Nursing Team Leader

Overview

The Team Leader functions as the unit-based clinical leader with responsibility for staff supervision, patient flow, patient safety, efficient resource utilization, mentoring of unit staff, especially recent hires, shift assignments and overall quality of care delivered.  The Team Leader plans, coordinates and directs quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients/families. The Team Leader, under the supervision of the Nurse Manager, provides and coordinates in-services and continuing education programs for the clinical staff when indicated. Participates in PI activities; collects data to assess employee performance and participates in staff evaluation process. The Team Leader must be available to work weekends and holidays as per unit needs. Shifts may include 12hr and/or 8hr shift patterns with the goal of providing ongoing Team Leader support each day of the week.

Responsibilities

The Team Leader is responsible for the following leadership and management duties:

Coordinates unit activities and provides leadership for unit staffing and patient assignments and responds to and provides leadership during crisis and emergency situations.

Promotes efficient patient flow including timely discharges and admissions.

Encourages a safe environment by promoting adherence to established protocols, policies and procedures.

Serves as clinical resource for staff, especially for new employees and during complex patient care situations.

Effectively implements current techniques and/or programs to improve patient care processes.

Ensures care is delivered appropriately by: orienting staff in accordance with Standards of Practice, review of clinical record for appropriate documentation, and review of documentation of appropriate plan of care. Leads staff huddles to communicate important, “just in time” information to all staff on duty.

Regularly rounds on patients, physicians, and employees with focus on clinical safety, quality compliance, patient experience, satisfaction, physician and employee satisfaction and staff performance.

Rounds with physicians.

Provides direct patient care when needed.

Maintains records related to orientation in-service and unit competency assessments.

Adheres to productivity, revenue and expense goals.

Assures compliance with policies and procedures

Displays sound judgment and critical thinking skills in areas of decision-making and problem-solving.

Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates programs for in-service and orientation.

Participates in PI programs.

Responsible for assessing and meeting own professional education needs.

Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships by working with other unit leaders and departments to define and work toward common goals

Assures compliance with various quality standards and regulatory agency requirements (The Joint Commission, CMS, Standards of Nursing

Practice, PI process, value-based purchasing, Structural Indicators etc.)

Directs activities toward support of DCH Mission and achievement of Department and Unit goals and objectives.

Maintains exemplary attendance and availability according to department need and rotates management duty.

Communicates information verbally and in writing to appropriate persons.

Regularly prepares and presents staffing and outcomes metrics with action plans.

Consistently demonstrates the ability to utilize clinical data from Order/Entry/and PCI when collaborating with other health care professionals.

Demonstrates knowledge of documentation and down-time procedures.

Observes and practices DCH policy concerning patient confidentiality including on-line information and the Medical Record on file.

Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

Interviews, selects, hires, and retains employees

Ensures orientation and training for employees

Manages performance

Executes progressive discipline up to and including termination

Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.

Manages front line operations of area of accountability related to meeting/exceeding departmental goals, 5 keys of excellence, DCH Mission and Vision.

DCH Standards:      

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Mission, Vision, and Values including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Current Alabama RN licensure
• Anyone hired as of April 2016 or later, must have a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Health Related Field or must be actively working on a Bachelor’s degree with completion within 4 years of hire
• Minimum of 2 years experience as a registered nurse
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required
• Certified wound care associate, certified wound specialist or certified wound care nurse degree required within the first 18 months of employment after three years of wound care experience
• Customer service abilities including effective listening skills, critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with the minimal supervision in a fast paced environment
•  Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English

Working Conditions:

WORK CONTEXT

• Demonstrate leadership skills
• Requires decision making that will affect others
• Responsible to achieve outcomes
• Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately
• Ability to delegate to team members and students
• Address conflict and stressful situation
• Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion
• Dealing with unpleasant or physically aggressive personalities
• Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting
• Must be able to work in groups
• Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work
• Must be meet time pressure and time lines
• Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions
• Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Heavy work. Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit and stoop
• Must be able to run in an emergency
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull and carry objects
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and must be ablet o feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must possess stamina to work prolonged shifts
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.