Director of Nursing

Tewksbury Hospital, part of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), is seeking a dynamic Director of Nursing to provide oversight and direction to the nursing department and maintain a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed environment in our Psychiatric Unit. As an essential member of our healthcare leadership team, you will oversee and guide our Nursing Department, ensuring the highest standards of professional practice and patient care. Your responsibilities include establishing and monitoring practice standards in alignment with accrediting bodies such as the Joint Commission, CMS, and DMH. You will provide direction to senior nursing leadership, fostering an environment of excellence and accountability.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role as you coordinate with various hospital committees and medical management structures. you will play a vital role in ensuring fair labor practices and fostering effective communication with external stakeholders, including DMH, DPH, and community-based providers. Additionally, you will play a vital role in monitoring recruitment and retention activities, as well as staff deployment, will be key to maintaining patient safety and operational efficiency. Your commitment to a recovery-oriented, person-centered approach will be central to our mission of providing compassionate care to all individuals we serve. Join us in making a meaningful impact on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provide oversight and direction to the Nursing Department.

• Establish and monitor professional nursing practice standards, policies and procedures.

• Ensure that nursing practice meets the standards for the Joint Commission, CMS, and DMH.

• Monitor performance of senior nursing leadership.

• Ensure that supervision of nursing practice is professionally implemented at all levels.

• Coordinate with key committees and medical management structures including but not limited to Hospital Leadership, DPH Chief Nursing Officer, infection control, pharmacy, medical records, quality improvement, and other required hospital committees.

• Monitor management of staff recruitment and retention activities.

• Monitor efficient deployment of staff to ensure patient safety and manage overtime.

• Interface with human resources and labor management to ensure fair application of Bargaining Unit contracts in the workplace.

• Ensure that Nursing Department takes an active part in effective interface, coordination, and communication with DMH, DPH, and community-based providers particularly regarding admission and discharge transitions.

• Exercise recovery, person-centered approach, and trauma informed knowledge-based philosophies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in inpatient psychiatric hospitals and/or community psychiatry with similar patient populations.

• Proficient in healthcare administration principles and practices and understanding of methods for evaluating nursing practices.

• Demonstrated progressive leadership and managerial experience, including strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

• Skilled in directing, teaching, supervising, and evaluating nursing staff. Ability to organize, manage, and supervise quality patient care across multiple psychiatric units.

• Thorough understanding of nursing theories and supervisory principles, particularly in psychiatric nursing setting.

• Experience conducting interviews and making recommendations for hiring and promotions.

• Experience with trauma-informed principles, person-centered approach, and recovery principles.

• Comprehensive knowledge of psychopathology across all life stages. Familiarity with current psychopharmacology and other psychiatric treatment interventions.

• Knowledgeable about Joint Commission Standards, CMS Regulations, and survey tracer methodology.

• Proficiency with MS Office including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights, and supports mental health training and research.

Learn more about our important work: www.mass.gov/dmh

About Tewksbury Hospital:

Tewksbury Hospital operates a 370-bed facility and a campus of over 700 acres of land. Its patient care services are provided under the auspices of the Department of Public Health and Mental Health. Joint Commission accredited LTAC hospital that provides high quality, comprehensive treatment, care, and comfort to adults with chronic medical and mental illness. A full range of services are provided including 24/7 Nursing, Nurse Practitioners, Medicine as well as psychiatric and psychological services, a 6- bed dialysis unit, clinical laboratory, radiology, respiratory care, nutrition, speech/language, pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, therapeutic recreation and arts, and pharmacy.

Learn more: https://www.mass.gov/locations/tewksbury-hospital

Pre-Hire Process:

A tax and background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

For technical questions regarding MassCareers, please contact the Mass HR Service Center at 617-979-8500

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.