Chief Nursing Officer

The Chief Nursing Officer is responsible for overall delivery of care to patients and oversight of the clinical environment. Directs all nursing service activities for the facility assigned by making recommendations for staff/patient ratios, by maintaining a system to determine and provide adequate staff for provision of appropriate nursing care, by serving as a liaison between staff and administration, by promoting productivity of staff, by developing and implementing policies and procedures for nursing service in compliance with Hospital policies and procedures and accreditation standards. Assists in formulating the budget and maintains efficient and effective departmental operations.

Essential Duties:

• Report to the CEO in order to establish and maintain quality nursing practice throughout SABHH’s settings in accordance with the Texas Nursing Practice Act.
• Assist the CEO in directing the planning and implementation of goals and objectives set forth by the CEO to accomplish mission within the established parameters, procure and allocate the resources to meet these goals and objectives.
• Aid in the process of recruitment, hiring, and retention of nursing staff as well as participate in development and education activities.
• Ensure nursing staff’s compliance with nursing standards, the Texas Nursing Practice Act, and SABHH’s policies and procedures.
• Serve as the liaison between various departments, the nursing staff, and the Executive Leadership team regarding nursing practice issues, needs, and plans.
• Serve as the representative of SABHH in the larger nursing community, including at educational institutions.
• Oversee employees in the nursing line while maintaining relationships and rapport with nurse managers that will directly report to you.
• Have a strong foundation of nursing practice and be willing to participate in rounds at various locations within SABHH.
• Lead nursing and tech services in a complex and broad clinical care environment in various sectors, such as Psychiatric Emergency Services, Dual Diagnosis Residential Program, Crisis Respite and Residential, and Substance Use Disorder.
• Collaborate with partners at outside organizations, physicians, and leadership while serving as the voice and representative of the nursing department in order to advocate for the nursing line without sacrificing other areas of service.
• Works with CEO to ensure financial management produces a desirable ROI: Revenue generation, expense control (I.e., personnel and non-personnel expense).
• Promote patient-focused care in a high-acuity environment as part of a safety-net system.
• Create, lead, and maintain a nursing staff capable of participating in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ensures compliance with quality assurance, safety, infection control, and environmental procedures in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Supervises and coordinates work of licensed and unlicensed personnel in a unit. Manages quality and effectiveness of care given by staff.
• Participates within the department of nursing services in establishing the standards of patient care, policies and objectives of a given unit; communicates such standards, policies and objectives to unit's) staff, patient, family and community.
• Responsible for carrying out psychiatrists/physicians' orders, and for the accurate reporting and recording of patients' symptoms, reactions and progress.
• Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards.
• Performs related duties as requested.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital. Duties may be modified or changed with or without notice.

Education and/or Licensure –Master's degree in Nursing required. Valid Texas RN license in good standing required. BLS, ACLS, CPI certifications a plus.

Experience – 10 years in nursing required with 5 years in behavioral health preferred. 5 years in leadership position. Each additional year in nursing may be substituted for one year of leadership. Must be 21 years old or older.

Additional Requirements – Must possess or obtain a valid CPR certification and complete de-escalation training prior to completing orientation.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

·         Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients. Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy. Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients.

·         Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in diagnosis and treatment of mental health, professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients, social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders, medical and psychological terminology, medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients. Control, preparation and administration of medications.

·         Demonstrates sound leadership skills and utilizes these skills in organizing the activities and schedules for medical and/or non-medical tasks of the Child, Adolescent and Adult for a given shift; record of consistently high quality of clinical and interpersonal skills to be an exemplary role model to others

·         Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice, medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.

·         Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population, application of this knowledge to child, adolescent or adult knowledge of medical terminology, especially those terms associated with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric care; thorough familiarity of psychopharmacy and the use of psychotropic medications with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric population, basic teaching and training skills helpful; problem-solving; organizational and time management; crisis intervention skills

·         Ability to apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients. Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.

·         Must be able to work productively with other department heads and personnel.

·         Ability to work with professionals from many outside partners and organizations.

·         Usually works forty (40) hours per week, including weekends.

·         Ability to successfully manage conflict, negotiating “win-win” solutions.

·         Must be able to multi-task, prioritize with strong time management skills.

·         Exceptional follow through on tasks and assignments

·         Must possess leadership qualities and be able to supervise and secure the cooperation of staff.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions

Perform the following with or without reasonable accommodations:

·         Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips. 

·         Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must convey detail or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly.

·         Hearing to perceive the nature of sound with no less than 40 db loss @ Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information orally and make fine discriminations in sound. 

·         Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers. Individual must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and to be able to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. 

·         Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable people in the role to complete administrative and clerical tasks, as well as inspect and analyze.

·         Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic; ability to handle interruptions often and be able to move from one task to another

·         While worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.

• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Healthcare Spending Account
• Dependent Care Spending Account
• PTO Plan with Holiday Premium Pay
• Life Insurance (Supplemental Life, Term, and Universal plans are also available.)
• Short and Long-Term Disability (with additional buy-in opportunities)