Careers

The Director of Nursing (DON) manages the Nursing Division including Emergency Department, Acute Care, Swing Bed, Ambulatory Care, Perioperative services, Anesthesia, Social Services/Activities, Infection Control, Utilization Review, Education, Emergency Management, Telemedicine, Home Care and Hospice. Plans, organizes, and directs all related functions and activities (internal and external); establishes goals, objectives, standards of performance; develops operating policies and procedures; interprets hospital policies, standards and regulations to appropriate staff, patients, medical staff and the public.

Reports To:

Chief Executive Officer

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in nursing (BSN) required.
• Master’s Degree in nursing or related field preferred.
• A minimum of three years management experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of nursing and healthcare practices and techniques associated with the scope and complexity of care required by patients served.
• Must be a licensed Registered Nurse in the State of Michigan who administers professional nursing services following guidelines established in the Nurse Practice Act under the provisions of Act
• No. 149 of the Public Acts of 1967, State of Michigan.
• Demonstrated clinical competence in nursing practice.
• Demonstrated leadership ability and managerial competency. Evidence of this includes, but is not limited to, effective communication skills and abilities to deal well with people, ability to problem solve, confront/resolve issues, motivate others, ability to plan, and organize and direct the activities of others.
• Knowledge of and experience with computer information systems and electronic medical record.
• Must demonstrate a daily commitment to the Standards of Behavior and Core Values of BCMH.

Position Duties: Essential

• Demonstrates the ability to communicate the hospital’s mission, vision and values, as well as departmental goals, to all staff.
• Provides leadership and guidance to other leaders and staff in goal setting, problem solving, resource management and outcome achievement.
• Defines performance objectives and metrics for the department and assesses the level of competence of staff in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates a commitment to a healthy work environment by modeling the desired behaviors and encouraging those behaviors in others.
• Demonstrates the ability to cope with and manage change, as well as help others do the same.
• Collaborates with other departments to create systems and problem solve ongoing issues that impact departmental/organizational goals and/or patient care delivery.
• Demonstrates fiscal accountability for department resources and the ability to achieve outcomes within allocated resources.
• Incorporates quality improvement data and/or patient satisfaction data into departmental goals.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of regulations applicable to patient care and/or other department functions.
• Organizes division structure and plans, directs and supervises the nursing and ancillary clinical programs.
• Develops short and long term goals and objectives in consultation with administration and consistent with hospital philosophy.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs all nursing divisions and ancillary clinical functions and activities to achieve objectives and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Establishes patient care standards and standards of nursing practice.
• Establishes and implements policies and procedures for divisional operations.
• Develops organization-wide patient care programs.
• Establishes and evaluates standards of performance and QI program in cooperation with quality personnel to measure, evaluate, and enhance patient care.
• Establishes staffing needs and productivity standards.
• Keeps administration informed of divisional activities, needs and problems.
• Implements the plan for patient care that is reviewed and renewed annually.
• Assists in establishing policies for recruiting personnel.
• Interviews and hires applicants.
• Orients/trains, assigns, schedules, directs and supervises department staff (through subordinate supervisors).
• Establishes staffing requirements to meet patient acuity, workload, and census.
• Reviews personnel performance evaluations submitted by supervisors and reviews personnel actions such as, promotions, transfers, disciplinary action, and termination.
• Investigates irregularities and policy violations and takes corrective action.
• Reviews and monitors work schedules, work hours, and duty assignments of personnel, and effects changes as needed.
• Promotes good employee relations and solves division problems.
• Develops and maintains job descriptions for personnel.
• Promotes and encourages professional growth and development of all clinical and nursing personnel through attendance at workshops, seminars, and conferences, and may arrange for key personnel to do so.
• Promotes intra- and interdepartmental cooperation.
• Provides consultation, counsel, and guidance to key personnel; e.g., supervisors, and charge nurse.
• Encourages participation in developing program objectives, planning unit operations, formulating operating policies and procedures, and developing job/position descriptions.
• Serves as facilitator and resource to supervisors in the following: developing patient care plans to include the whole person-providing for spiritual, psychological, and social needs of patients; discharge planning; assisting subordinate personnel in maintaining good mental, physical and psychological health; solving personnel grievances and unit problems; provides the resources to maintain adequate supplies and equipment for patient care and clinical operations; ensures a competency-based orientation and continuing education program; inservice staff meetings provide two-directional communication and problem solving.
• Interprets hospital and departmental policies and procedures to nursing staff, patients, medical staff, public, and other clinical departments as is appropriate.
• Reviews patient census, condition reports, and makes nursing unit rounds regularly.
• Reviews patient incident reports and action taken.
• Analyzes and evaluates service to improve quality of patient care.
• Consults with pharmacists, pharmacy committee, and medical staff concerning control and administration of medications/drugs, and sets expectation that nursing personnel are knowledgeable and current on drug detail.
• Evaluates and justifies department needs and purchases by evaluating and approving requisitions and purchase orders.
• Investigates new techniques, practices, equipment and products. May participate in evaluation and use of new products and equipment as agreed with by administration/medical staff and makes recommendations to administration and medical staff.
• Directs and supervises maintenance of department facilities, equipment, supplies, and areas, and ensures compliance with established standards and regulatory requirements. Inspects all department areas regularly and initiates corrective action and follow-up.
• Maintains department records, reports and statistics and performs (or delegates) related duties; e.g. patient medical records and all related documents, administrative reports, supply and equipment inventories, department costs and other budgetary information, and other office files.
• Participates on hospital committees and serves as consultant to other departments as requested. May serve as consultant on admitting and discharge policies and procedures, and direct patient accommodation assignments.
• Assists with safety, fire and disaster management in establishing and maintaining programs, and ensures proper handling and care of patients, personnel, and visitors involved in accidents or during disaster type emergencies. Reviews all incident reports and assists safety committee in taking corrective action.
• Participates in hospital projects and public relations as requested. Promotes community educational health programs and volunteers at a minimum of two hospital functions per year.
• Attends meetings as required. Represents nursing services and clinical divisions during administrative meetings. Participates in organization wide decision making in collaboration with the hospitals governing body, administration, and medical staff.
• Maintains professional growth and development to keep abreast of nursing/health field. Maintains professional affiliations; attends outside conferences, seminars, and workshops; and confers with other clinical nursing director.
• Is responsible for department’s operational excellence; ensures department delivers quality services in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and professional standards: Manages all activities so that quality services are provided efficiently and effectively; Ensures services provided meet all applicable regulatory requirements; Maintains an effective quality improvement program as evidenced by reports; Quality improvement program meets regulatory requirement standards as evidenced by review; maintains
  departmental productivity measurements; reports status as needed; directs department activities in a manner consistent with organization wide programs and procedures.
• Establishes department policies and procedures that reflect the organization’s standards.
• Effectively communicates departmental, organizational, and industrial information to staff: attends informational meetings; gathers interprets, and delivers information to staff in a timely fashion; ensures that staff understands information, as evidenced by staff compliance with and participation in hospital programs, seminars, training and related activities; communication with staff is effective and resolves conflicts that may hamper relations and productivity; Uses hospital communication resources to inform internal and external audiences of departmental news, achievements and policies.
• Consistently and fairly implements policies, implementing progressive discipline, when necessary.
• Maintains effective and appropriate staffing by mentoring employee turnover, overtime and absenteeism.
• Employee performance appraisals are completed thoroughly and submitted on time.
• Collaborates with Human Resources on the recruitment and selection of qualified employment candidates, following all policies, guidelines and applicable laws.
• Develops performance goals/objectives with each supervisor and staff member to promote maximum productivity, proficiency and professional growth, as evidenced by written goals on performance appraisals.
• Serves as a role model for hospital and clinic staff.
• Attains all agreed to goals and objectives within specified time frames, as part of the organization’s overall mission.
• Attends all required safety training programs and can describe his or her responsibilities related to general safety, department/service safety, and specific job related hazards. Provides complete and accurate responses to safety questions. Operates assigned equipment and performs all procedures safely, as instructed. Provides for the safety of department employees.
• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Promotes effective working relations and works effectively as part of a department team inter- and intra-departmentally to facilitate the department’s ability to meet its goals and objectives.
• Complies with HIPAA requirements for security and confidentiality.
• Observes all infection control and safety policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of BCMH Corporate Compliance plan, Code of Conduct and reporting process of any compliance concerns.
• Is responsible for completing educational requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Physical Activities: Essential

• Balancing
• Climbing
• Crouching
• Keying
• Grasping
• Kneeling
• Lifting
• Pulling
• Pushing
• Reaching
• Standing
• Stooping
• Repetitive Motion

An individual in this position will be required to lift or carry weights in the range of:
Up to 25 pounds frequently
Up to 50 pounds occasionally

Sensory and Communicative Activities: Essential

• Feeling
• Hearing
• Seeing
• Speaking
• Smelling

Environmental Exposure:

• Inside environmental conditions
• Blood borne pathogens
• Physical hazards
• Chemical hazards