Director ICU/CCU

I. Position Function:

The Director of Critical Care Services/Patient Care Director is a key management/leadership position within the Medical Center Organization and operationalizes the core values of the Organization by promoting patient centered care.

The Director of Critical Care has twenty four hour responsibility/accountability for the units' operations.

Patient care outcomes are the result of interdisciplinary collaboration coordinated by the Director of Critical Care Services in conjunction with the intensivists and chiefs of critical care service lines.

II. Job Relationships:

Supervises the following staff, by job category:

- Clinical Leaders

- Clinical Coordinators/Research Nurses

- Charge Nurses

- Registered Nurses

- Unit Secretaries

- Nursing Assistants

- Patient Care Technicians

- Mental Health Workers

Collaborates with the following staff, by job category:

- Chief of Service

- Vice Presidents

- Physicians

- Department Directors

Serves in a consultative role to the following:

- Physician colleagues

- All departments within the Medical Center

Supervised and/or reportable to the following, by job category:

- CNO

III. Authority:

Has the authority and responsibility for directing and supervising the activities and functions of assigned nursing units.

Has the authority to hire, promote, terminate and demote departmental employees within the guidelines established by the Medical Center.

IV. A. Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

1.) "Provides superior customer service to internal and external clients, customers,

and patients as referenced in the Service Excellence Standards."

Monitors and analyzes trends involving census, acuity, staff resources and changes in patient population and recommends budgets for areas of assigned responsibility.

Based on analysis, develops variance reports, corrective action plans and data needed to project future budgetary needs, and monitors compliance with same.

Develops business plans for new clinical programs.

In collaboration with department directors, designs and supports Nursing Division goals and objectives which reflect the philosophy and mission of the Medical Center.

Serves on department and medical center committees, task forces and work groups on a voluntary and appointed basis through active participation and follow through on project work.

Participates in The Joint Commission and regulatory agencies’ accreditation processes.

Develops and operationalizes a strategic plan with ongoing evaluation, based on changes in patient care programs and trends in patient care services.

Collaboratively develops, maintains and evaluates standards of practice.

Provides leadership to clinical staff regarding resource allocation, clinical decision making, and conflict management.

Acts as a consultant to other disciplines relative to patient care management.

Collaborates effectively with other department managers, administrative personnel and physicians in accordance with the Medical Center's mission and values.

Demonstrates an overall accountability to recruit, interview, select and evaluate nursing personnel.

Promotes a supportive working environment within the Medical Center.

Collaborates with the Nurse Educator, for maintaining a level of staff competency and performance based on the standards and patients’ outcomes.

Facilitates cross-training of staff among critical care areas.

Utilizes procedures as defined by the Nursing Division, Human Resources, and related departments to provide counseling, disciplinary action and/or termination.

Creates a climate to assists staff in identifying individual strengths and areas of learning.

Manages the environment to support staff professional growth.

Collaborates with all disciplines in planning, operationalizing and evaluating programs related to patient care.

Works collaboratively with Care Coordinator for discharge planning purposes.

Designs, implements and evaluates systems to maintain and improve care, patient/family satisfaction, cost effectiveness, and staff satisfaction.

B. Responsibilities/Non-Essential Functions:

V. Reporting Requirements:

Develops and presents written reports regarding departmental activities to the CNO as requested.

Develops and presents Performance Improvement activities and reports to the Quality Council.

Reports serious incidents and/or severe breaches in quality of care to the Department of Risk Management, CNO and COO.

Reports to the Director Risk Management/Performance Improvement any quality issues related to patient care requiring the Medical Peer Review Committees, or the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff's consideration and/or action.

VI. Accountability:

Shall be accountable for unit operations within the approved operating and capital budgets.

Shall be accountable for maintaining the confidentiality and security of all Medical Center-related, Medical Staff-related, and patient related data and information.

Shall be accountable for abiding by all relevant Medical Center Policies and Procedures.

Shall be accountable for operating the Critical Care Services in accordance with applicable State and Federal Regulations, and standard-setting organizations.

Shall be accountable for patient care provided in the Critical Care area.

VII. Qualifications:

Minimum Education:

Bachelors' degree in Nursing required/Masters' degree in Nursing, Business or Health Care Administration required.

Certification in Critical Care Nursing and/or Nursing Administration preferred.

Minimum Experience:

Current Nursing leadership experience in managing multiple complex, critical care units in an acute-care teaching facility; surgical intensive care and cardiothoracic experience preferred.

Minimum skills/abilities:

Strong communication skills.

Proactive decision-maker

Ability to collaborate with physicians and multiple stakeholders.

Ability to effectively manage expense budget as allocated.

Ability to make formal presentations relative to clinical, operational, educational research and financial issues.

Certification/Licensure:

Current license to practice Nursing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Training:

Must obtain 15 hours of Continuing Education annually to maintain license.

Training in Performance Improvement, total Quality Management, and/or Continuous Quality Improvement.

Special Qualifications:

Computer literate