Clinical Director - Acute Care Services

Job Details

Description

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Position: Clinical Director - Acute Care Services

Definition

Under general administrative direction responsible for the administration and management of the assigned areas that include Telemetry and Medical Surgical Departments nursing programs at Kern Medical.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Incumbents in this classification carry senior administrative responsibility for planning and decision making in the Nursing Department. The Clinical Director will develop, monitor, and have overall responsibility for a broad range of clinical, business, operational and program activities for multiple patient care units of the Maternal Child units. Excellent communication skills, knowledge of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) principles, commitment to a team management approach and flexibility are essential. All nursing clinical practice shall be evaluated and governed through the Chief Nursing Officer and/or their Registered Nurse designee.

Essential Functions

• Ensures that quality patient care is delivered in accordance with Kern Medical's mission and philosophy, and in compliance with all regulatory agencies’ standards.
• Supervises, trains, evaluates and participates in the selection of staff and initiates and participates in personnel actions in accordance with the department’s human resources practices and procedures and organizational philosophy. Participates in disciplinary action process for subordinate staff.
• Develops annual short and long-term goals and objectives that support Kern Medical’s strategic plan.
• Serves as the primary contact with other hospital divisions and outside agencies on matters subject to the Clinical Director’s authority.
• Facilitates the development of inter-departmental operating systems and the resolution of problems.
• Mentors and coaches’ staff in order to develop leadership capable of directing the divisions
• Manages operating budget and maintains fiscal control of assigned hospital cost centers.
• Maintains knowledge of legislative activity and regulatory changes which impact the practice of nursing and the operation of nursing service at Kern Medical.
• Develops positive working relationships with physicians and other clinical staff, patients and their families.
  
  

Essential Functions (Continued)

• Serves as the chairperson for nursing committees; represents nursing on various hospital committees.
• Provides house coverage as required.
  
  

Other Functions

• May be required to act in the absence of the Chief Nursing Officer.
• Performs other related job duties as required.
  
  

Employment Standards

Licensure: Current and clear unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in California.

AND

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Masters degree in Nursing, Business or Health Care Administration or other related field AND four (4) years of full-time hospital nursing experience, including two (2) years managing a hospital nursing unit or serving as house manager at a health care facility.

OR

Registered Nurse, AND six (6) years of full-time hospital nursing experience, including three (3) years managing a hospital nursing unit or serving as house supervisor/manager at a health care facility. Bachelor’s degree in Nursing preferred.

Possess a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Provider certification and competency.

Employees must maintain all health requirements designated by Kern Medical.

Knowledge Of

Principles of nursing administration and personnel management; modern principles, methods and practices of nursing; research related to patient safety, patient satisfaction, evidence based practice, principles and techniques of effective supervision and staff utilization; development, application and uses of nursing records, reports and statistics; principles of education, in-service training and competency development for professional and allied nursing personnel; modern hospital organization, budget preparation and interpretation, budget variance analysis, basic essentials related to development of charging practices and charge entry for nursing units practice, supplies and equipment; medical terminology.

Ability To

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other individuals and groups, other departments and agencies; prepare clear, concise and comprehensive written reports; to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Supplemental

A background check may be required for this classification.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers”. In the event of a disaster or civil disorder, all Kern Medical employees are to remain at work or to report to work in a safe and practicable manner.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.