JOB TITLE: NURSING DIRECTOR

JOB CODE: 30460

DEFINITION: This is professional and administrative nursing work in the overall administration of the nursing services operations at a Commonwealth facility for people with a mental or physical injury, illness, or developmental disability. An employee in this job plans, directs, and administers nursing services involving a diverse program of care and treatment; in-service nursing education and training; specialized nursing in quality assurance, improvement, risk management, infection control functions, or acute, forensic, geriatric, or psychiatric clinical nursing care; or mental health nursing care. Work involves planning, directing, administering, managing, and coordinating facility wide nursing services. Work includes developing, implementing, administering, monitoring, and evaluating nursing services policies, procedures, standards, and practices; coordinating with other management staff in the integration and delivery of nursing care and services with other facility staff and discipline services; providing nursing education, training, and consultation for nursing services staff and semi-autonomous unit nursing staff; and participating in the overall administration of the facility. Supervision is exercised over clinical and administrative staff. Work is performed under the direction of the facility superintendent or an administrative professional and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and evaluation of results achieved for conformance to departmental and facility policies and procedures.

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.)

• Serves as Nursing Director at a state hospital, restoration center, state center for people with intellectual disabilities, or state veterans’ home.

• Oversees facility wide operations of nursing services, including care and treatment; clinical services; in-service nursing education and training; and specialized nursing in quality assurance, improvement, risk management, infection control, psychiatric clinical nursing functions, geriatrics, acute nursing care and services, forensic mental health nursing care, and the required employee examination, immunization, and emergency health care services coordination programs.

• Develops, establishes, administers, and evaluates nursing program goals, objectives, policies, standards, and procedures to ensure the delivery of quality and appropriate nursing care and treatment.

• Monitors, analyzes, and evaluates nursing department operations to ensure compliance with certifying, accrediting, and regulatory agency standards and requirements.

• Collaborates with other program managers and the facility superintendent concerning the coordination and integration of nursing services with services provided by other disciplines and facility staff.

• Reviews staffing for nursing services operations, evaluates effectiveness of staff utilization, and assigns and reassigns staff to meet objectives, operational requirements, and adequate coverage requirements for a safe and therapeutic environment.

• Directs the planning, development, and implementation of in-service nursing education and training programs for professional and non-professional nursing care and services staff.

• Provides nursing education, training, and consultation for nursing staff functioning in semiautonomous units pertaining to geriatric care, acute care, or forensic care; interprets and provides guidance and direction on policies, procedures, and professional standards regarding mental health nursing care and treatment.

• Participates in the budgetary process by preparing the nursing services budget, including proposals and requests for equipment, supplies, and staffing.

• Directs the preparation, review, and maintenance of documentation, records, and reports relating to nursing care and treatment services performed at the facility.

• Participates in staff meetings, facility conferences, and committee meetings of facility staff and professional and civic organizations.

• 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, practices, and standards of professional nursing in specialty areas such as acute care, geriatric care, forensic care, and mental health nursing care and treatment services.

• Knowledge of the techniques, methods, and standards of professional nursing services management and the educational principles and practices involved in the administration of all nursing services.

• Knowledge of nursing licensure, certification, and accreditation regulations and standards.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of program planning, organization, direction, management, and evaluation.

• Ability to plan, direct, administer, and coordinate the work of professional and non-professional nursing care and services staff.

• Ability to coordinate nursing care and treatment services with other disciplines.

• Ability to direct the instruction of professional and non-professional employees in professional nursing standards, theories, principles, practices, and techniques.

• Ability to plan, develop, analyze, implement, administer, evaluate, modify, and maintain program goals, objectives, plans, standards, policies, procedures, and operations for nursing care and treatment services.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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

• One year of experience as a Nurse Manager 2 (commonwealth title) providing care and services for people with a mental or physical injury, illness, or development disability;

or

• Nine years of professional nursing experience, including three years in a managerial capacity providing care and services for people with a mental or physical injury, illness, or developmental disability; and a bachelor's degree in nursing, nursing education, or nursing administration. A master's degree in nursing, nursing education, or nursing administration may be substituted for up to one year of required general professional nursing experience;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes three years in a managerial capacity providing nursing care and services for people with a mental or physical injury, illness, or developmental disability.

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.