Chief Nurse Executive

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•San Antonio, TX

19d

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of eleven psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facility, and thirteen state supported living centers. The psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below. This Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) position represents a unique opportunity to assist the superintendent in the development of Terrell Center for Youth (TCY) established through the 89th Texas Legislative Session. This role will be instrumental in the start up to include recruiting staff, developing operational processes, and implementing nursing structures. The selected candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the vision, culture, and systems that will define this new center and its services to youth and families across Texas. Under the direction of the Superintendent, the CNE performs highly advanced and complex duties for the effective oversight and administration of all nursing services at TCY, which provides 24-hour residential treatment services to adolescents in managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). TCY provides comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health treatment that is recovery-oriented and evidence-based. The CNE performs highly advanced nursing work establishing policies and procedures, and guiding, directing, and overseeing the daily operations and activities of the nursing programs and services for TCY within the scope of practice attributed to the skills of a registered nurse. Leads in the design, development, and implementation of systems that evaluate and contribute to the quality of patient care. Performs tasks, demonstrating involvement in furthering performance improvement and quality assessment initiatives between nursing and other professional disciplines. Seeks and utilizes suggestions to effectively streamline work efforts and minimize redundancy. Keeps Central Administration apprised of nursing services resource allocation and reallocation needs. Develops, implements, and oversees a high-quality system of care to patients using a multi-disciplinary approach. Directing operations to effectively achieve the vision and strategic, financial, and operational plans that have been developed for TCY. Reviews medical records and patient assessments to determine compliance with policies and procedures, correctness of assessment, standards of care, and quality of service. Oversees implementation of quality assurance processes including overseeing and evaluating progress of Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) related to nursing services. Supervises and manages all nursing staff. Works under the minimal supervision of the Superintendent with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Requirements

Knowledge of behavioral health standards, rules, regulations, and legal status, including CMS and The Joint Commission standards.
Knowledge of and experience in the development and implementation of an operational plan for a large organization.
Knowledge of state and federal laws and Intermediate Care Facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID) rules, regulations, policy and procedures related to State Hospital or ability to quickly gain that knowledge.
Knowledge of Texas Nurse Practice Act, including the Texas Board of Nursing Rules and Regulations, and the role of nursing peer review in the provision of both professional nursing and vocational nursing.
Knowledge of emergency procedures and emergency equipment, i.e., CPR., and ability to assess and care for residents and/or staff members in emergency situations.
Knowledge of nursing care standards, the Settlement Agreement and the Healthcare Guidelines or ability to quickly gain the knowledge.
Skill in the care and treatment of patients and in the use of nursing treatment tools and equipment.
Skill in analyzing problems, formulating and implementing plans of corrections, and successfully leading change as evidenced by positive outcomes.
Skills in the use of computer/software and an electronic health record system.
Skill in time management and prioritization.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present ideas clearly and concisely in both written and oral communications.
Skills in the care and treatment of patients.
Strong interpersonal skills which promote teamwork.
Ability to appropriately interact with psychiatric patients and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, with their family members, and with staff members.
Ability to provide patient care and to prepare and maintain records.
Ability to work independently and productively with all levels of staff.
Must maintain current CPR certification. Must have strength and flexibility to safely perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Ability to interpret regulations and communicate them effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to analyze, assimilate, and integrate information to make nursing judgments about conditions and the acuity of conditions, to develop plans of care, and to evaluate outcomes of care.
Ability to organize, coordinate, and evaluate nursing activities.
Ability to instruct, train, oversee and provide guidance to others.
Experience with a psychiatric population and/or with severe and persistent mental illness.
Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Texas, or in a party state, that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
Master’s degree in nursing or healthcare related field or a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and accepted to/ enrolled in a master’s program and five (5) years of experience as a practicing registered nurse in a health agency, hospital, or health-care facility; and three (3) years of Nursing supervisory/administrative experience.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aid, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct, List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE). Males between the ages of 18-25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility. Terrell Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Three (3) years’ experience with a psychiatric population and/or with severe and persistent mental illness preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads in the design, development, and implementation of systems that evaluate and contribute to the quality of patient care.
Evaluates and oversees the continuous 24 hour a day coverage and timely availability of nursing staff to meet patient care needs.
Supervises and manages all nursing department staff.
Catalyst for the operation of campus-based nursing services and is responsible for the mutual achievement of patient centered organizational goals.
Oversees implementation of quality assurance processes including overseeing and evaluating progress of Corrective Action Plans (CAP) and Quality Improvement Plans (QIP) related to nursing services.
Reviews medical records and patient assessments to determine compliance with policies and procedures, correctness of assessment, standards of care, and quality of service.
Develops, implements, and oversees a high-quality system of care to patients using a multi-disciplinary approach.
Directing operations to effectively achieve the vision and strategic, financial, and operational plans that have been developed for the hospital.
Performs other duties as assigned.