Chief Nursing Officer

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is responsible for the direction of nursing and other patient care services as assigned. As a member of the senior management team, this position carries ultimate nursing authority and responsibility for planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating nursing/patient care programs, performance improvement activities, infection control initiative, and hospital-wide planning and regulatory compliance activities. The CNO or a designee exercises final authority over those associated with providing nursing care, treatment, and services. The CNO has the authority to speak on behalf of nursing to the same extent that other hospital leaders speak for their respective disciplines or departments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Functions at the executive level to provide effective and coordinated leadership to deliver nursing care, treatment, and services.
• Directs nursing services in all areas/departments where nursing care is provided.
• Participates in defined and established meetings with members of governing board, medical staff, administrative team, hospital management and clinical groups in decision-making structures and processes.
• Establishes philosophy and develops/implements the organization’s plans for providing nursing care, treatment, and services to those patients requiring nursing care, treatment, and services.
• Responsible for ensuring that nursing policies, procedures, and standards describe and guide how the nursing staff provides the nursing care, treatment, and services required by all patients and patient populations served by the hospital and as defined in the hospital plan(s) for providing nursing care, treatment, and services
• Assures collaboration among clinical and support departments to meet patients care needs; establishes formal mechanism for interdepartmental communication.
• Participates in community-based groups/activities as a representative of hospital administration; participates with community and Corporate nursing leaders in decision-making and support of innovative nursing practice.
• Keeps abreast of relevant issues that impact patient care and communicates to members of the administrative team.
• Provides a liaison between the medical staff and clinical departments; promotes environment of collaboration with medical staff and hospital clinical departments to provide for the needs of patients.
• Serves as a member of medical staff committees.
• Participates with other administrative team members in promoting physician and employee satisfaction.
• Takes administrative call. Assumes responsibilities of facility administrator when requested to do so.
• Establishes Standards and Ensures Regulatory Compliance.
• Provides leadership to nursing and clinical departments to ensure compliance with licensing, TJC Standards, regulatory, and accrediting agencies.
• Assures that the practice of nursing is consistent with the State requirements in which the individual works, Nurse Practice Act, TJC, and in accordance with governmental and regulatory agencies.
• Develops/approves/implements organization-wide patient care programs, policies and procedures; nursing standards of patient care, treatment, and services; and standards of nursing practice that describe how patients’ nursing care needs or patient populations receiving nursing care are assessed, evaluated, and met; involves pertinent individuals/departments; obtains medical staff input/approvals as needed; assures that policies reflect the institution’s policies, medical staff bylaws, and governing board decisions.
• Develops/approves/implements standards to measure, assess, and improve patient outcomes.
• Implements effective, ongoing program to measure, assess and improve the quality of nursing care, treatment and services delivered to patients
• Collaborates with the governing body, management, medical staff, and clinical staff in planning, promoting, and conducting hospital-wide performance assessment and improvement; reports findings to appropriate hospital, medical, and governing board committees; establishes the nursing plan for performance improvement.
• Seeks opportunities to incorporate the ethical dimensions of nursing practice, health policy and organizational behavior in the strategic planning and decision-making processes; acts as an advocate for the patients, nursing/clinical staff, or medical staff as appropriate when faced with ethical questions and assists with mechanism to assure resolution.
• Assures that patient care needs in assigned departments are assessed, evaluated and met; utilizes quality reporting, patient satisfaction data, and feedback from medical staff to assess areas for improvement.
• Promotes interdisciplinary collaboration in assessing and planning for patient care needs, communicating progress toward goals, and providing for patients’ continuing care needs.
• Problem-solves with medical staff and appropriate departments when quality of care issues arise.
• Establishes standards and expectations for patient satisfaction; communicates results of patient satisfaction survey reports; initiates action plan for improvement as needed.
• Collaborates with Corporate body to ensure hospital compliance with corporate and regulatory standards.
• Retains fiscal responsibility for assigned departments.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of budgets for assigned units/departments.
• Participates with Administrative team in determination of allocation of funds for patient care needs.
• Evaluates compliance, identifies variance trends, and initiates corrective action as needed.
• Participates in evaluation of cost-effectiveness of assigned patient care services/departments and economic value-added for proposed new services.
• Collaborates with Materials Manager to assure quality patient care supplies and equipment are utilized within Corporate contract guidelines; communicates unsatisfactory vendor performance and seeks corrective actions.
• Collaborates with medical and hospital staff in implementing Corporate initiatives for procedural case management, implant standardization, and other programs as appropriate to ensure quality, cost-effective care.
• Collaborates with Human Resources Department on initiatives and in establishing/adhering to appropriate policies and procedures and in handling employee issues.
• Establishes the functions and qualifications for nursing positions.
• Develops staffing plans which assure cost effective utilization of resources to meet patient care needs based on clinical assessment, utilizing data from performance improvement activities, patient satisfaction information, financial data, staff input, and physician input.
• Evaluates nursing care provided and uses the data to forecast and plan.
• Reviews and recommends changes in salary ranges to remain competitive in the community; defines which positions are needed in assigned patient care departments/areas.
• Supports innovation in nursing practice both from clinical and managerial perspectives.
• Assures staff competency as reported to the governing board; reviews and approves all competency-based job descriptions.
• Participates in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs to promote the recruitment, retention, development, and continuing education of nursing staff members.
• Serves as coach and mentor for nursing staff; facilitates professional development; fosters atmosphere of learning and innovation, develops nursing management skills.
• Participates in hospital’s monthly operations reviews.
• Works as a part of the executive leadership team to create opportunities for growth in service lines, operations, and hospital revenue.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/LICENSURE/TECHNICAL/OTHER:

• Education: Possesses a post-graduate degree in nursing or a related field; or the knowledge and skills associated with an advanced degree; or a written plan to obtain these qualifications. A related field may include health care administration or business administration. A certification in nursing administration is preferred.
• Experience (Type & Length): At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in nursing/health care management, preferable one year at the executive leadership level.
• Certification/Licensure: Currently licensed as a registered professional nurse in the state for which he or she practices, in accordance with law and regulation.

About Steward Health Care
Over a decade ago, Steward Health Care System emerged as a different kind of health care company designed to usher in a new era of wellness. One that provides our patients better, more proactive care at a sustainable cost, our providers unrivaled coordination of care, and our communities greater prosperity and stability.
As the country's largest physician-led, minority-owned, integrated health care system, our doctors can be certain that we share their interests and those of their patients. Together we are on a mission to revolutionize the way health care is delivered - creating healthier lives, thriving communities and a better world.

Based in Dallas, Steward currently operates more than 30 hospitals across Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

For more information, visit steward.org