Description

Responsible for direction of patient care services in the Emergency Department. Consults with staff, physicians and Nurse Administration on nursing problems and interpretation of hospital policies to ensure patient needs are met. This position also serves as the Trauma Nurse Coordinator. Maintains performance improvement activities within the department and participates in CQI activities. Assists in formulating budget.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN preferred.

• Registered Nurse Licensure in the State of Texas.

• Successful completion of critical care course.

• Current BCLS Certification.

• Current ACLS Certification.

• PALS within six (6) months of hire.

• TNCC within one (1) year of hire.

• ENPC (Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course) within one (1) year of hire.

• MICN Certification preferred, but within one (1) year of hire.

• Certification for Emergency Nursing (CEN) preferred

• Three (3) or more years of previous experience in trauma/emergency care and a minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care Services Director is responsible for administrative functions of assigned nursing unit(s)/program(s). Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsible for administrative, financial and clinical issues: performance improvement, customer service/patient satisfaction, patient and employee safety, interviewing applicants, employee relations, standards of care and practice, the work environment, and accreditation and regulatory standards;

• Provision of direct patient care as needed;

• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when supervising and/or performing direct patient care;

• Utilizes core elements of performance including knowledge and active participation in unit/service/system level quality improvement processes;

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers, families, and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels;

• Participates as a contributing member and/or chairperson for nursing and quality committees/councils;

• Works collaboratively with Nursing Administration and Quality Management in assessing, developing, and maintaining nursing staff competencies to ensure provision of quality nursing care;

• Rotates Administrative Nurse on Duty (ANOD) responsibilities with other members of Nursing Administration;

• Maintain operational aspects of the patient care unit in collaboration with other service areas.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Trauma Nurse Coordinator: The Trauma Nurse Coordinator is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a cost-effective system of care for trauma patients and their families throughout the continuum of care. Duties include, but are not limited to:

Administration: 

• Support and adhere to hospital policies, procedures, philosophy and mission. 

• Produce and manage the trauma program budget. 

• Interpret and implement policies and procedures; make recommendations for revisions; assist with updating policies and procedures. 

• Participate in the development and planning of goals and objectives related to trauma care. 

• Coordinate with the medical director, hospital administration and clinicians to assess the need for policies, procedures and protocols relating to the care of trauma patients. 

• Develop policies and procedures based on current literature, input from clinicians and other sources such as information from patient care evaluations. 

• Represent the Trauma Program on various hospital and community committees to enhance and foster optimal trauma care management. 

• Participate in the budget process: anticipate trends, future needs of the trauma program. 

• Work with a broad array of departments to resolve inefficiencies and reduce costs 

• Supervise adherence to hospital policies and procedures and standards through observation, medical record review, staff feedbacks and other appropriate sources. 

• Serves as a liaison to administration, representing the Trauma Program on various hospital and community committees to enhance and foster a fiscally sound Trauma Program. 

• Monitor trauma care financial reimbursement issues. 

Program Initiatives: 

• Implements program initiatives. 

• Monitor and maintain compliance with statewide trauma system regulatory requirements. 

• Coordinate preparation for statewide trauma system designation site visit. 

• Develop and foster collaborative relationships with all hospital departments to facilitate and support quality trauma care. 

• Participate in state and regional trauma care activities 

• Monitor national and statewide trends in trauma care. 

• Respond to trauma team activations that occur during work hours; function in whatever role necessary to assist the team in the care of the patient. 

• Serve as a resource for the hospital staff regarding trauma care issues. 

• Plan and implement strategies for ongoing trauma program development and improvement. 

• Collaborate with trauma program medical director, physicians and other health care professionals to provide clinical and system oversight for the care of trauma patients, ensuring the provision of efficient, quality, cost-effective care. 

Performance Improvement: 

• Assess and improve departmental performance. 

• Maintains quality control programs and participates in the organization's overall quality control program. 

• Monitor performance of hospital staff involved with the care of trauma patients. 

• Monitor trauma patient outcomes; evaluate for trends. 

• Coordinate with physicians, nurses, other in-hospital staff and outside providers to evaluate and address specific patient care issues. 

• Participate in case review. 

• Assist the trauma program medical director and hospital administration in the development, implementation and evaluation of a quality plan which is multidisciplinary and patient-outcomes focused. 

• Serve as the coordinator for the identification, investigation, reporting and follow up of incidents and quality issues throughout the program while maintaining confidentiality. 

• Monitors the trauma team's availability and compliance with policies and standards. 

• Develop and monitor the trauma PI program in collaboration with the trauma program medical director. 

• Coordinate and schedule the multidisciplinary review meetings. 

• Assists in data collection related to the trauma patient. 

• Analyze registry data on the trauma patient population; identify trends for strategic planning and performance improvement. 

• Manage registry data: collect, analyze and trend. 

• Supervise the collecting, coding, scoring and developing of processes for validation of data entered into the registry. 

• Ensure accurate data entry into the trauma registry. 

• Ensures the maintenance of the trauma registry in collaboration with the trauma registrar. 

• Ensure the periodic reporting of trauma data to the state trauma program. 

• Facilitate the measurement of selected outcomes for the trauma patient population. 

Clinical Education: 

• Plan, coordinate and evaluate trauma-related educational programs for nursing staff. 

• Monitor physician and nurse compliance with the educational requirements of the trauma program. 

• Ensure staff involved in the care of trauma patients meets educational requirements of the trauma program. 

• Develop, coordinate and implement orientation, nursing education, and in-service programs related to care and management of trauma patients. 

• Seek and pursue opportunities for internal and external trauma-related educational programs for hospital staff. 

Community Outreach: 

• Coordinate and oversee the development and implementation of an injury prevention program. 

• Direct community trauma education and prevention programs by developing, implementing and evaluating programs for targeted populations in the community related to injury prevention and other topics identified through needs assessment of the community. 

• Develop and implement strategies for communication, education and feedback for EMS systems in the region. 

• Identify opportunities for injury prevention programming in the local communities. 

• Plan, coordinate and collaborate with community representatives to accomplish injury prevention activities. 

• Evaluate the impact of injury prevention activities. 

• Seek and pursue opportunities for internal and external trauma-related educational programs patients, families and the community. 

Demonstrates competency in the following areas:

• Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and reassessments as per policy. This includes pediatric, adolescent and geriatric patients and the general patient population.

• Uses the triage process to ensure timely and appropriate care to patients. Accurately assigns triage categories.

• Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.

• Ability to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.

• Maintains current knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and his/her clinical condition.

• Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patients served. Able to interpret data about the patient’s status in order to identify each patient’s age specific needs and provide care needed by the patient group.

• Formulates a teaching plan based on identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning; includes family in teaching, as appropriate.

• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and family. Functions as liaison between administration, patients, physicians and other healthcare providers.

• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care.

• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately.

• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.

REQUIREMENTS 

• Support CMH’s mission, vision, core values and customer service philosophy

• Adhere to the CMH Compliance Program

• Assures/maintains compliance with all accreditation, statutory and regulatory standards at the local, state, and federal levels

• Comply with all organizational policies 

• Demonstrate outstanding customer service/advocacy, professionalism and integrity

Knowledge and Skills:

• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

• Additional languages preferred.

• Strong written and verbal skills.

• Basic computer knowledge

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• High-stress environment

• Exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions

• Pushing and pulling heavy objects

• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients

• Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to 100 pounds

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods

• Position requires reaching, bending, stooping, and handling objects with hands and/or fingers, talking and/or hearing, and seeing

• Mental demands include: alertness, analytic ability, memory, concentration, judgment, initiative, precision, creativity and communication.