JOB TITLE: NURSING ADMINISTRATOR

JOB CODE: 30770

DEFINITION: This is professional and administrative nursing work in the oversight and evaluation of nursing services.

An employee in this job serves as a program office expert nursing clinician, educator, consultant, and administrator with responsibility to ensure that nursing services provided to individuals living in state-operated facilities or community agencies are appropriate and comply with regulatory and accreditation standards and established nursing policies and procedures. Work involves providing consultative, advisory, and mentoring services to medical, nursing, and administrative staff. Important aspects of the work include interpreting regulations, policies, procedures, and standards relative to nursing services; providing input concerning changes to existing laws and proposed legislation; providing training and education programs; serving on committees to draft policy recommendations, revise regulations, review legislation, and change the content of nursing programs; and researching and applying best practices in nursing care to clinical nursing operations. Work also includes performing on-site quality assurance visits to monitor and assess the provision of nursing services and to ensure compliance with policies, regulations, and standards. Work assignments are completed independently within the framework of state and federal laws, regulations, and professional standards under the supervision of a medical or administrative professional. Work is reviewed periodically through meetings and reports for the attainment of objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Oversees, monitors, and evaluates facility, county administered, or contracted nursing services to ensure compliance with regulations and accreditation standards and develops, recommends, and reviews quality improvement plans to attain and maintain compliance.

• Performs on-site quality assurance reviews to assess the provision of nursing services and makes recommendations for the improvement of service quality and delivery.

• Provides consultation to central office and facility nursing staff on a variety of issues pertaining to patient care and treatment, such as infection control, utilization review, quality assurance, and in-service education.

• Provides consultation to nursing staff in the interpretation of health statutes, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.

• Reviews, advises, and recommends changes to current statutes, regulations, policies, procedures, and proposed legislation affecting health services.

• Serves as a resource person and advisor to facility nursing staff on matters requiring professional nursing expertise and the application of clinical nursing care, including the provision of professional mentoring and competency coaching.

• Reviews and evaluates the education and training needs of professional and nonprofessional nursing staff.

• Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates nursing education and training programs.

• Researches and applies best practices in nursing care to clinical nursing operations to optimize the effectiveness of treatment and the efficient delivery of care.

• Identifies systemic problems and coordinates the integration and standardization of clinical policies, procedures, and practices among state-operated facilities, county-administered programs, and contracted nursing services.

• Participates in intradepartmental planning committees and groups that influence, determine, and develop policies and procedures affecting nursing practices.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Employees in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories and practices of professional nursing.

• Knowledge of infection control methods and procedures.

• Knowledge of therapeutic and adverse effects of pharmacological agents and medical treatments.

• Knowledge of the principles and methodologies of nursing quality assurance monitoring and assessment.

• Knowledge of the methods used in the development of nursing quality improvement plans.

• Knowledge of research techniques and methodologies.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written and numerical information.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These will not be evaluated by the State Civil Service Commission or used for Civil Service examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Knowledge of federal and Pennsylvania legislation as it impacts on health services and health delivery systems.

• Knowledge of standards and regulatory requirements for nursing practices set forth by professional nursing organizations, government entities, and certifying/accrediting agencies.

• Knowledge of the theories and practices involved in instructing professional staff in the application of nursing techniques.

• Ability to develop, implement, evaluate, and modify nursing regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities.)

• Four years of professional nursing experience, including two years in an administrative, supervisory, consultative, or quality assurance capacity, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing, nurse education, healthcare administration, or a closely related field;

or

• An equivalent combination of professional experience and training, which includes two years of professional nursing in an administrative, supervisory, consultative, or quality assurance capacity.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All positions require active authorization to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.

• All employees possessing an active temporary practice permit must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse within the one (1) year period defined by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.