POSITION SUMMARY:
The Associate 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 Associate 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.

Facilitates mechanisms designed to guide the provision of nursing care required for all patients.

• 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.
• Assists CNO with developing, maintaining, and evaluating organizational planning systems to facilitate the delivery of patient care services.
• Assists with the development of standards of nursing practice and standards of care with nursing leaders.
• Advocates organizational processes that allow for creativity in the development of alternative plans for achieving desired, client-centered, cost-effective outcomes.
• Promotes the integration of applicable contemporary management and organizational theories, nursing and related research findings, and practice standards and guidelines into the planning process.
• Assists and supports staff in developing and maintaining competency in the planning and management of transitions.
• Advocates integration of policies into action plans for achieving desired client-centered outcomes.
  Utilizes clinical, human resource, and financial data to appropriately integrate standards of nursing and patient care, facilitating continuity across a continuum.
• 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.
• 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.

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.

• Provides leadership direction in the identification of clinical nursing goals and directions.
• Collaboratively participates with nursing leaders in the development and implementation of systems and processes to achieve clinical and administrative goals.
• Evaluates and revises the systems and processes of organized nursing service to enhance achievement of identified, desired client/family-centered outcomes.
• Provides leadership and support to nursing management in critical thinking, conflict management, and problem solving.
• Ensures the ongoing evaluation and innovation of services provided by organized nursing services and the organization as a whole.
• Supports the research process, dissemination, and utilization of research findings in the areas of nursing, health, and management systems.
• Serves as a professional-role model and mentor to motivate, develop, recruit, and retain staff and future nurse administrators.
• Collaborates with recruiter to develop successful recruitment and retention strategies.
• Initiates and leads departmental and cross-functional transitions. Applies "best practices", eliminates barriers, and gains organizational support for change.
• Promotes an environment for harmonious relationships among personnel, medical staff, patients and others.

Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and nursing administration.

• Ensures processes for viability of performance improvement programs.
• Identifies key quality indicators for monitoring and evaluating.
• Participates in the peer review process and privileging process for advanced practices nurses/Allied Health Professionals.
• Participates in interdisciplinary evaluation teams.
• 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.
• Assists CNO in assuring that nursing leadership and nursing staff are aware of current standards, policies and procedures and compliance are met.
• Visits nursing units regularly to ascertain quality of patient care and contentment of staff.

Evaluates his/her own performance based on professional practice standards, relevant statutes and regulations, and organizational criteria.

• Engages in self-performance appraisal on a regular basis, identifying areas of strength as well as areas for professional/practice development
• Seeks constructive feedback regarding his/her own practice.
• Takes action to achieve goals during performance appraisal.
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge in administrative practice.
• Seeks experience to expand and maintain skills and knowledge base.
• Networks with peers in state/region/corporate to share ideas and conduct mutual problem solving.
• Maintains professional affiliations and enhances professional growth and development.

Collaborates with nursing staff at all levels, interdisciplinary teams, executive officer, medical staff, and other stakeholders.

• Collaborates with nursing staff and other disciplines at all levels in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services.
• Collaborates with the human resources staff to develop and implement recruitment and retention programs for staff.
• Provides the opportunity for ongoing communication between self and staff.
• Collaborates with other providers of nursing/patient care within the delivery system for provision of seamless delivery of services.
• Maintains an awareness of community standards for hospital procedures and policies; communicates same to the CNO.

Decision and actions are based on ethical principles.

• Advocates on behalf of recipients of services and personnel.
• Maintains privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient/client, staff, and organizational data.
• Advocates organizational adherence to the ANA code for nurses, organization ethics, and corporate ethics.
• Fosters a non-discriminatory climate in which care is delivered in a manner sensitive to socio-cultural diversity.
• Supports the system to address ethical issues within nursing and the organization.
• 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.
• 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.

Accepts supervisory responsibility for department functions and promotes hospital-wide leadership image.

• 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.
• Responsible for ensuring all new employees attend orientation within their first thirty (30) days of work.
• Responsible for monitoring competency levels of employees and providing staff development through education.
• Conducts monthly staff meetings, keeps minutes and attendance logs on file.
• Submits all completed employee performance reviews to Human Resources in a timely manner.
• Notifies supervisor and Human Resources of all disciplinary action.
• Documents clearly all disciplinary action and submits originals to Human Resources while keeping copies in departmental file.
• Attends nursing, hospital, and medical staff meetings as requested and reports agenda discussions, recommendations, and approvals to the CNO.
• Facilitates revisions of job descriptions for all departmental positions.
• Responsible for employee knowledge and comprehension of all hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Ensures up-to-date reference materials for staff to meet current standards of practice (i.e., journals, manuals, reference books, etc.).

FUNCTIONAL EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
The Associate Chief Nursing Officer has responsibility for complying with all policies and procedures which 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 Associate Chief Nursing Officer:

• 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.
• 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.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and provides guidance in the delivery of nursing care.
• Acts as a preceptor to affiliating graduate nursing students involved in CS programs as requested.
• Responsible for the selection and preparation of all educational materials purchased by the hospital.
• Assumes responsibility for all school affiliations.
• Reviews annually and updates the orientation program as indicated by evaluations.
• Collaborates with Nursing Directors in developing, monitoring and revising clinical indicators, especially in the area of applying statistical tools and analysis.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP - EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
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

• Promotes decisions that are patient-centered (e.g., plans to reduce noise in patient areas at night).
• 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).
• 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).
• Assures that the clinical perspective is included in organizational decisions (e.g., leads work that results in successful JC accreditation).

Shape Strategy

• 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).
• Promotes a results-oriented environment (e.g., cascades and measures BSC, CQ BSC, and CNO BSC targets).
• 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).
• 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).

  
  

Apply Financial Insights

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

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).
• 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

• Understands and articulates patient care standards reflected in federal and state regulation, TJC, the state Nurse Practice Act, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Ensures that the care delivery model, clinical environment of care and related technology is appropriate to needs of caregivers and patients.
• Supports and embraces role in the adoption of EMR within facility and successfully implements within SWB budget.
• Recognizes the utility of nursing involvement in the planning, design, choice and implementation of information systems in the practice environment.
• 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).

Develop Organizational Talent

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

-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).

-Effective facility level competency program (e.g., meets JC requirements for unit-based competency across the continuum of care).

• Develops succession plan for nursing leadership (e.g., promotion of RN Directors to ACNO and CNO roles).
• 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.).
• 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).
  
  

CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE, ATTRIBUTES AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
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.

Education/Certifications
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.

Compensation
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.

Travel
Approximately 25 percent.

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.