Acute Unit Director of Nursing

FDLC

36d

About The Position

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. Manages the day-to-day administration of the Acute Unit, to include supervision of Unit staff and problem solving day-to-day operational issues Maintains a therapeutic environment on the Unit and ensures that patient’s rights are maintained Participates in staffing of the multidisciplinary team to include treatment and discharge planning and carries out directives from the Clinical Services Division Manager. Supervises patient assessment, treatment, planning and implementation of care plans, and evaluates the effectiveness of nursing care Maintains communication with outside agencies and contracting counties concerning services and promotes excellent community relations. Is a first point of contact for referring agencies Communicates with patients, their families, physicians, other community agencies, the courts, legal authorities, etc. as needed Ensures that safety for patients, families and staff is a major consideration in all actions on the Unit Manages the Unit’s quality assurance program, preparing yearly capital expenditure requests for the Unit including supervising and authorizing the use of budgeted monies, reviewing policies and procedures for the Unit, and ensuring the Unit functions efficiently under the HSS 124 codes and Chapter 51 requirements Reports concerns and ideas for patient care and operational improvement to the Clinical Services Division Manager. Develops and supervises audits of Unit services and functions, including QA studies Co-facilitates quarterly committee meetings for Infection Control, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Utilization Review, and Quality Assurance and delegates individual committees to staff Oversees insurance authorizations, concurrent stay reviews and submits appeal letters when needed. Serves as backup when Program Assistant II is unavailable. Hires and schedules nursing and ancillary nursing staff and conducts bi-weekly payroll for nursing staff Develops and maintains a training plan for all staff, to include training requirements for all new staff Conducts yearly nursing staff performance appraisals Supervises and authorizes staff attendance at seminars and training programs outside the facility Conducts bi-monthly staff meetings and mini in-services to address specific Unit/staff needs. Ensures completion of required monthly in-services for nursing staff and that licensing requirements are current Investigates problems involving Unit staff and takes appropriate corrective disciplinary action when necessary Cooperates with nursing school faculty in providing a learning environment for nursing students. Maintains confidentiality forms; contract on file Provides crisis intervention Provides support for staff and assists on Unit when needed Promotes a positive work environment Communicates changes that impact direct care staff Maintains qualifications for position Daily activities are performed independently. General direction is provided by the Clinical Services Division Manager. Supervision is given to RNs, LPNs and Nurse’s Aides. The incumbent makes recommendations regarding such actions as hiring, evaluation and assignment of employees. The incumbent makes recommendations regarding issues such as the firing and discipline of employees. Decisions within areas of responsibility such as determining disciplinary actions of a verbal and written nature. Monitors and assures compliance with policies and quality of care regarding patient assessments, documentation, treatment and discharge planning. Provides direct supervision and teaching to nursing personnel. Investigates complaints and grievances as directed. There is significant interaction with contracting counties, law enforcement agencies, the courts, treatment facilities, prescribers, SUD staff, other departments, families and others outside of the department.

Requirements

• Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, master’s degree preferred.
• Registration as a professional nurse in the state of Wisconsin.
• Five (5) years of responsible work experience in psychiatric nursing, three (3) of which were in a supervisory capacity.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and medications, Wisconsin laws relating to mental health, patients’ rights, current nursing practice and supervisory techniques.
• Ability to manage a staff, make accurate assessments, intervene in a crisis and interact effectively with patients and their families.
• Selected candidate must have the flexibility to provide supervision on all shifts as needed.

Responsibilities

• Manages the day-to-day administration of the Acute Unit, to include supervision of Unit staff and problem solving day-to-day operational issues
• Maintains a therapeutic environment on the Unit and ensures that patient’s rights are maintained
• Participates in staffing of the multidisciplinary team to include treatment and discharge planning and carries out directives from the Clinical Services Division Manager.
• Supervises patient assessment, treatment, planning and implementation of care plans, and evaluates the effectiveness of nursing care
• Maintains communication with outside agencies and contracting counties concerning services and promotes excellent community relations. Is a first point of contact for referring agencies
• Communicates with patients, their families, physicians, other community agencies, the courts, legal authorities, etc. as needed
• Ensures that safety for patients, families and staff is a major consideration in all actions on the Unit
• Manages the Unit’s quality assurance program, preparing yearly capital expenditure requests for the Unit including supervising and authorizing the use of budgeted monies, reviewing policies and procedures for the Unit, and ensuring the Unit functions efficiently under the HSS 124 codes and Chapter 51 requirements
• Reports concerns and ideas for patient care and operational improvement to the Clinical Services Division Manager.
• Develops and supervises audits of Unit services and functions, including QA studies
• Co-facilitates quarterly committee meetings for Infection Control, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Utilization Review, and Quality Assurance and delegates individual committees to staff
• Oversees insurance authorizations, concurrent stay reviews and submits appeal letters when needed. Serves as backup when Program Assistant II is unavailable.
• Hires and schedules nursing and ancillary nursing staff and conducts bi-weekly payroll for nursing staff
• Develops and maintains a training plan for all staff, to include training requirements for all new staff
• Conducts yearly nursing staff performance appraisals
• Supervises and authorizes staff attendance at seminars and training programs outside the facility
• Conducts bi-monthly staff meetings and mini in-services to address specific Unit/staff needs. Ensures completion of required monthly in-services for nursing staff and that licensing requirements are current
• Investigates problems involving Unit staff and takes appropriate corrective disciplinary action when necessary
• Cooperates with nursing school faculty in providing a learning environment for nursing students. Maintains confidentiality forms; contract on file
• Provides crisis intervention
• Provides support for staff and assists on Unit when needed
• Promotes a positive work environment
• Communicates changes that impact direct care staff
• Maintains qualifications for position

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager