Nurse/Ward Manager (HPC/RN 3) - Percy Junor Hospital

Job Purpose

The incumbent will be responsible for using the Nursing process to plan patient care for patients in the area assigned for the twenty-four-hour period. He/She collaborates with the Deputy Director, Nursing Services to ensure adequate coverage of qualified nursing personnel; applies knowledge of developmental needs and cultural diversity in ensuring individualized nursing care. 

Qualifications and Experience: 

• Certificate/Diploma/B.Sc. in General Nursing and Certificate in Midwifery from accredited schools of Nursing and Midwifery 
• Registration with Nursing Council of Jamaica as a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife
• Approved certification in Nursing Administration (course duration should not be less than 4 months 
• Approved certification in Operating Theatre or Emergency Nursing 
• Four (4) – five (5) years of clinical practice to proficiency level as Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife incorporating acting responsibility in unit administration 

Specific Knowledge and Skills Required: 

• Thorough knowledge of current legislation affecting the practice of Nursing in Jamaica: 
  • Nursing & Midwifery Act 
  • Nursing Manual, MOH 
  • Heads of Agreement – Nursing Personnel 
  • Professional Nursing Theories, Principles and Practices 
  • Principles of Hospital Administration Techniques of modern management 
  • Nursing, health and related legislation 
  • National Health and organizational Policy 
  • Fundamentals of Nursing 
• Knowledge of the Staff Orders for the Public Service, RHAs HR Policies Manual, Disciplinary Policy for Public Bodies, Budget/Financial Management, Data Protection Act
• Knowledge of Life, Behavioural, Natural, Medical Sciences, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Therapeutics Research Methodology 
• Ability to understand verbal and written instructions, and to work under guidance
• Conforms to rules and regulations 
• Good verbal communication skills 
• Possess good customer service skills 
• Excellent interpersonal relationship skills 
• Good supervisory skills 

Key Responsibilities Include: 

Management 

• Supervising the clinical management of patients/clients within the unit. 
• Establishing the patient classification system. 
• Confirming the acuity levels of patients/clients. 
• Approving the nursing care plan for individual patients/clients. 
• Working closely with staff to develop and implement nursing care programmes and practices to meet the needs of patients/clients and families. 
• Rostering diagnostic tests and therapeutic treatments for total patient care.
• Acting as the primary clinical nursing resource for staff. 
• Discussing with and recommends to medical staff any modification adjustment in care of patients/clients. 
• Acting promptly and decisively in emergency situations; carries out quality assurance audits; gives direct care to seriously ill patients. 
• Leading nursing and medical/surgical ward rounds and provides nursing consultation on clinal status of individual patients. 

Administration 

• Interpreting mission and vision statement and policies of the institution and nursing administration to professional, auxiliary and support staff. 
• Conducting departmental meetings with ward staff, sharing relevant and critical information.
• Making written and oral assignment of nursing personnel based on patient acuity and competence of staff. 
• Developing and instituting philosophy, aims, objectives and programmes for unit consistent with the organizational framework. 
• Supervising, planning, organizing, reviewing and assessing the work of professional students, auxiliary and support staff. 
• Assisting in the cost-effective usage of supplies and equipment. 
• Assisting in identification and requisition of equipment, supplies, and pharmaceutical agents including dangerous drugs. 
• Monitoring and maintaining adequate inventory and safe custody of drugs, equipment and supplies for the unit. 
• Preparing and submitting unit budget for inclusion in total budget of facility.
• Being present on doctors’ rounds communicates and implements changes in a timely manner.
• Evaluating staff performance and makes recommendation for further education/and or upward mobility. 
• Resolving conflict issues and/or refers them to immediate supervisor for intervention.
• Rostering nursing personnel for adequate unit coverage. 
• Conferring with Director of Nursing Services and other senior nursing managers on specific nursing problems and interpretation of policies. 
• Supervising and installing systems and structures to ensure ward management – delegation of responsibility, nursing process, patient quality assurance, infection control, discharge plan, staff appraisal and orientation. 
• Supervising and developing the maintenance of an environment conducive to safe physical and social psychological care. 
• Participating in the organization of staff deployment, allocation of duties and the establishment and maintenance of good staff morale. 
• Interviewing, counselling and demonstrating ethical and legal dimension of nursing practice.
• Rostering nursing personnel for twenty-four-hour unit coverage. 
• Conducting and participating in In-service Education and Communication System with Ward Staff, Nursing Administration, Primary Care, and Medical and Paramedical staff. 
• Assuming extra administrative duties whenever necessary. 
• Forecasting, ordering and monitoring supplies, equipment and storage. 
• Preparing a disaster plan for the unit and activates when indicated. 
• Ensuring that relevant data are documented in the medical record according to hospital’s standards.
• Providing orientation for nursing and non-nursing staff including medical staff.
• Preparing daily and monthly reports. 
• Acting in a higher-level management position as assigned. 

Clinical 

• Ensuring that patient health data is collected. 
• Participating in quality improvement activities as appropriate. 

NB. ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.