At Houston Methodist, the Assc Chief Of Nursing, Sr Director position is responsible for working under the direction of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) to create an environment in which nurses are able to perform their jobs effectively to create excellent patient outcomes and a professional nursing culture. As a member of the administration team, this position has direct operational responsibility for various departments and service, and is responsible for planning as defined by the strategic direction established by CNO and senior leadership which includes the development of policies and procedures related to practice operations, staffing models, patient safety and quality, training and customer service. The ACNO position works closely with the directors of patient care services and partners with medical staff leadership to coordinate and integrate services aligned with the strategic plan, mission and vision of Houston Methodist. This position is responsible for ensuring that patient services are in compliance with nursing care standards, evidence-based practice, as well as state and federal regulations. The ACNO position has responsibility and authority for enhancing and integrating systems, programs, support, and human resources, such as nurse recruitment and retention, across operational areas of responsibility with a particular focus on excellent patient care, staff engagement, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and integration of service delivery across the network. This position must be able to leverage technology to achieve system goals and to ensure linkages between the ancillary and acute care settings. In the absence of the CNO, the ACNO assumes responsibility for the entire scope of the CNO's responsibilities. The position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives. Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees. Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators. Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes. Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one's area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed. Meets with leaders of operational teams to monitor the activities of nursing practices and addresses any problems, needs or other significant occurrences that reflect the status of nursing performance. Works collaboratively with other patient care and support departments, fostering a climate of open communication and mutual problem-solving activities. Provide leadership to nursing staff that will engage their support, create ownership of goals, and have them actively participate in decisions that impact their practice. Serves as a mentor and coach for nursing leadership, including hiring, coaching, professional development and corrective/disciplinary actions. Acts as a positive professional role-model and demonstrates adaptability to nursing trends. Visits department/staff units, in assigned areas, to improve visibility and communication with nursing staff. Tours assigned areas regularly to solicit feedback regarding performance, needs, etc. Acts as a liaison for the CNO when immediate contact with the CNO is unavailable.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction. Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department. Coordinates/prioritizes plans through the CNO to assure organizational objectives are in line, enhancing and integrating systems, programs, support, and human resources, across operational areas of responsibility, with a particular focus on excellent patient care, staff engagement, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and integration of service delivery across the network. Maintains/initiates frequent updates to CNO routinely. Visits department/staff units, in assigned areas, to improve visibility and communication with nursing staff. Regularly rounds on key constituents (patients, families, employees, and physicians) to solicit feedback regarding performance, needs, etc., and enhance communication, ensuring alignment that the experience is exceptional. Provides a feedback loop for all aspects of patient care to the CNO. Acts as a liaison for the CNO when immediate contact with the CNO is unavailable. In collaboration with the CNO, actively creates a professional practice environment that formulates policies and procedures consistent with recognized standards of professional practice and reflecting the intent of regulatory standards and maintain authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing services and meets the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Magnet status criteria.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable. Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety. Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.). Identifies system problems that may contribute to errors and monitors corrective actions to ensure effective resolution. Initiates and participates in joint performance improvement activities and that these initiatives are designed to measure and improve the quality of care delivered and are consistent with the organization priorities. Independently seeks opportunities to identify and streamline inefficiencies in clinical areas through action plans and follow-up with leaders in assigned areas. Improves the quality of patient care and services while increasing patient satisfaction which support a nursing practice environment where a model of Patient Family Centered Care is practiced, leveraging technology to achieve system goals and to ensure linkages between the ancillary and acute care settings. Ensures follow-up to patient complaints and occurrence reports is thorough and timely.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness. Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource e