VP/Chief Nursing Officer-Suburban Hospital

SUBURBAN HOSPITAL

Suburban Hospital is a community-based, not-for-profit hospital serving Montgomery County and the surrounding area since 1943.

In 2009, Suburban Hospital became a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine. As a 240-bed hospital on a 10-acre core campus, the institution includes medical / surgical adult beds, intensive care beds, a small number of pediatric beds (to serve pediatric emergency patients), inpatient psychiatric beds, and a very active emergency department.

In 2019, Suburban opened a new four-story, clinical tower, nearly doubling the size of the hospital. In addition, a state-of-the-art surgical suite with co-location of Cath Labs were constructed and opened with the new clinical tower.

Suburban Hospital is distinguished as a two-time Nursing Magnet designee and has built a culture of teamwork and patient-centricity.

The patients served are older, diverse, generally well resourced, and fairly well educated. Greater than 60% of the patients are over 65 years old with more than 15% over the age of 85.

Clinically, the hospital is strategically positioned to provide complex surgeries and procedures in a community setting.

To this end, Suburban serves the community with an open heart surgery program which is part of Johns Hopkins Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Suburban is also the designated trauma center for Montgomery County (Level II). The hospital is a primary stroke center that can perform thrombectomies and it is a STEMI center with its interventional cardiovascular program.

Suburban Hospital’s success is due to the extraordinary team members of approximately 1,400 staff and 1,300 physicians on the medical staff of whom approximately 350 of whom are active.

Turnover is low with an impressive 7.7% RN vacancy rate and no agency travelers as of January 1, 2024.There is a standout nursing governance structure that serves as a national exemplar.

Employee engagement scores lead the Johns Hopkins Health System and are above national benchmarks. Suburban is engaged in a high reliability organization journey that had 99% of team members trained in universal skills during fiscal year 2024 and 100% of leaders trained in high reliability leadership skills.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer is the primary administrator for nursing and other clinical services. Additional areas of responsibility include nursing education and training.

The Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer will be assigned the responsibility, along with the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of preparing a balanced budget and achieving both patient satisfaction and financial outcomes.

The Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer will provide advice and counsel to the President on a regular basis.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

VP / CNO Reports directly to the President Suburban and Supervises Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Director of Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Staff Managers, Medical / Surgical Perioperative & Short Stay Services, Clinical Decision Unit, Ortho and Adult Surgical, ICU and PCU Behavioral Health, Oncology, ED and the OR

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Develops the annual Nursing goals and objectives, implementing and evaluating for completion and effectiveness.
• Assists each Nursing Director to develop, implement, and evaluate service goals consistent with the Department and Hospital’s objectives.
• Recommends, plans, implements and evaluates division-wide projects consistent with objectives, utilizing input from Directors of Nursing, physicians and managers of affected departments to achieve improvements in patient care and / or support systems.
• Investigates clinical and / or personnel complaints, mediates disputes, and resolves complex issues based on leadership and human resources.
• Plans, monitors, and evaluates each service’s patient care delivery system with particular emphasis on integration of new skill levels within a professional framework to ensure patient care quality, adherence to the principles of quality improvement and cost-effective utilization of clinical resources.
• Plans, monitors and evaluates the guidelines for revenues and expenses within the Division. Sets budget guidelines to assist directors and managers to develop cost-effective, well-planned budgets and monitors, analyzes and approves each Service for compliance and / or variance justification.
• Coordinates the Quality Assessment and Improvement programs, ensuring consistent participation.
• Monitors and evaluates each Director / Manager’s ability to work well with others, ensuring that all personnel are treated fairly, consistently, and within Human Resources policy guidelines.
• Develops appropriate working relationships with Executive Management staff, physicians and other department heads to facilitate cooperation and ensures safe, effective, and fiscally responsible patient care.
• Works closely with peers and other Vice Presidents and with the President to coordinate projects across Department lines.

Assists other Vice Presidents as needed. Shares expertise to provide the best possible outcomes for the Hospital. Serves as Administrator-On-Call in rotation.

Solves administrative and clinical problems by telephone or in person.

• Defines staffing and scheduling principles for units within Nursing, approving minimum staffing levels, monitoring monthly schedules and assisting where necessary.
• Maintains a level of current knowledge of both clinical and administrative principles. Understands and utilizes pertinent information regarding health care policy, human resource, and financial principles.
• Represents Hospital and Nursing by clearly and accurately explaining administrative decisions to Directors, Department Managers, and staff.

Ensures that Directors and Department Managers relay policy decisions professionally and accurately to their staff.

• Serves as role model for the Directors and staff by making frequent rounds, participating closely in patient care issues and reinforcing value systems at all times.
• Represents the Nursing Division on Hospital / Physician Committees and Board of Trustees. Addresses community groups, nursing students, etc, as required.
• Understands and practices advanced problem-solving techniques, evaluating the impact of change in complex situations and selecting the implementation plan that maximizes results for the total institution.
• Serves as a member on committees as requested for the Board of Trustees. Represents Nursing when discussing strategic plans, physical facilities, and equipment.
• Serves as a member of various councils and works to implement the philosophy of continuous improvement in all assigned areas of responsibility.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• A Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration or a comparable degree is required.
• A minimum of 7-10 years experience in clinical practice, in-depth knowledge of nursing and management techniques through years in a supervisory capacity with demonstrated executive ability and leadership are required.
• Experience working in a magnet designated Hospital is HIGHLY desirable
• Experience working in an Adult hospital
• Must be a Registered Nurse, licensed to practice in Maryland, or able to get licensed.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

The Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer must have demonstrated skills in the following areas :

• Setting long-term goals and objectives.
• Implementing change.
• Controlling Patient Care Services resources.
• Communicating on an executive level.
• Interpreting trends in both Hospital and Patient Care Services.
• Providing realistic opportunities for participatory management.
• Serving as a professional role model.

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Diversity and Inclusion are Johns Hopkins Medicine Core Values. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where we embrace and celebrate our differences, where all employees feel valued, contribute to our mission of serving the community, and engage in equitable healthcare delivery and workforce practices.

Johns Hopkins Health System and its affiliates are drug-free workplace employers.