Director Nursing Unit Med Surg

Overview

Job Summary: 

Demonstrates through behavior Decatur Morgan Hospital’s mission, vision and values. In addition, the director provides operational leadership of 4th Floor. This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality patient care, nursing excellence, regulatory compliance, and staff engagement. The director collaborates with clinical and administrative leaders to drive outcomes, foster a culture of safety, and promote professional development across the nursing team.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities / Essential Functions

Leadership & Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement nursing department goals and strategic initiatives in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Provide leadership in planning, directing, and evaluating nursing operations to ensure optimal patient outcomes and efficient workflows.
• Lead quality and performance improvement initiatives; analyze data to support evidence-based decisions.
• Serve as a role model and advocate for a culture of excellence, accountability, compassion, and collaboration.

Clinical & Operational Oversight

• Ensure nursing care standards, protocols, and policies are met across all units under the director’s supervision.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and accrediting agency standards (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS).
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, productivity, and resource management to ensure safe patient care delivery.
• Respond to patient care concerns and collaborate on service recovery efforts as needed.

Staff Development & Engagement

• Recruit, hire, and retain top nursing talent; manage performance and professional development of nurse leaders and staff.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages professional growth, shared governance, and lifelong learning.
• Champion leadership development and succession planning for nurses and emerging nurse leaders.

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage department budgets; monitor expenditures and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Participate in capital planning and resource allocation to support nursing and patient care initiatives.
• Ensure proper use and maintenance of equipment and supplies within budgeted limits.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with interdisciplinary leaders to support patient flow, care coordination, and quality improvement.
• Communicate clearly and regularly with staff, leadership, and stakeholders on department performance, goals, and initiatives.
• Participate on various hospital committees, councils, and projects.
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Belief System:  We the Nurses of Decatur Morgan Hospital Believe in…

Holistic and effective patient care that is based on scientific and ethical principles -nursing is a blend of art and science…it uses the mind as well as the heart.

Creating a work climate that nurtures and supports clinical expertise, education, and research while fostering the recruitment and retention of nursing staff who demonstrate the highest integrity, competence, and qualifications.

Providing nursing care that will achieve an optimal level of health and wellness, or when this is not possible, support the experience of loss and a peaceful death.

Fostering an environment that promotes respect, positive communication, and collaboration among all members – patient, family and healthcare team.

              We also believe that…

We should make those we serve our highest priority.

We should be technically strong with a thirst for knowledge.

Because evidence is ever-changing and evolving, we must actively cultivate our own personal growth and professional development.

The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge he/she possesses.

The cultural beliefs, ethnic background, and sexual orientation of a patient or family should be respected without showing discrimination.

We should promote health and prevent disease.

Qualifications

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required:

• Uses common sense and special medical skills to care for the sick
• Understands technical information from reference books, manuals, nursing leadership journals etc.
• Uses eyes, ears, hands and fingers with skill
• Communicates with people
• Change from one duty to another frequently
• Follow and/or give precise instructions
• Records and interprets information accurately
• Demonstrates leadership skill / ability

Reasoning, Mathematical and Language Development are indicative of the general level of development required to do this job.  Some, but not necessarily all, areas mentioned in this section will be included in this job.

Reasoning Development:                                

Apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  Deals with several abstract and concrete variables.

 Mathematical Development:

Practical application of fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion, statistical analysis, in addition to basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division abilities.

 Language Development:         

Reading: Read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, and financial reports.  Records data via paper and electronic means. 

Speaking:

Communicates verbally using effective voice tone, diction and medical terminology.

RELATIONSHIPS TO DATA, PEOPLE AND THINGS:

Data:                           

Gathers, complies and classifies information about patients and other people.  Analyzes and interprets data to carry out operational functions of the hospital.

People:                       

Speaking, hearing, talking with people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving directions to physicians, staff, patients, families and/or visitors.

Things:                                       

 Manual dexterity: Use of body members or special devices to work, and perform functions pertinent to accomplishment of job assignment.

Education:  Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  Possesses a nursing license in good standing in the State of Alabama.  BSN required, MSN, MBA, MHA preferred.

Experience: Minimum of five years hospital clinical experience.  Minimum of two years in a leadership role such as charge nurse, manager or director.