Job Summary
The Assistant Director of Nursing is a member of MedStar Health entity-based Division of Nursing and leadership team. Supports and collaborates with the Director of Nursing in providing leadership and oversight for a specific unit/department. Directs and coordinates the nursing and patient care delivery of the unit-based professional and support personnel. Ensures the provision of holistic, culturally competent, and person-centered, quality, safe, and cost-effective evidence-based nursing care for patients/families. Applies the nursing process within the context of the organization's shared/collaborative decision-making framework. Collaboratively manages the patient’s transitions across the continuum of care to assist patients and populations in achieving or maintaining an optimal level of health and functioning.
The Assistant Director of Nursing assumes administrative and leadership authority and responsibility during a specific shift (e.g., evening or night) for the assigned unit/department. Fosters associates’ commitment to improving quality, safety, and cost-conscious patient care outcomes. Collaborates with the Director of Nursing in maintaining adherence to regulatory and accreditation standards, and MedStar Health’s policies and procedures. Demonstrates leadership and behaviors which are consistent with MedStar’s mission, vision, goals, SPIRIT Values, patient care philosophy, and sound moral and ethical judgement.
Unit Summary:
C6-3 is a 19-bed adult Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital is a Certified Compressive Stroke Center and this unit is one of the few dedicated Neurosciences ICUs in Washington, DC. Clinical Nurses on C6-3 provide expert care for critically ill patients who have suffered stroke (hemorrhagic/ischemic), subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, complex spine and brain surgeries. Other common neurological diagnoses include meningitis, Guillain Barre syndrome and viral, infectious or autoimmune processes. In the past, C6-3 has been awarded both the Beacon Award for Nursing Excellence and the Nurse-Family Collaboration Award by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Nursing required. Master’s degree in Nursing or health related field preferred; must be from a nationally accredited program.
3 years of progressive nursing care experience; leadership and management experience preferred.
Valid license as a registered nurse in the State of Maryland or District of Columbia is required (jurisdiction is dependent on the entity of employment). Specialty certification from a nationally recognized nursing organization in either a clinical specialty or Nursing Administration is preferred. BLS certification for healthcare professionals is required.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to exercise independent judgment on complex situations. Verbal and written communication skills. Basic knowledge of various computer software applications and online learning applications, especially Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Director of Nursing, develops unit/department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures, and ensures compliance with hospital/entity policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory and accreditation standards.
- Develops and maintains effective relationships and partnerships across disciplines (e.g., medicine) and departments (e.g., environmental services) to ensure the delivery of efficient and quality patient care services. Contributes to the hospital/entity capacity management efforts; ensures unit activities and patient throughput proceed smoothly.
- In collaboration with the Director of Nursing, develops standards of performance for associates, evaluates performance, and conducts performance management planning. Initiates or makes recommendations for personnel actions. Sets clear expectations for performance and holds associates accountable. Maintains ongoing communication with associates to review programs, discuss new developments, and exchange information.
- Completes annual performance reviews of unit/department-based associates in a timely manner. Ensures the reviews reflect the individual associate’s ability to meet performance expectations and beneficial ongoing developmental goals. Provides associates with ongoing feedback and champions their continued professional growth and development.
- In the absence of the Director of Nursing, maintains communication with the Senior Director of Nursing and Patient Care Services, unit-based associates, Medical Director, providers, other nurse leaders, and personnel from other departments for the purpose of coordinating operations among the unit/department, clinical nursing division, and hospital/entity.
- Contributes to the development, implementation, monitoring, and management of the unit/department-based budget and to support the organizational objectives, patient care standards, and quality of care. Demonstrates fiscal responsibility with day-to-day unit productivity and operations. Ensures availability of necessary materials, supplies, and equipment for safe and optimal patient care delivery.
- Implements approaches and strategies that optimize patient care delivery and outcomes. Ensures effective utilization of the interdisciplinary model of care (IMOC) and associated standards of excellence. Rounds on patients during the shift for the purpose of engagement, satisfaction, and improvement in the care experience. Investigates and follows through on patient complaints and safety events.
- Supports and promotes quality and patient safety initiatives and high reliability standards. Leads unit-based safety huddles. Escalates care delivery concerns to the Director of Nursing and other leaders as necessary and following the chain-of-command. Takes action to ensure optimal execution of the National Patient Safety Goals, nursing sensitive indicators/measures, regulatory requirements, and other identified quality metrics. Identifies and participates in performance improvement opportunities as appropriate and based on findings.
- Collaborates with the Director of Nursing in the hiring, evaluation, promotion, and termination of personnel within the assigned unit/department, as needed. Initiates coaching and counseling of associates. Monitors and ensures appropriate staffing for unit(s).
- Collaborates with other nurse leaders (Directors of Nursing, Directors of Clinical Nursing Informatics, Practice Innovation, Professional Development, and others) to ensure associate competencies. Identifies individual staff development needs and provides appropriate resources to meet needs.
- Assists with developing unit-specific orientation of newly hired associates, and preceptor and charge/resource nurse programs. Plans and coordinates the assessment of unit-specific competencies for all nursing personnel within the unit/department. Supports the implementation of new programs/practices and helps design educational programs that ensure the highest quality care delivery and customer satisfaction.
- Maintains continuing education files, competency assessment documentation, licensure, and specialty certifications for self and the associates within the unit/department.
- Maintains and demonstrates a professional, patient-first atmosphere and an environment of coaching and development that supports shared decision making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a high level of patient and associate satisfaction as evidenced by outcomes data. Provides shift-based clinical leadership through role modeling professional practice behaviors, proper delegation of activities, and management of the nursing team by maintaining staff accountability. Evaluates the need for and contributes to improvement in the professional practice environment.
- Participates in hospital/entity committees, task forces, interdisciplinary forums, and projects (e.g., serious safety event reviews and performance improvement teams) at the request of Director of Nursing. Contributes to the achievement of Magnet Recognition or Pathways to Excellence program. Promotes a public image of professional nursing excellence and represents the hospital in community outreach efforts as appropriate.
- Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the fields of nursing and health care through a variety of professional activities including, but not limited to, reading the appropriate literature, attending related seminars and conferences, and maintaining membership in professional nursing associations. Demonstrates accountability for own professional development and advancement.
- Assumes administrative responsibilities in absence of the Director of Nursing and provides coverage for other colleagues.
- Maintains clinical knowledge and skills and engages in the provision of direct care for a caseload of patients as required.