Position Location:

Hospital for Special Care

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Work Shift:

Second Shift

Department:

Step Down Unit

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day!

TITLE: ASSISTANT NURSE MANAGER – Continuing Care

JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) is responsible for providing support and managerial assistance to the nurse manager by managing daily unit operations, to include staffing and scheduling, overseeing orientation and onboarding, completing education and competency assessments, assisting the Nurse Manager with monitoring the budget, maintaining and establishing patient care standards, promoting evidence-based practices, and implementing quality improvement measures. This position is directly accountable to the nurse manager, collaborates with other members of the nursing leadership team and Center for Nursing Excellence, and assists with the management of the department(s). The ANM serves as an additional clinical resource and backup support for the unit staff and departmental operations on evening and night shifts. The ANM facilitates workflows in the department with the support of the clinical leader/charge nurse and is a resource for staff and the organization in the absence of the nurse manager, typically during evening and night shifts.

This role requires strong clinical expertise in long term acute care, ventilator management, and chronic disease management, combined with leadership skills to support staff, promote quality outcomes and ensure regulatory compliance.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

Licensure: Must hold an active Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) or a multistate Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) license that allows practice in Connecticut.

Experience: Current clinical nursing experience (3 to 5 years) with two years of supervisory/​leadership experience in acute hospital or acute long-term care hospital is required. Previous charge nurse/preceptor experience required. Demonstrated experience caring for patients with chronic, medical conditions.

Required: Current BLS certification.

Certification: Current Nurse Certification in related specialty preferred. If not current, will be required to obtain professional nurse certification within 12 months of hire.

Skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal; strong problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills; demonstrated knowledge of operations, including finance, staffing, scheduling, productivity management, workflow planning, and staff development; proficiency in PC-based computer software, including Microsoft Office applications.

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

In Collaboration with the Nurse Manager

• Participates in the recruitment, hiring, selection, education, and evaluations of staff
• Assists in the assessment of technical and professional education needs of staff and participates in developing or providing educational resources to ensure competency of all unit caregivers
• Supports the implementation and ongoing use of established staffing plans to meet the needs of the patients being served and ensures appropriate allocation of resources so units remain aligned with staffing targets
• Monitors performance of staff and departmental processes, providing timely feedback and coaching as necessary
• Supports the nurse manager in creating and maintaining a positive work environment that supports a culture of shared decision-making and open communication and where staff are held accountable for patient and unit outcomes
• Participates in planning and management of the business priorities and clinical needs of the department; identifies and resolves issues affecting the delivery of patient care
• Understands the departmental budget and makes decisions under the leadership of the nurse manager regarding the expenditures of funds to meet department objectives and maintain costs within budgeted amounts
• Demonstrates knowledge of applicable statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements relative to departmental operations/​accreditation; maintains compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations and hospital and departmental policies and procedures
• The Assistant Nurse Manager serves as the unit-level lead for staff education, orientation, competency validation, and ongoing professional development, in collaboration with the unit manager and the Center for Nursing Excellence

Operational Duties of the Assistant Nurse Manager

Communication

• Utilizes established channels of communication to share information, receive feedback, and report concerns
• Builds credibility with physicians as a champion of patient care, quality, and nursing professionalism
• Effectively facilitates consensus building with staff and medical providers to achieve the goals and objectives of the department
• Promotes peer review by providing feedback and effectively managing conflict
• Assists with the development and articulation of a shared vision and goals
• Routinely rounds with staff to communicate key messages and identify concerns and issues
• Provides timely positive recognition and feedback for identified problems and Patient Safety Alerts
• Routinely rounds on patients to obtain feedback and resolve patient experience issues

Clinical Practice

• Acts as a role model and expert resource for staff
• Utilizes knowledge and experience in relevant area(s) of clinical practice
• Demonstrates critical thinking and use of evidence-based practices
• Assists with the evaluation of nursing practice, research, and evidence-based practices
• Applies knowledge to the development, review, and implementation of standards of practice/​care
• Assists with the development of competencies to ensure staff perform at maximum proficiency
• Partners with medical providers and other disciplines to assist with establishing patient care goals for unit development
• Assists in the direction and supervision of staff to promote a healthy work environment
• Evaluates patient care delivery model and the required staff, equipment, and resources to provide safe and optimal patient care
• Maintains personal and professional growth of self and others
• Supports all stages of child development by training and guiding staff to implement developmentally appropriate interactions that promote growth.

Quality and Service Improvement

• Ensures safe, quality, and standardized care delivery within a twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week operational environment by:
• Monitoring the continuous improvement of the quality and safety of clinical practices, services, and operations for patients and staff; ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., The Joint Commission [TJC], federal, and state) updated by governmental and regulatory agencies; and contributing to the design and implementation of systems, processes, and methods to evaluate and improve patient care within assigned department and across the continuum of care.
• Articulates the organization’s performance improvement initiatives
• Assists in the development of unit goals and quality initiatives
• Assists in developing, implementing, and evaluating quality improvement initiatives and​projects
• Assists in the resolution of customer complaints and facilitates process enhancements to improve customer satisfaction
• Ensures staff competency and compliance with hospital policies, regulatory standards and evidence-based practices

Leadership

• Supports delivery of safe, evidence-based nursing care for patients with complex, chronic conditions including ventilator dependent populations. Collaborates closely with the respiratory care team on ventilator/tracheostomy management.
• Has delegated authority to access and utilize workforce management systems, including Workday, to support staffing adjustments, schedule management, timecard review, and payroll-related workflows, in accordance with organizational policy.
• Has delegated authority to initiate, document, and participate in corrective action and performance management processes in collaboration with the Nurse Manager and Human Resources
• Initiates and participates in counseling, coaching, and mentoring of unit staff, and collaborates with the Nurse Manager and Human Resources on corrective and disciplinary actions
• Supports schedule development, real-time staffing adjustments, and shift coverage decisions, including approval of schedule changes and overtime, in alignment with departmental guidelines
• Supports shared governance structures and unit-based councils by facilitating staff participation in decision-making related to practice, quality, and work environment
• In the absence of the nurse manager, provides leadership and direction
• Assists the nurse manager on conducting performance evaluations
• Ensures staff compliance with all mandatory classes and education
• Facilitates interdepartmental and multidisciplinary relationships
• Facilitates a culture of creative thinking and acts as a change agent
• Is responsible for own professional growth and supports work-life balance

• Participates in at least one professional organization and encourages others to be active in their professional organization(s)
• Supports goals of care discussions and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team on long-term treatment planning

Financial Management

• Assists with developing the unit budget by providing input and evaluation of processes and equipment
• Assists the nurse manager with achieving departmental financial targets
• Provides education to team members on the financial implications of unit operations
• Assists with product evaluation
• Assists with utilization review, including length of stay and throughput
• Assists with monitoring the utilization of staff

COMPETENCIES

Clinical competencies for this position shall be relevant to the population of patients served. Leadership competencies shall be reflective of the role the position carries out in day-to-day responsibilities and accountability. Additional competencies may be required (either by regulation or law), as assessed by the director according to changes in patient population served or advancements in practice.

Other:

• May occasionally be required to work as shift manager on off-shifts/weekends/holidays based on operational needs
• Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands:

• Job requires continuous periods of walking, standing, bending, reaching, with periodic sitting. Occasional climbing, squatting, and kneeling as related to patient care.
• Job requires the ability to lift or carry objects up to 10 pounds continuously, 20 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds frequently for assisting with patient transfers and bed mobility.
• Ability to push/pull up to 25 lbs. frequently for medication carts/equipment and 50 pounds occasionally for patient care and mobility activities.
• Job requires frequent use of gross, fine motor and sensory skills in order to pass medications, perform assessments and treatments, and handle equipment used in patient care

Work Demands:

• Job requires working primarily indoors
• Frequently with and around others
• May occasionally be required to work on weekends/holidays/off shifts based on operational needs
• Job requires on call duty and emergency response
• Job involves possible exposure and handling of the following: bloodborne and/or airborne pathogens, body fluids, infections and contagious diseases, latex, antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs

Cognitive Demands:

• Position requires independent problem identification, abstract reasoning, and adaptability. Quick decision-making on issues with significant organizational impact is required. A very high degree of selective attention, discernment, perception and/or concentration is necessary
• Position requires a high degree of writing proficiency, including attention to detail.  A working knowledge and familiarity with medical terminology and professional/medical documentation
• Position requires high degree of reading and auditory comprehension of abstractions and an ability to make inferences and respond to verbal directions
• Must be able to coach and assess skills of staff members
• Job requires ability to work with mathematical data, reading, computing, developing, analyzing, and monitoring of budgets, quality reports, and medication administration.

The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position