees.

Offers and implements solutions to challenges / problems.

Assists with development-related activities including fund raising programs & activities.

Participates in departmental activities / projects and contributes recommendations and / or assists in implementing new or revised processes / procedures that improve work efficiency and / or enhanced service.

Identifies, independently, departmental work to be done and / or coworkers needing assistance (beyond regular job responsibilities) and actively meets the need(s).

Attends / participates in activities that contribute to professional growth and development in ways that enhances value to the organization.

Other - 5% (continued)

Maintains an efficient and cost effective, work environment.

Performs other clinical and management duties as assigned including direct patient care.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required :

Must have a minimum of 1 year acute care RN experience on assigned unit.

Minimum of 1 year acute care RN Med / Surg, Telemetry, Ortho, or Neuro experience.

Must be an RN graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Current RN license issued by the California State Board of Nursing.

Ability to read and communicate (in-person and / or via telephone / intercom) effectively in English.

Basic Arrhythmia certification

Basic computer knowledge

ACLS certification

BLS / CPR certification

FIRE Card