Assistant Chief Nursing Officer - Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Group - Saint Vincent Hospital

For more than 100 years, Saint Vincent Hospital, a 297-bed facility, has provided high-quality health care to Worcester and surrounding communities. As we’ve grown, we’ve remained a leader in our central Massachusetts community by adopting new treatments and expanded services to truly be a place where your family can receive all the care they need. From newborns to seniors, we can give you the quality care you deserve. At Saint Vincent Hospital, we believe you should have access to the treatments you need without having to travel far from home. We are proud to have been the first hospital in central Massachusetts to offer robotically assisted surgical procedures and minimally invasive, computer-assisted joint replacements.

Saint Vincent Hospital offers a whole new experience in health care. By combining our advanced, state-of-the-art facility with our commitment to providing the best quality of life to the many members of our Worcester community.

Saint Vincent Hospital excels at offering the best care in a friendly atmosphere. From our advanced heart and vascular services, to our comprehensive orthopedics and rehabilitation programs, and from our robust surgical facility including our da vinci robot and vascular hybrid room , to our comfortable and compassionate women & infants programs – you don’t have to travel far for high-quality health care: We’re right here, in the heart of Worcester.

Among the distinctions that we have received include our designations as a Blue Distinction Center for Cardiac Services, Bariatric Surgery, and both Knee and Hip Replacement. This honor, bestowed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, recognizes health care facilities with proven expertise in delivering specialty care. We are honored that the care we give has been noticed, but above all we are proud of the difference that our care has made in the lives of those we treat.

https://www.stvincenthospital.com/

The Assistant Chief Nursing Officer is responsible for assisting the Chief Nursing Officer in planning, implementing and evaluating the nursing services to ensure the delivery of adequate and competent patient care. In the absence of the Chief Nursing Officer, the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer has responsibility for the Nursing Supervisors, Nursing Directors and Clinical Education. He/she functions as an expert nurse who facilitates the development of the Nursing areas.

• Advocates organizational processes that allow for creativity in the development of alternative plans for achieving desired, client-centered, cost-effective outcomes.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and use of a system for preventing and reporting abuse of patients, patient’s rights, and incompetent, unethical, or illegal practices by health care providers.
• Advocates organizational adherence to the ANA code for nurses, organization ethics, and corporate ethics.
• Assists with the development of standards of nursing practice and standards of care with nursing leaders.
• Collaborates with nursing staff and other disciplines at all levels in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services.
• Maintains professional affiliations and enhances professional growth and development.
• Evaluates his/her own performance based on professional practice standards, relevant statutes and regulations, and organizational criteria.
• Participates in interdisciplinary evaluation teams.
• Accepts supervisory responsibility for department functions and promotes hospital-wide leadership image.
• Provides training and coaching to managers and staff for the selection of qualified candidates. Adheres to facility policies and procedures as well as utilizes facility departmental resources for management of operations.
• Facilitates revisions of job descriptions for all departmental positions.
• Initiates and leads departmental and cross-functional transitions. Applies "best practices", eliminates barriers, and gains organizational support for change.
• Conducts monthly staff meetings, keeps minutes and attendance logs on file.
• Provides the opportunity for ongoing communication between self and staff.
• Decision and actions are based on ethical principles.
• Ensures the ongoing evaluation and innovation of services provided by organized nursing services and the organization as a whole.
• Provides leadership and support to nursing management in critical thinking, conflict management, and problem solving.
• Seeks experience to expand and maintain skills and knowledge base.
• Assists CNO in assuring that nursing leadership and nursing staff are aware of current standards, policies and procedures and compliance are met.
• Ensures CNO is informed of critical issues within assigned departments; reporting managers and staff are fully informed on organization issues and development; collaborates with other departments relative to changes originating within the nursing department that potentially impact their individual operations.
• Promotes the integration of applicable contemporary management and organizational theories, nursing and related research findings, and practice standards and guidelines into the planning process.
• Submits all completed employee performance reviews to Human Resources in a timely manner.
• Maintains an awareness of community standards for hospital procedures and policies; communicates same to the CNO.
• Collaborates with the human resources staff to develop and implement recruitment and retention programs for staff.
• Networks with peers in state/region/corporate to share ideas and conduct mutual problem solving.
• Maintains privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient/client, staff, and organizational data.
• Notifies supervisor and Human Resources of all disciplinary action.
• Participates in the design and development of systems compatible with the ANA Code of Ethics, Nursing standards, the goals and resources of the organization, and changing societal/community needs and patient/family expectations.
• Ensures up-to-date reference materials for staff to meet current standards of practice (i.e., journals, manuals, reference books, etc.).
• Responsible for ensuring all new employees attend orientation within their first thirty (30) days of work.
• Collaborates with other providers of nursing/patient care within the delivery system for provision of seamless delivery of services.
• Visits nursing units regularly to ascertain quality of patient care and contentment of staff.
• Provides leadership direction in the identification of clinical nursing goals and directions.
• Attends nursing, hospital, and medical staff meetings as requested and reports agenda discussions, recommendations, and approvals to the CNO.
• Utilizes clinical, human resource, and financial data to appropriately integrate standards of nursing and patient care, facilitating continuity across a continuum.
• Collaboratively participates with nursing leaders in the development and implementation of systems and processes to achieve clinical and administrative goals.
• Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and nursing administration.
• Identifies key quality indicators for monitoring and evaluating.
• Confers with nursing supervisors and Directors on tour of duty to assess status of nursing department. Follows policy and procedure for recruitment and interviewing of potential new hires.
• Documents clearly all disciplinary action and submits originals to Human Resources while keeping copies in departmental file.
• Demonstrates current knowledge of JCAHO Standards, State and Federal Regulations and ANA Standards for nurse administrators.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the legal aspects and liabilities of nursing practice. Ensures that all staff members’ function within the legal boundaries and guidelines established by the state nurse practice act.
• Advocates on behalf of recipients of services and personnel.
• Fosters a non-discriminatory climate in which care is delivered in a manner sensitive to socio-cultural diversity.
• Ensures processes for viability of performance improvement programs.
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge in administrative practice.
• Takes action to achieve goals during performance appraisal.
• Facilitates mechanisms designed to guide the provision of nursing care required for all patients.
• Evaluates and revises the systems and processes of organized nursing service to enhance achievement of identified, desired client/family-centered outcomes.
• Collaborates with nursing staff at all levels, interdisciplinary teams, executive officer, medical staff, and other stakeholders.
• Participates in the peer review process and privileging process for advanced practices nurses/Allied Health Professionals.
• Serves as a professional-role model and mentor to motivate, develop, recruit, and retain staff and future nurse administrators.
• Advocates integration of policies into action plans for achieving desired client-centered outcomes.
• Seeks constructive feedback regarding his/her own practice.
• Promotes an environment for harmonious relationships among personnel, medical staff, patients and others.
• Assists CNO with developing, maintaining, and evaluating organizational planning systems to facilitate the delivery of patient care services.
• Acts as the Patient Ombudsman to facilitate all communications with patients and when appropriate to their families to comply with organization's duty to inform patients about the outcome of care per regulatory standards.
• Responsible for employee knowledge and comprehension of all hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Responsible for monitoring competency levels of employees and providing staff development through education.
• Supports the system to address ethical issues within nursing and the organization.
• Supports the research process, dissemination, and utilization of research findings in the areas of nursing, health, and management systems.
• Assists and supports staff in developing and maintaining competency in the planning and management of transitions.
• Provides a leadership role in professional, community, and governmental bodies that shape healthcare policy, thereby contributing to the development of the health care delivery system, and better health care for society.
• Engages in self-performance appraisal on a regular basis, identifying areas of strength as well as areas for professional/practice development
• Collaborates with recruiter to develop successful recruitment and retention strategies.

The Assistant Chief Nursing Officer has responsibility for complying with all policies and procedures that pertain to HIPAA including the minimum necessary requirements for this position. As part of the requirements for this position, this employee has access to the entire medical record for the purposes of improving clinical staff performance. Activities include review of staff documentation, assessments and diagnostic reports to enable processes for improving staff competency. In addition, the ACNO will limit the PHI disclosed or requested to the amount reasonably necessary to achieve the purpose of the request. The disclosures or requests that occur on a routine or recurring basis include: information regarding staff documentation of assessments and nursing care to the clinical staff, managers, risk manager and/or Chief Nursing Officer. The ACNO makes these disclosures for the purpose of identifying staff training/management issues and developing interventions to meet the identified needs. Criteria established for the PHI disclosures/requests is based upon individual clinical staff performance indicators as necessary.

The Assistant Chief Nursing Officer:

• Collaborates with Nursing Directors in developing, monitoring and revising clinical indicators, especially in the area of applying statistical tools and analysis.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and provides guidance in the delivery of nursing care.
• Serves as a clinical resource to nursing personnel, patients, and significant others, providing consultation as needed through sharing of expertise, providing information, demonstrating technical skills, and relating theoretical concepts to clinical practice.
• Assumes responsibility for all school affiliations.
• Reviews annually and updates the orientation program as indicated by evaluations.
• Acts as a preceptor to affiliating graduate nursing students involved in CS programs as requested.
• Understands individual role in the HICS Structure. Has knowledge of the Emergency Code System. Demonstrates/verbalizes required responses to the Emergency Code system. Accepts/participates on assigned Team for Hurricane (Code White) response.
• Responsible for the selection and preparation of all educational materials purchased by the hospital.

As a leader in healthcare, Tenet is committed to providing the best possible care to every patient, with a clear focus on quality and service. Strong leadership is essential to delivering on this commitment, and we believe that the quality of our leaders can give us a significant long-term competitive advantage. We want to ensure every current and future leader in Tenet is successful, and we support that through our selection and hiring process and by providing coaching and training to our leaders.

In this regard, we have identified core competencies that will enable a leader to succeed at Tenet, and have defined them within the following five areas critical to performance:

Use Astute Judgment

• Considers impact of nursing decisions on the healthcare organization as a whole (e.g., reduces falls, pressure ulcers, and other nurse sensitive patient outcomes).
• Provides leadership in building loyalty and commitment throughout the organization (e.g., builds career development path for high performing staff).
• Promotes “systems thinking” as a value in the nursing organization. Synthesizes and integrates divergent viewpoints for the good of the organization (e.g., implements shared governance councils).
• Assures that the clinical perspective is included in organizational decisions (e.g., leads work that results in successful JC accreditation).
• Promotes decisions that are patient-centered (e.g., plans to reduce noise in patient areas at night).

Shape Strategy

• Represents nursing/patient care in strategic planning and quality initiatives with the governing body (e.g., presents new ideas and external and internal benchmarks at board meetings).
• Promotes a results-oriented environment (e.g., cascades and measures BSC, CQ BSC, and CNO BSC targets).
• Designs safe clinical systems, processes, policies and procedures.
• Represents nursing/patient care issues within the organization’s governance and medical staff structures (e.g. actively participates in governing board by presenting a monthly nursing report).
• Supports the development of a facility wide patient safety program (e.g. zero never events; reduced falls with injury, reduced facility acquired pressure ulcers, etc.; meets targets on CNO BSC).
• Formulates objectives, goals, and specific strategies related to the organization’s mission and vision (e.g. participates in preparing the budget with cost improvements in nursing departments).
• Monitors and evaluates quality through public reported measure (e.g. core measures, nurse sensitive patient outcomes, infection control, VBP risk protection, etc.) in collaboration with the facility DCQI and ICP, as well as national resources.

Apply Financial Insights

• Demonstrates sense of urgency in management of labor expense (e.g., meets targets for SWB).
• Allocates nursing resources based on measurement of patient acuity/care needed (e.g. meets JC conditions of participation for nursing services).

Ensure Collaboration

• Effectively communicates with all internal and external constituents, including staff, colleagues, and physicians (e.g., holds weekly staff meetings with Department Directors, routinely rounds with physicians).
• Actively networks and creates peer relationships with other internal and external nursing leaders (e.g. leadership role in industry organizations, actively mentors, etc.).
• Builds “privileged relationships” with key internal stakeholders (e.g. CEO, RSVP, etc.) and manages organizational relationships in a manner which builds mutual trust and respect. Addresses and manages conflict in a constructive and productive manner (e.g., immediately addresses a conflict situation between a nurse and physician to a positive outcome).

Drive Organizational Success

• Monitors and evaluates service indicators (Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Reports) and implements action plans in collaboration with related team members at the facility level (e.g., action to implement formal discharge calls).
• Supports and embraces role in the adoption of EMR within facility and successfully implements within SWB budget.
• Understands and articulates patient care standards reflected in federal and state regulation, TJC, the state Nurse Practice Act, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates results of annual Employee Satisfaction Survey and collaborates with related team members to develop and implement action plans (e.g., action to increase recognition).
• Recognizes the utility of nursing involvement in the planning, design, choice and implementation of information systems in the practice environment.
• Ensures that the care delivery model, clinical environment of care and related technology is appropriate to needs of caregivers and patients.
• Actively facilitates Physician satisfaction survey, monitors results and collaborates with facility team members to develop and implement action plans (e.g., action to improve communication with physicians).

Develop Organizational Talent

• Participates in workforce planning to ensure an adequate and competent workforce.

• Effective facility level competency program (e.g., meets JC requirements for unit-based competency across the continuum of care).
• Recruitment and retention strategies, employee development/education program (e.g., meets targets for People pillar for nursing including turnover, <1 year turnover, and retention).
• Consider and/or implement nurse residency programs (e.g., successfully implement Versant program).

• Assumes personal and professional accountability (e.g. meets or exceeds requirements for licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in the state where employed; maintains required CEUs, actively seeks out career development opportunities, etc.).
• Develops succession plan for nursing leadership (e.g., promotion of RN Directors to ACNO and CNO roles).
• Supports a non-punitive environment and a reward system for reporting unsafe practices (e.g. improved scores on Annual ARHQ Patient Safety Survey regarding non-punitive environments for reporting unsafe practices).

Required Background

Established record of progressive administration and leadership responsibility in a comprehensive tertiary health care facility.

Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Strong labor relations background.

An individual able to effectively and efficiently organize patient care promoting optimal outcomes, patient safety, and patient, physician and employee satisfaction.

A proactive nurse executive who takes the lead in complying with regulatory standards, rules and laws.

Professional and Personal Attributes

Ability to plan strategically and implement new processes and programs through data analysis and cost effective interactions.

One who is positive, creative and innovative with a strong understanding of the business aspects of healthcare and the acumen to play a substantive role in developing strategies, budgets and business plans. Financially astute, with a solid understanding of cost issues and initiatives.

Clearly a leader by example, able to articulate a clear vision and expectations for patient care services and other areas of responsibility.

An individual of highest personal and professional integrity, principle and knowledge, earning respect and support when making difficult decisions and choices. Able to establish immediate credibility with peers, senior leadership, medical staff, and the Board.

A collaborative and operational manager who will give employees a voice and encourage full participation of all team members.

Excellent interpersonal skills; a dedicated listener, comfortable in a variety of settings dealing with diverse constituencies; a broad thinker. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.

A leader who will inspire confidence and establish a sense of common direction and vision for the medical staff.

An academic degree in nursing is required, and a Master’s degree in Nursing or related field (Health Administration, Business, Public Health, or Management) is preferred.

Active and current registered nurse license in the state of residence/practice is required.

Current CENP or NEA certification preferred.

A competitive compensation program will be tailored to the selected candidate. Base salary will be supplemented by a performance bonus and comprehensive, well-rounded benefits program, which includes relocation assistance.

Approximately 25 percent.

Pay Range: $149,700 - $187,100 - $224,500

Wages are determined based upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, an individual's qualifications and experience.

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Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.