Details: Department: Nursing Date Posted: 07/16/2012 General Summary: The Chief Nursing Officer(CNO) develops and maintains nursing service goals, objectives and standards of nursing practice; adheres to staffing plans; and develops Nursing Department policies and procedures. The Director of Nursing is responsible for organizing, developing and directing nursing services and ensuring the deliverance of quality nursing care. The CNO is active in department activities, transdisciplinary team activities, and LifeCare activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted to LifeCare Hospital.Patient Population: Delivers direct patient care appropriate to the patients served. The ages of the patients served are adult (18-65 years of age) and geriatric (65 and older). Essential Functions:1.Demonstrates proper performance of skills reflected and validated by the DON competency checklist.2.Uses discretion and independent judgment to organize and administer nursing services at the hospital. Maintains and models effective working relationships with medical staff. 3.Provides leadership in developing performance standards for all nursing personnel. Evaluates and counsels all employees on their performance in a professional and timely manner.4.Remains mindful of financial and fiscal responsibilities at all times. Monitors and controls resource utilization and expenditures to ensure adherence to operating budget.5.Plans, organizes, and coordinates department functions and activities to achieve objectives and complies with regulatory standards and requirements.6.Plans the system for delivery of nursing care by utilizing alternative types of nursing, appropriate staffing patterns, scheduling methods, control of safe therapeutic environmental factors, and directs the monitoring of quality patient care 24-hours a day.7.Assesses and plans for educational and training needs of self and nursing staff. Institutes orientation systems for each skill level, the provision of in-service programming and educational programming. Devises a continuing education system for advancement.8.Adheres to LifeCare policies, procedures, all safety plans, and all standards imposed by regulatory organizations.

View the original article here