Assures the continuity of hospital operations by assuming administrative responsibility for nursing personnel/activities as well as the coordination of all other hospital personnel/activities on assigned shifts.  Functions as a patient advocate, clinical expert, and as leader/mentor/advisor for nursing personnel.  Actively participates in and supports the development, operationalization, and evaluation of major change initiatives. 

Education:

ADN required; bachelor’s degree preferred.

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Registered nurse licensure in the state of Illinois.
• Current CPR certification required.
• ACLS preferred.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrates:
• Outstanding human relations/communications skills.
• Comfort with change.
• Creativity and flexibility in problem resolution.
• Well-rounded clinical expertise.

1. Acts as the administrative designee on behalf of and in cooperation with hospital administration.

• Responds to urgent administrative needs, complaint investigations, and any clinical or facility emergency.
• Serves as coordinator in emergency or disaster situation until relieved or assisted by the Administrator on call, Director of Nursing on call or other administrative staff members
• Performs services requested by the Administrator or Director on call. Communicates issues and works to resolve problems with other department managers.
• Interprets/clarifies goals, policies and procedures as necessary.
• Provides clinical expertise when necessary (i.e. transfer of patients requiring an RN, starting IVs and assisting staff with direct patient care).
• Provides support to patient/family/visitor/significant others, assisting them in the utilization of medical center resources as appropriate.

• Communicates regularly with Chief Nursing Officer and Executive Directors. Ensures the leadership is aware of events, staffing concerns and disciplinary situations.

2. Assumes administrative responsibility for patient care staffing on assigned shifts.

• Makes purposeful rounds on patient care units, Emergency Department, OR/PACU, and Patient Placement to gather information needed to make staffing decisions.
• Makes staffing adjustments to assure compliance with minimal staffing standards outlined in the Nursing Staffing Plan.
• Provides guidance/counsel in regard to staffing adjustments.
• Communicates staffing and administrative activities with nurse managers, directors of nursing, product line managers, and the chief nursing officer.

3. Provides guidance and coordination support to the healthcare team to optimize bed availability and achieve efficient patient throughput.

• Works closely with the patient care team (i.e. physicians, charge nurses, discharge planners, and patient care facilitators) to ensure timely coordination of daily discharges and transfers.
• Communicates with Environmental Services, Engineering/Facilities, Patient Placement and Patient Transport to identify, prioritize and resolve patient throughput bottlenecks.
• Rounds on patient care areas (inpatient units, ED, PACU) to identify delays in throughput and actively works with appropriate teams/departments to resolve delays in a timely manner.
• Responds to daily bed availability concerns as they arise.
• Proactively identifies patient throughput bottlenecks and works with clinical leaders to resolve them before they impact patient throughput.

4. Collaborates with nursing colleagues to enhance patient care, colleague growth and development, and customer satisfaction.

• Provides relevant feedback to assist nurse managers to support performance management.
• Utilize daily opportunities to assist staff to acquire additional clinical/communication/conflict resolution skills.
• Serves on committees/task forces as appropriate
• Acts as a positive role model/change agent.
• Demonstrates responsibility for own personal and professional growth.

5. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.