Ambulatory Surgery Center Director of Nursing

NATURE OF DUTIES:

Under the supervision and guidance of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Director, the Director of Nursing is responsible for the supervision and direction of nursing care and all related activities of the facility in accordance with the policies, procedures, philosophy, goals, and objectives of the facility and the department. Specifically, the Director of Nursing will work to analyze and evaluate nursing services of the Ambulatory Surgery Center to have the best patient outcomes with the highest quality of care. In conjunction, the Director of Nursing will be responsible to take part in obtaining qualified personnel for the Pre- and Post-Operative areas along with providing assistance to physicians. This position will serve as an integral part of all aspects of environmental control throughout the Ambulatory Surgery Center. This position will focus on high quality, patient focused health care while recognizing the patient’s individual rights, and ensuring all aspects of care have respect for the patient’s personal values and beliefs.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

This position will focus primarily on duties related to all nursing services included in the Ambulatory Surgery Center. These duties include but are not limited to:

Primary Responsibilities

1. Supervises and directs all patient care within the facility including the responsibility to delegate duties for immediate patient care to staff nurses, adhere to facility policies and procedures, deliver patient care according to current standards, and sit on all patient care related committees.
2. Ensures adequate and safe transport of all patients including maintain a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
3. Utilize all equipment, supplies, facilities, and resources in a prudent and efficient manner ensuring the availability of all equipment and materials needed for the safe operation of the department.
4. Responds to healthcare needs based upon the nursing standards, utilizing policies and procedures to coordinate healthcare.
5. Encourages staff education and improvement and promotes quality and efficiency of his/her performance through providing learning opportunities, scheduling relevant in-service programs, and supervising orientation for all new nursing staff.
6. Assumes administrative duties relative to proper functioning of the department including completing employee evaluations timely, assigning schedules and making changes as necessary to enhance efficiency and productivity, and effective communication to staff.
7. Coordinates activities of ancillary services utilized in the Ambulatory Surgery Center by formulating policies and procedures as needed relative to patient care, maintaining continuity of care, and ensuring professional behavior by ancillary personnel while engaged in patient related activities.
8. Continually evaluates all aspects of nursing service to improve quality of patient care by observing day to day operations and behaviors, exploring new trends with staff and physicians, participating in department quality improvement activities, and maintaining data for quality driven initiatives.
9. Is accountable for all nursing care and related activities while striving for growth and improvement in all areas to ensure quality of care.

Infection Control Duties and Responsibilities

1. Maintains current knowledge of infection control standards and practices (AORN, APIC, AAMI, CDC)
2. Coordinate infection control program including reviews and updates to policies and procedures
3. Collects and analyzes infection control data from surveillance activities and makes recommendations on improving outcomes
4. Provides annual and ongoing staff education regarding infection control
5. Participates in the QAPI committee and provides reports
6. Ensures appropriate follow-up of employee occupational exposure
7. Completes annual TB skin testing when needed and employee evaluation
8. Ensures employee compliance with facility policies
9. Attends annual education event on infection control

Professional Duties

1. Maintain current proficiency and certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
2. Participate in continuing education to improve quality of care provided and assure competency.
3. Accept responsibility for actions performed.
4. Participates in quality and performance improvement activities.
5. Is knowledgeable of the current standards of practice and clinical guidelines/protocols.
6. Utilizes principles of ethical decision-making, patient advocacy, and risk/benefit factors in assessing processes and operations in the Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

1.    Responsible for equipment, supplies, and medications in the Pre-and Post-Operative Areas

2.    Ensures efficient and appropriate use of facility assets

3.    Maintains scheduling log, admit log, and other forms deemed pertinent

4.  Assist the Director of the Ambulatory Surgery Center in CIS staff education efforts by supporting and/or providing staff education and training. This includes presentations of staff and physicians on a monthly basis.

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE:

1.      Keeps work area neat and organized. Reports safety issues to supervisor immediately.

2.      Works efficiently and manages time wisely. Assist other employees when all duties are complete.

3.      Communicates any problems, difficulties or concerns regarding job duties to the team leader.

4.      Performs all duties without significant error occurring with any regularity.

5.      Represents the company in a professional manner at all times. Demonstrates acceptable ability to interact with physicians, staff (“internal customers”) and “external customers” (patients, family members, insurance companies, home health etc.) on a professional level at all times. Exhibits good communication skills with physicians, patients, team leaders, and co-workers at all times.

6.      Exhibits whenever possible a harmonious relationship with other employees in order to accomplish the duties and responsibilities of the position.  While perfect harmonious relationships with all employees is sometimes not achievable, not more than an occasional complaint should be received by the team leader about the incumbent of this position.

7.      The employee shall work and relate cooperatively with all other employees (internal customers) to assure optimum care for the patients and to achieve standards of care set forth by the medical staff.

8.      Adheres to the company's Compliance Plan as it pertains to the above specific job duties. Uses best efforts to maintain compliance by following the Corporate Compliance Plan, attending compliance education, following medical documentation guidelines, and communicating concerns regarding compliance issues.

10. Performs accurate and complete documentation in the patient’s medical record, when applicable. This includes documentation in both the paper record and the electronic medical record (EMR) or electronic health record.

11. Work with the electronic medical record (EMR) or health information management (HIM) staff to maintain quality and work towards future EMR, computerized or electronic patient records and/or document management system development.

12. Maintains patient confidentiality according to the HIPAA standards of privacy and security.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION:

1. Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing. Baccalaureate Degree, preferred.
2. Current licensure the State Board of Registered Nurses
3. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification required.
4. Minimum of one year of management experience, minimum of 3 years of experience in a clinical setting
5. Effective Communication Skills
6. Good interpersonal skills
7. Microsoft Office skills that include demonstrated use of Excel and Power Point are required for this position.