Chief Nursing Officer

Job Purpose
Oversees Nursing Affairs’ operational and strategic plans towards the organizations vision and mission. Motivates and leads decision making to drive the daily business of Nursing Affairs towards the Organizations' and Nursing Affairs’ strategic goals and objectives. Utilizes transformational leadership skills to ensure exceptional patient driven care and staff empowerment in a wellness environment aligned with organizational leadership standards of practice, namely integrity, leadership development, performance, professional and ethical behavior, communication, collaboration and professional commitment.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
Leadership:

• Oversees the development and ensures implementation of the nursing mission and vision.
• Aligns nursing with organizational strategic goals and objectives.
• Is responsible for the day to day operational management of Nursing Affairs.
• Role models innovative leadership within Nursing Affairs to meet the changing needs of the organization and patient population needs.
• Advises Hospital CEO on all matters affecting patient services and staff welfare.
• Develops the organizational culture and promotes transparency, civility and collaboration throughout the organization.
• Oversees Nursing Affairs workforce planning to ensuring the timely procurement of nurses with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide current and proposed services.
• Monitors, plans, reviews and acts to ensure efficient use of all resources for Nursing Affairs.
• Ensures standards of nursing practice by effective co-ordination and the ongoing review of nursing services.
• Ensures the efficient administration and management of the nursing service utilizing valid methods to review, plan and evaluate systems, processes and policies in the provision of effective and efficient nursing services in collaboration with executive leadership and the multidisciplinary team.
• Provides leadership, counsel and guidance to senior nurse managers and staff with reference to hospital wide and departmental initiatives and patient care issues.
• Directs the nursing component, and collaborates with other departments, in the commissioning or restructuring of services.
• Represents the Divisions of Nursing on organization committees.
• Collaborates with other departments in planning administrative, patient care and policy issues.
• Ensures the development, implementation and evaluation of quality improvement activities/programmers within nursing.
• Maintains awareness of current trends and issues in nursing and health care administration.
• Leads staff performance evaluation initiatives.
• Ensures fair processes are in place and implemented for selecting staff for promotion.
• Creates and implements an effective communication system for the transfer of information.
• Ensures processes are in place to monitor, evaluate and disseminate staff satisfaction and utilization to improve aimed at staff retention and recruitment.
• Ensures implementation of staff recognition for achievements.

• Leads Nursing Affairs towards achievement and maintenance of hospital and nursing accreditation.
  

Education:

• Ensures that the Nursing Service provides appropriate orientation, ongoing education and professional development opportunities to meet the needs of staff development and the promotion of high standards of safe patient care.
• Ensures the promotion of and provides coaching and mentoring of junior staff and trainees.
• Ensures the required educational resources are available.

• Ensures a succession plan is implemented for nursing positions.
  

Clinical:

• Ensures quality improvement and patient safety activities are developed and maintained, reviews Quality and operational data and acts to improve and maintain nursing standards.
• Ensures a culture of patient safety, where risk assessment and management within nursing are optimal.
• Ensures Nursing affairs works towards excellence in patient satisfaction.
• Ensures that nursing knowledge and skills are developed and resources are available to support a high standard of evidence based nursing care.
Collaborates and negotiates with medical and allied health care professionals to provide a high standard of services that facilitate the delivery of patient care.

Research:

• Ensures resources are available to develop and maintain research based clinical practice within nursing.
• Ensures an atmosphere of enquiry.
• Builds and maintains collegial relationships with relevant stakeholders involved in clinical research.
• Ensures Nursing Affairs networks with University Faculty, students and other organizations towards research collaboration. Including application for grants.

Hospital-wide:

• Respects patients and their families to promote a patient-centered care culture.
• Participates and supports quality improvement and patient safety activities as an individual or as part of multidisciplinary teams.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.