Nurse Manager, Secondary Services

Job Description

The Nurse Manager, Secondary Services is responsible for the administration of an integrated programme of nursing services, and the co-ordination of patient care delivery services in a secondary care setting, within a quality framework to ensure the best care outcomes and the highest level of patient satisfaction. The incumbent will be required to make and implement decisions in accordance with pre-determined guidelines and regulations of the SWRHA and the Ministry of Health (MoH). He/She also has the authority to engage in strategic decision-making and its implementation at his/her departmental/institutional level and at that of the SWRHA.

The Authority reserves the right to assign the officer to any facility under its management.

Key and Critical Responsibilities

• Develops a comprehensive operational plan for the delivery of quality nursing and midwifery services at the secondary care institution in keeping with the vision and mission of the SWRHA.
• Implements the operational plan to ensure the highest level of patient satisfaction and quality outcomes.
• Develops and implements nursing and midwifery policies and standard operating procedures in accordance with the Ministry of Health accreditation standards, Patients Charter, Nursing Personnel Act and NCTTs Code of Professional Conduct.
• Directs the disposition of nursing and midwifery personnel to ensure the appropriate skill-mix.
• Manages the performance of nursing and midwifery personnel in order to achieve high level quality outputs.
• Evaluates the institutional plan to determine its strengths/weaknesses.
• Conducts planned meetings with the respective groupings of nursing personnel and other health disciplines to maintain open communication on a regular basis.
• Develops and submits nursing and midwifery training needs for continued education.
• Develops a Nursing & Midwifery Service manpower plan for the institution.
• Prepares and submits the annual budget for nursing and midwifery services of the institution.
• Participates in weekly meetings with the Medical Director, Manager Hospital Administration, Manager Pharmacy Services and officer responsible for support services to address matters affecting service delivery and the efficient operations of the institution.
• Collaborates with professional nursing organizations on matters of a professional nature.
• Collaborates with the Nursing Training Schools to facilitate the process for practical training of nursing students within the Hospital in accordance with SWRHAs Policy on Clinical Placement of Students.
• Collaborates with the Quality Improvement Manager to ensure nursing and midwifery personnel comply with quality standards and protocols.
• Approves nursing and midwifery audit schedule prepared by Patient Care Coordinators (PCCs) and utilize the findings to inform nursing and midwifery policy changes for continuous quality improvement.
• Establishes a system for ensuring nursing and midwifery services maintain compliance with quality standards and hold staff accountable for non-compliance.
• Assists with the implementation of the selection and recruitment process for Nursing, Midwifery and other personnel.
• Ensures that Disaster Preparedness simulation exercises are conducted periodically for nursing and midwifery personnel.
• Ensures nursing personnel participate in approved training programmes scheduled by the Training and Development Unit.
• Reviews daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly the performance of Patient Care Coordinators (Departmental Nurse Managers), Assistant Nurse Managers and Clinical Coordinators in the institution.
• Ensures the 24-hour nursing/midwifery reports are shared with the Office of the Medical Director.
• Collaborates with the Head of Infection Control to ensure systems for compliance with IPC policies and procedures are established / implemented.
• Attends executive management meetings and other meetings (internal and external) as indicated by the Chief Executive Officer and or General Manager Nursing.
• Ensures a system for institutional compliance with joint nurse and medical officer ward rounds.
• Conducts the performance appraisals of nursing and midwifery supervisory staff.
• Collaborates with the Staff Development Officer to ensure programmes for on-going updates for nursing and midwifery personnel to enhance professional knowledge and skills to improve service quality.
• Prepares and submits daily, monthly, quarterly and annual reports to the General Manager Nursing.
• Ability to perform duties according to assigned rosters or plans that can be formulated in times of authorized service exigencies.
• Ability to use the relevant computer applications related to job functions.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Key Competencies

• BSc in Nursing Administration/ Nursing /Health Services Management or any other Management related discipline.
• Post basic Nursing qualification.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of nursing including current developments, trends and research in the nursing/health field.
• Training in Quality Assurance will be an asset.
• Current registration with the Nursing Council of Trinidad & Tobago.
• Eight (8) years experience in the field of Nursing, five (5) of which MUST be in a managerial/supervisory level.
• Member of a professional body will be an asset.