BHU Nurse Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Behavioral Health Nursing Director or Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), the Clinical Nurse Manager of Behavioral Health Services is responsible for providing and managing staff and material resources that are necessary for effective patient care delivery for assigned unit(s). This position has assigned shift responsibility. The Clinical Nurse Manager applies critical reasoning and sound decision making skill sets to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care.

The Clinical Nurse Manager will oversee Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) day-to-day clinical and budgetary operations, lead, develop, and train clinical staff, evaluate and update unit policies, and evaluate and improve clinical procedures to ensure the best care is delivered to Mission Community Hospital patients and families.

In collaboration with the Nursing Director or CNO, the Clinical Nurse Manager will plan, direct, coordinate and evaluate all patient care activities and services to promote clinical excellence. The Clinical Nurse Manager will be accountable for achieving clinical service excellence and unit financial goals; effective human resources management; quality assurance and performance improvement; regulatory compliance; and staff competency and development. In addition, Clinical Nurse Manager will serve as a leader and role model for staff and will be an active participant in organizational and nursing department decision-making.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

SERVICE PERFORMANCE

1. Greets/acknowledges customers warmly, with a smile, and immediately when they enter department/unit/area.
2. Asks how the customer may be helped with interest and concern.
3. Listens attentively, does not interrupt.
4. Accepts ownership and takes action to resolve customer needs and/or concerns.
5. Is attentive and responsive to the expectations of physicians, co-workers and direct reports.
6. Accepts constructive criticism and modifies actions accordingly.
7. Is generous in acknowledging a job well done.
8. Uses words and behaviors that express consideration, concern and respect.
9. Facilitates and holds staff accountable for meeting department customer service standards in the performance of duties.
10. Utilizes telephone skills effectively as outlined in the Star Service Program.
11. Keeps all private information about staff or patients confidential.

SERVICE PERFORMANCE (continued)

1. Identifies customers and their service requirements.
2. Meets or exceeds customer service improvement targets as demonstrated by dashboards, etc.

VALUE ADDED – INCREASES WORTH OF SERVICE TO MISSION COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

1. Participates in marketing activities of the Hospital including but not limited to committees/task forces, speaking engagements, conducting tours, Hospital sponsored health fairs.
2. Contributes to marketing materials such as brochures, newsletters, teaching materials.
3. Participates in staff recognition activities in ways that reward behaviors reflecting positively on Mission Community Hospital.
4. Engages in interdepartmental /multi-department/house-wide process improvement forums/task forces/committees.
5. Offers and implements solutions to challenges/problems.
6. Assist with development-related activities including fund raising programs & activities.
7. Monitors the marketplace and recommends new and creative business opportunities.
8. Analyzes targeted existing services and product lines for cost/benefit and develops appropriate strategies to improve growth where applicable.
9. Attends/participates in activities that contribute to professional growth and development.

LEADERSHIP

1. Assume assigned shift responsibility for the overall patient care management of the department.
2. Assumes Charge Nurse role as needed based on hospital census and/or staffing.
3. Assists licensed staff with admitting and discharging patients to augment staffing and ensure effective patient throughput.
4. Oversee treatment planning activities and documentation compliance.
5. Perform primary care nursing functions when unit is short staffed.
6. Supervise patient care staffing and shift assignments to ensure appropriate skill mix.
7. Ensures efficient and productive department operations by monitoring staff performance and intervening appropriately to improve clinical activities and/or processes.
8. Participates in establishing practice standards that assure department needs are met in an optimum fashion that is economically sound.
9. Coordinates Patient Satisfaction/Customer Service unit based initiatives.
10. Assists with the education and training of staff in the use of patient satisfaction/customer service improvement tools, corrective action plan(s) development and implementation.

LEADERSHIP (continued)

1. Advocates and promotes excellence in patient satisfaction by proactively interacting with patients and their families.
2. Establishes a climate of participative management that encourages relevant change and allows for individual growth and development.
3. Maintains effective communication staff, colleagues, employees, and medical staff.
4. Maintains an ongoing awareness of the status, issues, successes and programs of the assigned areas/departments.
5. Assures coordination of departmental activities through appropriate committee assignments, defined feedback mechanisms, and periodic evaluation.
6. Provides a climate for achievement by educating and encouraging excellence in practice.
7. Assists in administration and coordination of Hospital activities.
8. Recommends changes in the administrative policies to carry out objectives of the Hospital more effectively.
9. Recommends improvement of hospital facilities including construction or renovation of structure and purchase of new equipment based on personal inspection of premises, consideration of hospital policies, and knowledge of community needs and resources.
10. Interprets hospital and department policies, objective, and operational procedures to direct reports.
11. Develops and implements policies and procedures to support the provision of services.
12. Works effectively as part of the department team to facilitate department’s ability to meet goals and objectives.
13. Effectively integrates department/unit functions into the overall operations of Mission Community Hospital (MCH) by collaborating with other department heads to assure the smooth integration of services.
14. Assures department/unit representation on interdisciplinary task forces/committees as requested.
15. Communicates with other managers / directors department specific priorities, deadline adjustments and availability.
16. Submits accurate and timely status reports to senior management and/or hospital committees as required.
17. Provides, collaboratively with the nursing leadership team, effective and seamless administrative shift coverage of the nursing department including acting as Administrative House Supervisor when required.
18. Allocates available resources to assure efficient, effective, and safe patient care, based on current standards of practice.

LEADERSHIP (continued)

1. Accountable for facilitating a collegial relationship between nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers and for promoting service delivery which results in patient and family satisfaction.
2. Collaborates with other members of nursing leadership to create an environment that promotes excellence in clinical practice.
3. Maintains nursing operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing personnel policies and procedures.
4. Assures quality of care by developing and interpreting hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care; enforcing adherence to state board of nursing and state nurse practice act requirements and to other governing agency regulations; measuring health outcomes against standards; and making or recommending process changes to improve patient care.
5. Maintains nursing staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training qualified licensed and unlicensed clinical staff.
6. Ensures adequate patient care staffing and adheres to established acuity system staffing plan.
7. Performs staff coaching, mentoring, counseling, and disciplining as indicated.
8. Provides information to patients and health care team by answering questions and requests.
9. Resolves patient needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
10. Maintains safe and clean working environment.
11. Participate in performance improvement data collection, corrective action plans, and committee activities.
12. Maintains nursing supplies inventory by studying usage reports; identifying trends; anticipating needed supplies; approving requisitions and cost allocations.
13. Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
14. Ensure that staff complies with federal and state local regulations and Joint Commission Standards for accreditation.
15. Participate in interviewing, hiring, disciplining, and orienting staff.
16. Perform staff job performance and competency evaluations timely.
17. Responsible for staff timecard accuracy verification and timely approval.
18. Consult with staff regarding nursing concerns and practices.
19. Resolve departmental conflicts as quickly and efficiently as possible. Document all actions taken; including disciplinary and employee-related matters.
20. Promote a positive and safe work environment.
21. Conduct daily patient care rounds.
22. Conduct daily staff clinical practice and education huddles.
23. Conduct monthly departmental staff meetings.
24. Participate in relevant leadership and clinical seminars/in-services and encourage staff members to attend job-related seminars/in-services.
25. Perform other Clinical Manager duties as assigned.