Associate Director, Nursing

City of New York • New York, NY

67d • $145,000 - $155,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Harlem Hospital Center has been a bedrock of the Harlem community since 1887. The hospital provides a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic, therapeutic and family support services to the residents of Central Harlem, West Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. Harlem is the largest hospital in the area, capable of treating the most seriously ill. Harlem provides over 90 specialized ambulatory care services, dentistry and oral surgery, behavioral health services, and community substance abuse treatment.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

The Assistant Director of Nursing is an integral member of Nursing Services Administration. This is a management position that provides supervisory/administrative coverage of the department of nursing, other patient care areas and the hospital in general during evening and night shifts. Responsibilities require knowledge of hospital wide administrative as well as nursing policies and procedures. The Nurse Administrator on Duty (AOD) duties include provision of managerial and clinical links between the nurse manager and department direction in their absence. Additionally, this position will include knowledge of the patient flow/throughput process as they assist physicians and staff in assigning admission and internal /external transfers. Under the supervision of the Sr. Executive Director of Nursing or a designee, he/ she assumes administrative responsibilities and clinical oversight for Patient Care Services.  Responsibilities are carried out within the framework of the Hospital By-Laws, the Mission and Vision statements, policies and procedures, all regulatory (TJC, NYSDOH, NYCDOAH and professional organizational standards.

Requirements

• Licensed and currently registered to practice as a Professional Nurse in New York State, plus (2) or (3) below.
• A Master's Degree in Nursing Administration, Education or an equivalent field and a minimum of six years of satisfactory nursing experience, of which four years shall have been in a supervisory, teaching or administrative capacity; or,
• A Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing and seven years of satisfactory nursing experience, five years of which shall have been in a supervisory or teaching capacity; or,
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. However, all candidates must be licensed and currently registered to practice as a Professional Nurse in New York State.

Responsibilities

• The Assistant Director of Nursing/AOD will coordinate all patient care and operational activities on the evening and night shift.
• Adheres to dress code in accordance with hospital expectations.
• Completes all annual education requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Report to work on time and as scheduled.
• Wear hospital ID while on duty.
• Maintain regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and local regulations.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner at all times.
• Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Promotes and communicates the mission, vision, values, ethics and goals of the organization.
• Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities
• Attend regular staff meetings and in-services.
• Promotes a positive and pleasant attitude conducive to the workplace, which promotes customer service, enhances, and furthers the hospital's Mission, Vision and Values
• Responds to concerns or inquiries from patients and family members either by telephone or face to face.
• Uses discretion when honoring special requests from patients and families.
• Collaborates with other members of the leadership team in planning and developing programs to improve patient care and employee performance.
• Monitors employee performance relative to patient care and nursing practice, e.g. compliance to policy/procedures relative to patient care assignments and the related documentation, narcotic count, code cart assessment, medication administration and documentation, etc.
• Provide support, guidance and feedback to staff.
• Provides written anecdotes to the nurse manager or director related to feedback, appraisal of performance or corrective action.
• Facilitates staff participation in professional development and other activities offered during their shift.
• Identify and communicate identified staff needs for continuing education to the Education Director.
• Acts as a change agent with all nursing personnel.
• Assures a safe work environment for patient care.
• Assists in the preparation and implementation of all short and long-term departmental goals.
• Maintains contemporary nursing knowledge with education.
• Maintains oversight for bed management.
• Maintains oversight for Patient Transport Escort.
• Practices, promotes and assures established safety and infection control procedures and intervenes in the event of unsafe situations.
• Complies with, supports the code of conduct, and seeks guidance when in doubt.
• Assist physicians and staff in admission criteria for assigning admission status to patients (observation/admission)
• Makes frequent, purposeful rounds to assess the status of departments.
• Assesses the acuity of care across the units and adjusts staffing as needed.
• Evaluates staffing plan and ensures that staffing is adequate to meet patient care needs.
• Collaborates with peers and Nurse Managers in developing strategies to improve the patient experience.
• Meets frequently with peers (nursing leaders/personnel) in order to:
• Maintains open lines of communication.
• Strategizes resolutions to problems.
• Reviews/analyzes quality improvement data and monitor the effectiveness of any action plans.
• Assess/review the master staffing plan periodically for modification.
• Review customer service/patient satisfaction patterns.
• Develops and implements a staffing plan for shift based on patient acuity, patient census and available staff.
• Serves as a resource to staff for solving clinical problems.
• Assists staff to utilize staffing resources to meet patient care requirements and other professional responsibilities.
• Provides for immediate follow-up, documentation and communication of incidents to appropriate manager and director.
• Responds to all medical emergencies (Rapid Responses, Cardiac Arrests, MTP, Code Stroke, BH, etc.) to provide leadership support and oversight.
• Acts as a resource in identifying and/or solving administrative/operational problems-
• Anticipates actual/potential problems that may occur on their shift and set shift priorities accordingly.
• Works collaboratively with hospital staff to solve problems in a fair, consistent manner.
• Contacts for escalation representatives of departments not presently in the hospital for assistance with problem solving.
• Monitors compliance with regulatory, hospital and departmental policies as assigned.
• Documents compliance failures and notify the appropriate department leader.
• Maintains flexibility work with assignment and tour of duty.
• Participates in the development, review and implementation of hospital wide and departmental polices.
• Participates in the continual performance improvement process.
• Enhances own personal and professional development through attendance at internal and offsite educational offerings.
• Acts as a resource to interpret and ensure adherence to NYCHH and nursing policies and procedures.
• Acknowledges and addresses any physician concerns.
• Coordinates borrowing or lending of supplies and/or major equipment.
• Identifies and escalates any significant facilities issues such as fires, utility outages, etc.
• Addresses and/or escalates any emergent/security problems such as disasters, bomb threats, fires, major theft, patient or employee assaults and weapons.
• Identifies and escalates any public affairs or media events/issues or union activities
• Responds to calls or site visits received from the DOH or any other regulatory body and escalates accordingly.
• Procures materials/supplies from Materials Management/Nutrition/Laundry, etc. for patient care when these departments are not open.
• Countersign the progress note when lifesaving procedure is deemed necessary by the attending physician.
• Manages telephone consents obtained by a physician and full details of a procedure discussed with and understood by next of kin.
• Escalates to risk management any pertinent information if any incident occurs as a result of the signing of a consent.
• Assist with securing patient property as needed.
• Conduct rounds to proactively manage and or identify issues, concerns and impediments to patient flow.
• Is aware of and confers with Chiefs of Service on “Request for Diversion” and adherence to call in procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of duties.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week
• Retirement Savings and Pension Plans
• Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts
• Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees
• College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
• College Savings Program
• Union Benefits for eligible titles
• Multiple employee discounts programs
• Commuter Benefits Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees