Job Abstract

NICU Department Manager would provide oversight to Frederick Health Hospital's full service Level III NICU. This is a 30 bed unit with average daily census of 10 babies with mix of acuity.

Supports, and is responsible for incorporating into job performance, the Frederick Health (FH) mission, vision, core values and customer service philosophy and adheres to the FH Compliance Program, including following all regulatory requirements and the FH Standards of Behavior.

Responsible and accountable for the 24 hour management of a nursing department. The responsibilities include staff development, retention, performance improvement, and fiscal accountability. Provides the standards for quality of care and clinical practice and holds staff accountable. Collaborates with other Frederick Health departments and Medical Staff to provide a multidisciplinary approach to improving care for patients and their families.

Essential Functions:

• Assures that standards of care and clinical practice are established, consistent with national, regional and FMH standards, and are routinely updated and consistently practiced.
• Collaborates with team members to meet or exceed performance targets for patient satisfaction, patient safety initiatives, and other outcome measures according to evidence based practices and best practice models.
• Collaborates with the nursing staff and healthcare team members on the development, review and revision of clinical policies and procedures.
• Monitors compliance with, and enforces clinical policies and procedures.
• Addresses any patient care issues, complaints, or grievances through any channels as appropriate.
• Promotes accountability for nursing practice, clinical & workplace autonomy for RN’s, Evidence based practice, positive working relationships among the health care team, care that satisfies the health care consumer.
• Provides for adequate staffing for quality patient care through: interviewing, hiring, coaching, counseling, mentoring, and evaluating.
• Collaborates with Director in the development of a staffing plan to provide patient care 24 hours/day, seven days/week.
• Ensures a balanced staffing schedule is developed to meet the department needs.
• Collaborates with the Clinical Nurse Specialist to assure staff orientation, development, and education to meet the needs of the patient population and the department.
• Works with staff to create an environment conducive to collaboration, teamwork, and adherence to the Standards of Behavior.
• Engages in departmental efforts to promote retention of staff and employee satisfaction.
• In collaboration with the Director and Human Resources, disciplines and when necessary terminates department staff.
• Promotes respect for nurses’ rights and responsibilities, safe & health workplace, education, research and appropriate technologies
• Promotes adequate compensation commensurate with responsibility, education, and experience.
• Participates in the development of staffing and departmental budgets.
• Monitors productivity and adjusts staffing to accommodate for any variances.
• Monitors budget activity and identifies any discrepancies.
• Provides justification for any variances and a corrective action plan if appropriate to the scenario.
• Promotes stewardship of allocated resources.
• Demonstrates the following Leadership Competencies in the performance of duties:
• Accountability and Follow-Through
• Effective Communication
• Financial Leadership
• Creating Loyalty and Trust
• Managing and Improving Customer Relationships
• Setting Goals and Objectives
• Teambuilding
• Quality Improvement
• Managing Change
• Mentoring/Coaching Employees
• Serves as role model
• Promotes nursing control of nursing practice and oversight of the practice environment.
• Identifies and communicates vision and values and asks for the involvement of the work group to achieve the vision of the department and organization.
• Challenges staff to take greater ownership for their work towards meeting patient outcomes.
• Challenges staff to be innovative and creative.
• Demonstrates concern for the needs of the staff.
• Provides for the monitoring of indicators to ensure that processes are in compliance with evidence based standards, and opportunities for improvement are identified and acted on to meet or exceed targets.
• Participates in performance improvement, projects, and committees to enhance patient care and processes across the organization.
• Assures that staff is actively involved in evidence based research for quality and process improvement initiatives.
• Fosters peer review process.
• Empowers staff to participate in decision making process.
• Assist staff in their self-evaluation and personal goal setting activities.
• Completes education appropriate for their own developmental needs as well as hospital and department mandatory education requirements and competencies.
• Searches for opportunities to expand skills.

Minimum Education, Training, and Experience Required:

• Currently licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in State of Maryland
• Current CPR Certification
• Clinical nursing and management experience required. At least 3 years experience in NICU specialty is required; national certification in specialty required within 1st year of hire
  - Supervisory experience is required
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing required. Master’s degree with a focus in Nursing preferred. Nursing administration and applicable specialty certification preferred.

Physical Demands:

Medium Work – Lifting up to 50 pounds on an infrequent basis (less than one lift every three minutes) and/or carrying up to 25 pounds while walking. Pushing or pulling up to 75 pounds infrequently or up to 115 pounds occasionally (no more than once per hour).