Director of Nursing

The Director of Nursing is responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical operations and personnel management of the assigned patient care unit.

He / she acts as a liaison between the various clinical departments, disciplines and patient services to ensure continuity.

Specific duties and responsibilities may vary across programs and areas. Plans, organizes, and directs the operations and quality improvement program for the assigned unit(s) in collaboration with the disease center leaders, clinical and administrative directors.

This is accomplished by employing multidisciplinary teams to design, implement and monitor systems that will provide for the highest quality patient experience while maximizing provider time and space utilization.

The Nurse Director uses extensive theoretical, evidence-based, and experiential knowledge to advance clinical practice, provides clinical leadership and direction, and promotes professional growth for self and staff.

The Nurse Director acknowledges the inherent value of nursing collegiality to the advancement of professional practice, and actively pursues membership in local and national professional organizations.

Serves as a mentor for nursing colleagues at DFCI as well as from external organizations, to nurtures leadership potential and promote the career development of others.

The Mission, Vision and Core values of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are incorporated into all areas of practices.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care.

We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV / AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations.

We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician / researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

• Administrative :
• Develops and implements departmental quality improvement plan that is consistent with the goals of the Institute.
• Prepares budget and monitors and evaluates expenditures throughout the fiscal year.
• Serves as an active member, and / or co-chairs committees at various levels in the Institute.
• Participates in marketing for the DFCI / PCC Ambulatory Site through fundraising events and outreach programs.
• Works in collaboration with the Administrative and Clinical MD Directors to maintain administrative and clinical continuity within ambulatory services.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory agency requirements (DPH, CMS, TJC).
• Assures staff compliance with required competencies and annual requirements.
• Demonstrates knowledge of computer systems in use at the Institute to include GE / IDX, Sunquest, TSI, Business Objects, all Clinical Applications Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• Clinical Operations :
• Directs daily operations of the unit in collaboration with the disease center leaders and ambulatory services administration resulting in a practice that reflects multidisciplinary collaboration and the Institute’s core values .
• Ensures that unit policies and procedures meet regulatory and Institutite standards, and are effectively communicated.
• Assures efficient patient flow. Monitors outcomes through quality improvement processes.
• Assesses needs of the patient population served. Plans, implements and evaluates systems instituted to meet those needs.

Makes appropriate changes when needed.

• Monitors the environment of care with attention to patient safety.
• Personnel Management :
• Assesses, plans and justifies the appropriate staffing resources to meet the clinical and operational needs of the department.
• Oversees the hiring, orientation, evaluation, coaching and mentoring of staff in accordance with

Human Resource policies and the MNA collective bargaining agreement.

• Creates an environment where staff is able to perform at the highest level.
• Promotes and actively engages in the professional growth and the development of the leadership potential of staff.
• Quality Improvement :
• Works collaboratively with the Quality Improvement Department, Nursing and Patient Care Services, and disease center leaders and staff in developing, leading, measuring and reporting of quality improvement initiatives.
• Facilitates continuous quality improvement in processes and services.
• Identifies, prioritizes and initiates multidisciplinary QI initiatives to ensure safety and an

environment of clinical excellence and patient and family centered care.

• Professional Practice :
• Maintains involvement in professional organizations and community activities.
• Assures continuing education and role development of all nursing (RN, NP) and clinical support staff
• Demonstrates an understanding of the research process by facilitating the implementation of approved clinical research activities conducted within the Institute.
• Identifies personal goals in professional and educational activities that promote self-development.
• Functions in the leadership role :
• Works collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Serves as a role model for effective communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution for clinical coordinator, nursing staff and other members of the team.
• Supports the research activities of the Nursing and Patient Care Services and the Institute.
• Nursing Practice :
• Monitors and continuously improves the quality of nursing care delivered to adult patients.
• Leads the development of professional nursing practice and standards.
• Assures practice is evidence-based and consistent with DFCI nursing policies and procedures.
• Ensures that professional nurses in all practice roles within areas of responsibility across Nursing and Patient Care Services adhere to the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2001).
• Fosters a systematic awareness of the diversity that exists within the organization including but not limited to culture, ethnicity, gender, and age, and promotes an environment that is sensitive to the needs of diverse patient populations.
• Ensures adherence to ONS standards of professional nursing practice, Magnet standards as well as all licensure / registration and certification requirements applicable to the nursing role.
• Assures the implementation of the Synergy Model, Patient and Family Centered Care and the primary nursing model across all units in his / her portfolio

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degree required, one of which must be in Nursing.
• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Hematology Oncology experience required.
• Management experience required.
• OCN, AOCN, or CPON preferred.

Skills and Abilities :

• Demonstrated leadership skills to lead staff at various levels within the Institute.
• Outstanding communication, coordination, negotiation and integration skills required
• Ability to work with all levels of staff and physicians and administrators.
• Demonstrated knowledge of budget planning, monitoring, and management.
• Understanding of current financial and reimbursement issues in ambulatory care.
• Demonstrated skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and ability to make independent decisions.
• Ability to manage and lead in a busy ambulatory care setting with multiple and competing demands for time and resources.

Working Conditions :

Works in clinic and office settings with possible exposure to infectious diseases through airborne

transmission or contact with blood or body fluids.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.