Director of Nursing

The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for the management and oversight of all hospital nursing personnel.  Responsibilities and duties may be delegated as necessary, but ultimate authority remains with the DON.  The DON ensures high-quality patient care standards, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and the professional development of all nursing personnel across the organization.

Major Duties/Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

MANAGEMENT: 

The DON manages the hospital nursing personnel and nursing department duties to include budget, policies, procedures, compliance, quality assurance, quality improvement, education and training, professional development, and other duties as outlined in this job description.

The DON will assign an alternate DON to cover duties when the DON is unavailable. The DON will ensure the alternate is adequately trained and briefed on required responsibilities. The DON may delegate duties to the alternate but will retain oversight and overall responsibility for the nursing department.  

Develops the department budget and actively participates in the budgetary process.

Ensures nursing departmental operations maintain appropriate budgetary levels.

Coordinates nursing services with other departments as appropriate

Develops a strategic department staffing plan (at least annually)

May effectively delegate certain responsibilities to promote effective supervisory management of the nursing department. Will maintain oversight and ultimate authority over any delegated activities.

Manage day-to-day operations of nursing department to include:

• Maintaining schedules to ensure effective and efficient staffing of all departments 


• Reviews, edits, and approves staff timecard reports


• Reviews and updates staff in motion sheets


• Verifies and approves weekly and monthly payroll 


• Approval authority for time-off requests, vacation, and staffing adjustments 

May remove or return delegated duties at any time for any reason

Continuously monitors nursing services quality of patient care 

Plans, conducts, and documents meetings/conferences with professional nursing staff on a regular basis

Participates in hospital/medical staff committee meetings as required.  

Attends and serves on professional/civic service organizations as hospital representative.

Annually develops and leads a minimum of two (2) process improvement projects inter or intra departmental in nursing services. (Audits for Nursing Process Improvement Projects). 

Ensures all aspects of Emergency Plans for nursing service are up to date.

PERSONNEL:  The DON governs all nursing personnel within the hospital but may not directly supervise those in other departments.   The DON may directly supervise acute care/inpatient nursing staff to include: RNs, LPNs, PCTs, CNAs, as appropriate.  

Mentors and coaches nursing personnel in all nursing departments 

Promotes, supports, develops, and guides professional growth and education for nursing personnel  

Develops standards of performance, evaluates performance, and initiates or makes recommendations to employees for any and all adjustments necessary to meet departmental expectations for performance.

Conducts performance evaluations for nursing personnel under direct supervision

Prepares and maintains current job descriptions for all nursing personnel.

REPORTING: 

Prepares, maintains, and submits departmental reports in a timely manner to administration and to any regulatory/association as required 

Implements procedures and training on new policies or equipment

Represent nursing on the Risk and Quality Committees. 

Complete Risk Reviews for the Med/Surge department.
Reports med/surg quarterly at Quality Committee. 

CLINICAL:
The DON is responsible for ensuring the hospital nursing personnel are clinically competent to care for a wide variety of patient cases. 

Assists and oversees nursing personnel in the development of patient care plans, providing for the spiritual, psychological and social needs of the patient.

Participates in planning for the introduction of new patient care programs and for expansion of services which affect the nursing department and ensures the effective and efficient implementation thereof.

Provides guidance, training, and assistance to any nursing personnel on clinical skills

Responsible for monitoring nurses on the administration and the control of medications 

Cerner Superuser, required to attend the monthly Cerner calls and GPHA annual meetings

Will brief and/or training nursing personnel on changes or updates to Cerner

May submit Cerner service requests if necessary and to align with policies and regulations 

Introduces and demonstrates new techniques, equipment, and products to nursing personnel 

Directs maintenance of departmental facilities, equipment, supplies and materials in a condition to promote efficiency, health, comfort, and safety of patients and staff.

Monitors daily patient care and patient satisfaction, addresses issues or concerns at anytime

Monitors nurse clinical competencies, conducts or assigns additional training for those that may require it. 

Monitors nursing staff in the performance of duties to ensure high standards of patient care are met

Monitor adherence to clinical policies, procedures, and regulatory standards

Responsible for maintaining direct patient contact and involvement in patient care continuously  

May be scheduled for patient care during low manning, staff shortages, and high census as required

Required to be a backup RN, assist in ER, and take ambulance calls or EMS transfers as needed

EDUCATION & TRAINING:

Keeps current in new nursing practices, management techniques, and nursing trends in health care by attending professional meetings and seminars and by reading professional journals and publications.

Promotes education and professional development for all nursing personnel

Works with the Nursing Education and Training Manager to ensure:

• Professional nursing personnel maintain current and valid licensure.


• Development of appropriate educational programs for all nursing personnel.


• Assists and participates in the annual skills fair
  
  

POLICIES & PROCEDURES:

Develops nursing department goals and objectives and establishes and implements appropriate and necessary policies and procedures to ensure effective and efficient department operation.

RECRUITMENT/HIRING:

Establishes guidelines for the recruiting of nursing personnel

Actively participates in the recruiting process, as required.  

Assists in interviewing, hiring, and onboarding nursing staff.

ON-CALL:  The DON is required to be on-call when the need arises to include:  

Normal on-call rotation schedule

Holidays and weekends

Substitute RN

EMS Transfers

Job Qualifications:

Experience:  Range of experience (ICU, ER, Critical Care, etc.) preferred.  Minimum of 5 years nursing experience, with 2 years of supervisory role preferred, 

Required Education:  Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Registered Nurse (KS) License

Required Certifications/Registrations:  Must have or be able to complete BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, & NRP within six months.  Ability to obtain a Compact License within six months (or a current EMS certification will also suffice).   
(Note: Other certifications may be required.)

Physical Requirements:  

Occasional prolonged standing/walking

Motor coordination and manual dexterity

Routine daily lifting of up to 25 lbs.

Occasionally lifts, positions, and/or transfers patients with assistance (up to & occasionally in excess of 200 lbs.)

Moderate physical effort

Normal eyesight, with or without corrective lenses

Normal hearing, with or without hearing aid

Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling and crouching

Ability to carry out procedures as outlined

(This list may not be all inclusive and may be supplemented as necessary.)

Working Conditions: 

May be exposed to or occasionally exposed to patient elements

Adept at handling emergency or crisis situations

Subject to interruptions and long hours and on-call responsibilities as outlined above. 

(This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.)