The Director of Nursing is responsible and accountable for providing professional nursing care to clients. Directs, plans, coordinates, monitors and supervises the effective and efficient use of the operations of nursing and the safe delivery of behavioral health/nursing services with a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude. Ensures the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs, and services consistent with the facility’s strategic goals and objectives.
Qualifications:
- Associate’s or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited school of nursing required. Master’s degree in psychiatric or mental health nursing preferred.
- Five or more years’ experience in nursing practice required. Three or more years’ psychiatric or behavioral health experience preferred.
- Three or more years progressive managerial experience required.
- Valid current RN license from the state or from a compact state, where applicable.
- Ability to effectively assess, plan and implement therapeutic nursing services in a multidisciplinary setting.
- Skills in assessment, considerable knowledge of nursing principles and practice, staffing, budgeting, employee management, regulatory requirements and documentation of care; ability to meet regulatory requirements.
Job Duties:
· Sets the vision for nursing practice in the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable and client centered care. Manages the daily operations of nursing services.
· Develops, maintains and implements nursing services, policies and procedures that conform to current standards of nursing practice and accrediting agencies, facility philosophy and operational policies while maintaining compliance with state, federal and local governmental agencies laws and regulations.
· Develops and interprets operational indicators to detect census and acuity changes and increases or decreases in volume that could impact staffing levels, revenues or expenses. Acts to correct undesirable trends. Allocates nursing resources based on measurement of client acuity/care needed.
· Leads a team of highly qualified and engaged department members thru hiring, orienting, performance assessment and management, motivating, training, scheduling, and coaching to meet department and facility goals. Ensures adequate staffing.
· Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of clients and recommends treatment options. Consults with psychiatrists and other behavioral health staff in designing appropriate treatment plans for clients. Provides overall supervision of client assessments and care plans. Coordinates nursing services with all other departments.
· Participates in daily or weekly management team meetings to discuss client’s status, identify indicators for reassessment of client’s condition, reaction/responsiveness and involvement of other disciplines. Discusses census changes, client or staff complaints or concerns.
· Establishes, implements and monitors the infection control program and safety. Prepares or reviews infection control surveillance reports to identify trends and to develop effective actions to control and prevent infections.
· Collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment teams, other departments and administration to ensure that all client’s physical, biopsychosocial, age, developmental and cultural needs are met.
· Develops and implements health care related training that assures the best possible delivery of health-related supports and services.
· Assists the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the preparation and administration of the organization's budget. Manages budget and operates within approved budget while providing excellent quality of care. Actively participate in strategic planning and budget development.
· Maintains adequate and appropriate inventory of supplies and equipment for the provision of client services.
· Oversees the maintenance of client clinical records, statistics, reports and records for purposes of evaluation and reporting of organization activities.
· Stays informed about changes in the field of nursing and behavioral health care and uses information to stay compliant and improve performance.
· Assists CEO in preparing staff for inspection survey. Participates in the preparation and implementation of the Plan of Correction response to an inspection survey.
· Monitors unit/floor functioning by making frequent rounds. Intervenes in crisis situations and investigates incidents. Analyzes, reviews and completes follow up on incident reports related to nursing/client safety issues in conjunction with Risk Management.
· Assists with direct care as needed.
· Audits and organizes medication room to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, best practices, and reduce the opportunity for medication errors or diversion.
