Director, Surgical Services

Overview

The Director of Surgery Services is responsible for the effective management and quality of patient care of specific and assigned departments. Ensures 24-hour provision of nursing services in accordance with all regulatory requirements.  Pro-actively identified problems, recommends, and implements solutions and follows up to ensure continued resolution.  Role models, mentors and coaches all staff.  Participates in planning and decision-making and appropriately represents the hospital and nursing service.  Integrates department's services with other departments to assure coordination with hospital operations.   Ensures patient care needs are assessed, planned, implemented, evaluated and documented.  Assess qualifications and competency of staff and contracted staff.  Assists staff in identifying their own learning and developmental needs.  Conducts performance reviews.  Hires new staff and provides an orientation of sufficient scope and duration to inform the individual about his/her responsibilities and how to fulfill them.  Maximizes efficiency in all departmental operations.  Develops and implements policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services.  Reviews and revises policies and procedures annually.  Communicates well with Chief Nursing Officer, reporting problems/issues and recommends solutions.  Requests assistance as appropriate.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Responsible for the effective management and quality of patient care of specific, assigned department(s).
• Ensures 24-hour provision of nursing services, in accordance with all regulatory requirements.
• Pro-actively identifies problems, recommends and implements solutions and follows up to ensure continued resolution.
• Facilitates innovation and motivates staff to effectively implement the organization's Mission, Vision and Goals.
• Role models, mentors and coaches all staff. Develops Charge Nurses.
• Maintains open and responsive communication. Supports staff through regular meetings where open dialogue and exchange of ideas is encouraged and concerns of staff are heard and responded to.
• Participates in planning and decision-making and appropriately represents the hospital and nursing service.
• Integrates department's services with other departments to assure coordinated hospital operations.
• Communicates the organization's and departmental plans throughout the department.

Directing Services

• Organizes, directs and staffs department in a manner that is commensurate with the scope of services offered.
• Ensures individual needs of each patient are met.
• Assists staff in direct patient care, as needed, to assure high quality, cost-effective care. Works with medical staff and nursing staff to assure admissions and discharges in a timely manner.
• Ensures patient care needs are assessed, planned, implemented, evaluated and documented. Assures documentation meets all regulatory requirements.
• Assesses qualifications and competency of staff and contracted staff. Assists staff in identifying their own learning and developmental needs.
• Implements progressive discipline and corrective action when necessary.
• Conducts performance reviews and completes on or before due date.
• Hires new staff and provides an orientation of the sufficient scope and duration to inform the individual about his/her responsibilities and how to fulfill them.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Analyzes and recommends staffing needs of the department based on patient volume and acuity of patients, documented by patient classification.
• Participates in development of departmental operating and capital budget.
• Consistently remains within established budget SWB/PAPD.
• Identifies and implements methods of controlling costs or generating revenue while providing maximum value to both the patient/customer and the hospital.
• Maximizes efficiency in all departmental operations.

Customer Service

• Consistently strives to understand, anticipate and exceed the needs, expectations and satisfaction levels of patients, physicians and other customers.
• Develops systems to assess and monitor customer service in department.
• Unit, hospital and PSMS survey scores consistently meet or exceed hospital benchmark.
• Develops, implements and revises customer service action plan to respond to customer service issues.

Performance Improvement

• Develops, implements and maintains departmental P.I. Plan, including quality control activities.
• Recommends priorities and thresholds to Quality Council. Manages processes to assess, measure, evaluate and implement improvement. Complies and submits required reports to Quality Improvement Director by specified deadline.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services. Reviews and revises policies and procedures annually.

Professional Conduct

• Conducts all interactions in a professional manner.
• Has the willingness and ability to perform additional duties and responsibilities in different areas of the department on an as-needed basis or as determined by management.
• Follows established hospital & dept. policies.
• Demonstrates the philosophy of team concept.
• Participates in group project and staff meetings with suggestions that enhance the work environment and increase productivity.
• Communicates well with Chief Nursing Officer, reporting problems/issues and recommends solutions. Requests assistance as appropriate.
• Maintains confidentiality as related to job responsibilities.
• Exhibits willingness to resolve problems as they arise.
• Consistently projects positive professional image through appearance and behavior.
• Completes assigned work on time.

Professional Growth and Development

• Sets goals for self; meets with CNO to evaluate progress.
• Evaluates own leadership style/skills in terms of results achieved.
• Completes annual updates within established time frames.
• Completes general and departmental orientation within established time frames.
• Attends 90% of required meetings.
• Maintains licensure/certifications as appropriate. 

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Graduate from an accredited school of nursing; Bachelor's Degree in Nursing or related field required; Master's Degree in Nursing or related field.
• Minimum Experience: 5 years as RN; 2 years in supervisory role in appropriate clinical area.
• Required Certification/Registration: Current California RN License; BCLS; Certification in clinical area preferred.