Director of Nursing Excellence

Major Responsibilities:

• MAGNET Provides leadership and directs primary responsibilities for sustaining Magnet related to nursing excellence. 

• Provides guidance and support for the site CNE, VP Nursing, Directors, Managers, Assistant Clinical Managers (ACM’s), Clinical Operations Assistances (COAs) and Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs)/Clinical Practice Partners (CPPs) to sustain Magnet designation.
• Assumes responsibility for the organization, coordination, and administration of the Magnet Recognition Program for the nursing division fostering innovation and excellence in nursing.
• Responsible for assuring the 14 Forces are deployed and hardwired in the organization through coordination, education and consultation with leadership and staff.
• Promotes the professional role of nursing within the institution and community and fosters national recognition.
• Maintains current knowledge and understanding of Magnet Forces and communicates pertinent information to nursing leaders.
• Directs, develops and/or supports change efforts to ensure the Forces of Magnetism are enculturated into all aspects of the nursing organization.
• Ensures continuous professional advancement by developing the capacity of the site's workforce.
• Develops and implements innovative programs that will meet one or more of the Forces of Magnetism.
• Designs and develops creative improvement programs to bring the site's nursing to top decile of performance in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
• Participates in the implementation of initiatives to improve patient and nursing satisfaction scores in relationship to sustain Magnet. Collaborates with physicians, advanced practice nurses, managers, staff, PI, and patient safety to optimize resources to implement and evaluate clinical initiatives. Directs, facilitates and coordinates successful designation and re-designation process every four years. Participates as a writer of the Magnet document in collaboration with the site CNE, VP of Nursing, Directors and nursing staff. Conducts gap analysis for Forces and works closely with leadership to formulate plans to close the gaps in performance. Coordinates documentation required for maintenance of Magnet status including interim report and demographic data to Magnet Office. Leads, coordinates and monitors activities of the Magnet Advisory Council. Designs, implements, coordinates and/or evaluates educational needs related to Magnet. Identify and support methods to enhance shared-decision making. Serves as a resource for the organization and system related to nursing and Magnet. Formulates and implements strategies to assist Advocate facilities with attaining Magnet Oversees requests for organizations requesting Magnet mentoring and networking. Mentors other facilities on the Magnet journey by conducting as requested Magnet site visits for prospective Magnet hospital candidates.

• RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE (EBP) Provides leadership and direction for the development and implementation of the site's nursing research program, the dissemination of research findings and scholarly activities.
  • Demonstrate and facilitate the utilization of evidence based practice and research findings to promote nursing excellence and sustain Magnet -Foster and facilitate internal and external Research and EBP study opportunities. -Provide leadership to the integration and utilization of nursing literature and pertinent concepts as the basis of Magnet integration. -Utilize appropriate resources to organize and analyze data and interpret and disseminate findings. -Identify opportunities to improve performance and outcomes through current nursing research and PI data. -Support and/or participate in research studies and programs designed for the improvement of patient care or the improvement of hospital services as appropriate. -Assess and incorporate research findings and current standards of practice, educational offerings and clinical practice. -Appropriately uses research findings to improve the staff’s knowledge base and professional development processes. -Collaborate with nursing and research leadership in the design, implementation, and evaluation of missing research programs and protocols. Serves as a resource consultant for the utilization of research/performance improvement in professional nursing practice. Works with research staff and other key groups to promote, support and mentor individual and collaborative research activities. -Lead the Nursing Research Councils for the site. Leads partnerships around nursing research. -Promote nursing research and EBP in publications and professional conferences and meetings. -Identify opportunities for publication and conference presentations based on the site's strategic priorities at the local, regional and national level. -Participate in and lead/co-lead system-wide nursing research activities (i.e.; Advocate Nursing Research Symposium, Advocate Nursing Research Committee) -Partner with the Development Office/Foundation to pursue fundraising opportunities for research and professional development. -Work with other AHC leaders to develop, implement and monitor nursing research and EBP grants.

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Collaborates with nursing leadership to develop and implement mechanisms to foster the professional development of all nursing associates.
  • Leads the APNs/CPPs in the promotion of the advancement of nursing practice. Fosters the APN role throughout the hospital. Fosters collaboration between the APNs/CPPs and the Manager of Clinical Education and Research to assess, design and implement advanced competency. Collaborates with the APNs/CPPs and nursing leadership in the development and implementation of standards of practice and nursing policies and procedures. Participates with the development and revision of policies and procedures and ensures they reflect the integration of evidence based practice, current research and the relevant standards of practice and regulation. Encourages APN/CPP involvement in ongoing programs to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality and appropriateness of patient care and nursing practice. Serves as a resource and mentor to staff by providing an advance practice perspective in critical thinking, planning, decision making, and problem solving. Partners with the Medical Staff Office to coordinate the requirements of APN credentialing. Facilitates national nursing certification study groups and local test sites. Innovative programs are presented and published locally, regionally or nationally on one or more of the Forces of Magnetism. Promotes the recognition of nursing associates and works to promote a positive work environment for all staff. Develops and mentors nurses in regards to professional standards. Participates in programs designed to recognize excellence in Magnet Forces. Collaborates with Advocate partners for programs related to Magnet. Develops, implements programs to operationalize Magnet Forces. Initiates programs designated for the advancement of professional nursing practice. Works collaboratively with the site CNE, VP of Nursing and colleagues from Advocate to develop nursing staff. Collaborates with colleges of nursing.

• STRATEGIC DIRECTION Demonstrates skill in planning activities to meet operational goals to support the strategic plan; identify opportunities to gain competitive advantage for clinical and support staff education, learning and orientation and patient education.
  • Function as project director for the Magnet process while supporting the strategic needs of the hospital. Manages the development and production of the Annual Nursing Report. Identifies and acts on opportunities to gain competitive advantage. Ensure the nursing strategic plan is congruent with organizational goals and priorities. Develops and implements strategies to meet or exceed strategic plans. Demonstrates a commitment to achieving organization/departmental results via actions and behaviors.

• LEADERSHIP Demonstrates a leadership style that motivates associates and encourages loyalty, positive attitudes and enthusiasm.
  • Motivates and engages all site associates in the Magnet process. Evaluates the outcomes of change and provides a visionary approach to the next phase. Provides coaching, mentoring and guidance while setting clean goals for the team. Maintains professional collaborative relationships with staff, physicians, and members of the Executive Team. Manages resources, including direct reports and budgets to provide efficient, cost effective and outcomes-oriented staff education, clinical support and training. Utilizes management techniques that promote and encourages initiative and problem solving. Demonstrates the ability to facilitate staff and resources to reinforce the vision of the hospital and Advocate. Directs activities supporting professional practice of nursing. Facilitates professional nursing meetings and activities. Utilizes teamwork to help achieve objectives and improve operations within nursing, the hospital and Advocate. Demonstrates project management skills. Demonstrates creative problem solving skills. Communicates effectively the status of personal/professional and job related activities to appropriate administrative and supportive staff. Communicates with American Nurse Credentialing Center as appropriated. Facilitates all aspects of the Magnet process from application to maintenance of designation Communicates to nursing staff through hospital publications, nursing newsletters and annual reports. Presents information related to department programs/initiatives to nursing leadership. Behaviors with internal and external customers are consistently professional and reflect organizational standards.

Education/Experience Required:

• Masters degree in nursing
• Minimum 3 years management experience
• 5+ Years Clinical experience
• Current RN license in the State of Illinois

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Advanced writing skills -Team building expertise
• Expert communication skills
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills -Planning, deployment and evaluation expertise.
• Magnet Recognition Program expertise.
• Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and research expertise.
• Current knowledge of the Magnet standards related to nursing practice.
• Prioritizes and utilized time effectively. -Adjusting schedule.