Head Nurse

Kings County Hospital Center has a rich legacy for its pioneering role in medicine. Today, with over 625 beds, our hospital remains on the cutting edge of technology and provides the most modern procedures with state-of-the-art equipment. Built in 1831 as a one room infirmary for publicly supported care of the sick, Kings County Hospital Center continues to be a leading healthcare facility whose mission is to provide care to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital provides a wide range of health services, and specialties are offered in all fields of modern medicine. More than 200 clinics provide a wide array of ambulatory care services.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Work Shifts

Tour II: 7:00 A.M - 7:30 P.M

Job Description

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Nursing, the Head Nurse coordinates, implements and evaluates nursing practice and assumes responsibility for care delivered. Schedules, assigns, delegates, guides, directs and instructs nursing personnel assigned per shift on the unit. The Head Nurse, in collaboration with the Assistant Head Nurse is responsible to supervise the facilitation and coordination of the nursing care and milieu regimen for the unit for each shift.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

I. Clinical Activities Associated with the Nursing Process
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles and concepts of Behavioral Health mental health nursing through direct and indirect activities.
• May administer direct nursing care to patients and their families and/or their significant others to assess particular patients' requirements to maintain continuity of patient care on a shod term basis.
• Supervises nursing activities related to patient care. Ensures continuity of care through use of foresight in planning and organizing patient care based on patient acuity and level of preparation of assigned staff utilizing the primary car-oriented team nursing approach.
• Investigates, interprets, reports and records patient symptoms, responses and progress. Communicates this data to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Utilizes and provides directions in the application of the nursing process, the standards of the nursing practice, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Evaluates unit patients' care through the nursing process and in accordance with established standards. Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to develop and evaluates plans to meet the physiological and psychosocial needs to patients and their families.
• Cognizant of language and interpreter services. Accesses and documents utilization of such services in accordance with policy and procedure.

II. Administrative Activities Associated with Unit Leadership/Management
• Collaborates with the ADN and other disciplinary leaders in formulating and implementing the philosophy, standards, goals and objectives for the unit.
• Promote open communication among Behavioral Health Nursing staff through intra and inter-shift staff meetings. Facilitates other avenues for inter-shift communication and networking with other departmental units.
• Organizes and arranges unit; ensures optimal functioning of equipment; maintains adequate inventory of drugs and supplies; coordinates the services of other departments.
• Facilitates provision for adequate staffing for safe patient care by preparing monthly staffing schedule for all tours, appraising staffing needs on a daily basis and initiating corrective actions to ensure safe staffing levels.

a. Coordinates preparation of plan sheets with AHN/designees on off tours on a timely basis.

b. Reviewing plan sheets (all tours) for equitable distribution and submitting same to Assistant Director of Nursing.

c. Completes monthly schedule on unit at least four weeks before new schedule begins
• Assists in determining staff competencies by utilizing the skills-based appraisal and age specific competency to maintain current skills and standards of nursing practice.
• Identifies and reports staff learning needs to be ADN in order to promote and develop the acquisition and application of educational/service needs.
• Assists in planning and conducting orientation, evaluating orientee's and serving as a Behavioral Health Nurse clinical resource for staff development within and outside the department.
• Assists in recruitment and participates in interviewing and selection of staff for the department.
• Participates in the development, maintenance and interpretation of standards of nursing practice through attendance at departmental and Service-wide meetings and representation on committees as assigned.
• Monitors evaluated and assures compliance with the quality improvement standards. Participates in the development of quality improvement indicators, analyzes data, documentsfindings with recommendations for corrective actions and submits reports to Nursing Administration as required. Participates in unit/service and continuous quality improvement projects as assigned.
• Monitors and reviews clinical care logs- cardiac cart, refrigerator temperature, narcotic count and others- for accuracy and deviation and escalates to ADN as appropriate.
• Monitors and reviews patient observation records- routine, close and constant- for accuracy and deviation and escalates to ADN as appropriate.
• Conducts and maintains a safe and therapeutic milieu that is in concordance with patient rights and community mental health laws.
• Initiates incident reports in accordance to establish policy and procedure
• Meets with ADN on a regular basis to discuss unit issues, staffing and program planning
• Demonstrates leadership in organizing and directing crisis team management.
• Adheres to customer services standards.
• Fosters the cultural change process through initiation of and participation in forums that encourage open discussions and where staff input is sought, valued and utilized as appropriate in the decision-making process.

III. Educational Activities Associated with Professional Development
• Attends yearly mandatory classes
• Identifies learning/development needs and plans through formal and informal means to meet them
• Demonstrates commitment to continuing professional development through participation in committee work, staff development, continuing education programs and professional organizations.

VI. Life Safety Maintenance Activities
• Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Demonstrates understanding of emergency procedures; Fire and Evacuation Procedures, Internal/External Disasters plans and procedures.
• Implements infection control policies and procedures
• Adheres to policy and procedure related to National Patient Safety Goals

Minimum Qualifications
1. A valid New York State license and current registration to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in New York State; and
2. Holds, or obtains through facility orientation, a valid and current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA); and
3. One (1) year of experience as a registered nurse.

If you wish to apply for this position, please apply online by clicking the "Apply Now" button

NYC Health and Hospitals offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week
• Retirement Savings and Pension Plans
• Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees
• Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts
• College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
• Multiple employee discounts programs