Head Nurse - General Medical & Surgical Services

Job Description

Job Summary

As the Head Nurse, General Medical & Surgical Services, you will ensure that nursing operations relating to general medical service are delivered to optimal standards, ensuring the delivery of high quality and safe health care services for patients across all services. Reporting to the Director of Nursing, the post holder will be expected to work in conjunction with the Director, in order to plan and implement the nursing strategies and policies for developing and modernising nursing clinical practice across general medical services.

General medical and surgical services are responsible for managing clinical areas such as Accident & Emergency (A&E), internal medicine, and general wards. The role will includes being involved in diagnosing and treating a wide range of medical conditions, providing acute and emergency care, managing inpatient care, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring comprehensive patient care throughout the treatment process.

The post holder working in collaboration with the specialist Clinical directors will be expected to ensure the highest standard of clinical care is maintained, by planning and implementing a strategic approach to the delivery of nursing operations across services. In addition to providing exemplary leadership, the post holder will be expected to allocate available resources and delegate nursing staff responsibilities appropriately. As the Head of Nursing, you will be expected to constantly review nursing operations, ensuring that practices in place are complying with the established standards set by the organisation and also governance standards.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Take ownership of the nursing strategy budgets for ensuring resources are allocated correctly and expenses are accounted for. 
• Accountable for policy implementation and the nursing operating procedures for general medical services.
• Take responsibility for planning and overseeing admission, nursing, and patient care processes.
• Lead others in the development of knowledge, ideas and practices within nursing services.
• Lead by consistent ethical and professional behaviour, with uncompromising commitment to patients.
• Ensure and cultivate a culture of integrity, transparency and respect, as per AMCE values throughout the nursing operations across all departments.

Strategic Development

• In Conjunction with the Director of Nursing, take responsibility for the review of clinical procedures across general medical services and surgical services with a focus on continuous improvement of services.
• Take accountability of the overall progress of the nursing strategy across the services to ensure completion within agreed timescales.
• Forecast, identify and provide solutions in order to prevent any problems to nursing operations within the three departments.
• To monitor standards of care on a regular basis through regular reviews of nursing service delivery to patients.
• To manage the patient volume that could be affected by preventable issues, with the aim of ensuring that capacity is optimal at all times.  
• To analyze the statistical information through regular audits to provide activity analysis reports which can be used to provide change and improve performances in the future.
• Assist with the identification of areas for service development within the department, overseeing the implementation of any changes to procedures/guidelines and policies to support improvement in nursing practice across all three departments. 

Governance

• Design, implement and oversee the Nursing strategic plan in accordance with the regulatory bodies, local country plans and ensuring that they are aligned with corporate policies and procedures and applicable local laws, regulations and code of practice.
• To maintain accurate records of nursing operations across general medical services, ensuring that confidentiality of information is maintained.
• Risk asses any governance implications which may arise due to changes in the nursing operations or strategy.

Other Duties

• To operate a cost-effective service, demonstrating specialist knowledge and exceptional standards of nursing care within across general medical services and surgical services whilst working within the agreed resources.
• Supervise and assist in any investigations/complaints related to nursing incidents, ensuring that any documentation/reports that need to be completed are fulfilled.
• To carry out a risk assessment on any potential new nursing policies/practices that are to be implemented, ensuring that the correct steps are taken in order to minimize the identified risks.
• Developing and present reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes and providing progress reports to senior staff.

Equality and Diversity

• Act as lead for Equality & Diversity to ensure the development and effective implementation of a strategy, set of policies, procedures and monitoring and control systems are in place.

Personal and Staff Development

• Work with HR to undertake recruitment, retention, performance management and development of staff in the team.
• Work with the Recruitment Manager to establish connections with appropriate local, international and online communities to nurture a pipeline of talent to support the growth of the company.
• Responsible for development of high potential employees, providing a structured approach to mentoring and developing critical talent at all levels of management.

Communications And Working Relationships

• Coordinate and facilitate consultations with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements to ensure improvements and any necessary systems implementations to help the meet nursing objectives across general medical services.
• Establish credibility throughout the organisation and set an example as a proactive senior leader and change agent who earns respect by demonstrating a sound understanding of the objectives and goals.
• Collaborate with the Director of Nursing and CNO to determine the short and long term needs of the nursing services.
• Develop and present nursing operation updates to the Board of Directors.
• Ensure constant communication with the Director of Nursing and CNO to ensure there is an alignment on the nursing strategy.

Line Management

• Develop and maintain nursing staff with appropriate mix of business knowledge and technical skills required to achieve strategic objectives and ensure the core functions of the department are reliable, stable and efficient.
• Provide strong leadership to develop, coach and ensure a high performing team.
• Identify areas of nursing practice within across the specialities needing to be improved.

Organisational Responsibilities

• Work with the senior management team to horizon scan for new nursing technology or sector related improvements.
• Provide solutions and services to the business that retain and increase a competitive advantage within the sector.
• Evaluate, select, and implement new technology/systems needed to support the organisation in reaching its nursing strategic objectives.

Qualifications

Essential

• Nursing degree i.e. Bachelor of Nursing

• Professional qualification in a relevant subject, with a fellowship or completion of a full residency

• Full Registration with the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery council

• Continuation of professional development

Desirable

• Degree or Certifications in nursing or public health

• Masters level education or equivalent experience in related subject

• Education/qualifications/certifications, experience and expertise for these roles will cut across different countries or regions.

• Understanding and experience with advancements, cutting edge technology in respective discipline

• Breakdown education, certification requirements that would provide Kings Commercial Services with adequate understanding of the level and depth of experience required

Experience

• Over 10 years post registered nurse qualification experience

• Extensive experience in a senior nursing and managerial leadership position across a general medical services. (at least 7 years)

• Proven experience in implementing change within a nursing operations of a hospital

• High level understanding of clinical services across a mix of specialities

• Ability to be flexible and adapt to staff and patients’ needs where necessary

• Experience of people management

• Experienced in Clinical Audit and Clinical Governance with demonstrable understanding of how this improves the quality of care provided to patients.

Management and Leadership

Essential

• Experience of managing a team of staff within a Critical Care environment with a track record of meeting objectives outlined

• Experience of leading on the development of nursing services 

• Experience in the management of risk within clinical teams, finding ways to manage this and provide solutions

• Inspirational and visible leader, with first class communication skills, capable of engaging audiences at all levels

• Ability to think and act strategically, developing practical, innovative and creative solutions to the management of issues and complex problems

• Ability to identify opportunities to improve business outcomes through partnership at all levels

• Energy and passion to deliver at pace and cut through obstacles

• Well-developed management skills, with the ability to build and lead teams across multiple locations

• Highly effective influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to develop partnerships and alliances across a diverse range of stakeholders

• Politically astute and resilient, with the ability to manage conflict and ambiguity

• Outcome focused, with the capability and tenacity to drive the agenda forward

• Financially literate and commercially astute, with a sophisticated understanding of commercially orientated performance and financial management including contract management

• Driven by change and business transformation particularly focused on optimising the benefits of digitization

Desirable

• Leadership skills

• Organisational skills

• Managerial skills

• Vision and ability to plan ahead

Personal Attributes

• Professional attitude towards work

• Shares the AMCE’s vision

• Proactive and organised

• Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care

• Has personal and professional credibility and commands the respect of colleagues peers 

• Is supportive and approachable and capable of inspiring confidence in staff members

• Commitment to caring for others

• Ability to adapt to living in a new country and new culture accordingly

• High levels of honesty and integrity

Languages

All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues

Additional Information

African Medical Centre of Excellence, Abuja (AMCE Abuja) aims to be an Employer of Choice, providing equal opportunity for everyone regardless of their background, gender, race and other protected characteristics.