Northern Light Health

Northern Light Acadia Hospital 

Department: Hospital and Other Admin

Position is located: Acadia Hospital, Bangor, ME

Work Type: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40 Hours Weekly

Summary:

The Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services is responsible and accountable for leading clinical nursing practice and the administration of the Patient Care Services division and its clinical programs, education, and strategic leadership at their member organization. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Vice President participates in the general management of the hospital and in development, implementation, and evaluation of divisional policies, programs, standards, and services consistent with the hospital’s mission of excellence in patient care.

The incumbent performs duties in accordance with established performance goals and standards. The incumbent will have access to highly confidential patient, employee, and Northern Light member organization proprietary information, and must handle and protect the information in accordance with hospital and system policies, HIPAA requirements, and the highest level of ethical standards. The incumbent is responsible for reporting all security events, potential events, and other security risks to the organization. The incumbent is accountable for employee safety and will attend safety and loss-control training, engage in injury prevention, perform accident and injury investigations including conducting root cause analysis, and assist in returning employees to regular duty. The incumbent is responsible for participating in and completing all patient safety initiatives appropriate to the position and conducts all job responsibilities according to the member organization’s mission, vision, and values.

As the senior nursing executive on site, the incumbent is responsible for the practice of nursing, and is the location’s direct contact with the Maine Board of Nursing as needed. 

The incumbent will report directly to the NLH SVP & President of Acadia Hospital and NLH VP & CNO.

Responsibilities:

• Oversees nursing practice
• Meets established goals/national benchmarks in the areas of patient safety, patient experience and clinical outcomes
• Aligns nursing standards of care, where clinically appropriate, to make healthcare work for our patients and their families
• Maintains current knowledge and documentation of organization’s policies and procedures and adheres to governmental industry specific regulations/laws
• Leads by example while fostering collaboration and achieves consensus and cooperation by involving employees at all levels within the organization
• Maintains strong, credible relationships with medical staff, develops a community presence and builds connections with academic institutions
• Strategizes and drives process improvements focused on innovative care delivery and/or operational models designed to improve clinical services, outcomes, patient throughput, and patient safety. Promotes a patient-centered, healing environment. Promotes the use and implementation of technology in the workplace to streamline operations, facilitate communications, and optimize work processes.
• In collaboration with leadership team members, directs and provides oversight regarding the strategic development, implementation, and maintenance of strong, comprehensive clinical and/or operational services and programs that meet system-wide organizational growth initiatives and the needs of patient populations in the community. Fosters the development and implementation of workforce initiatives effectively. Leads and influences change at the facility, regional, and system levels.
• Serves as a professional role model and mentor to motivate, develop, recruit, and retain future Nursing Leaders
• Is an active participant of the NL Nursing Leadership Council
• Other Duties as assigned or required

Essential Competencies and Skills:

• Achieves Results: Sets high standards for their own outcomes and seizes opportunities to engage others towards objectives. Consistently moves forward with direct actions in order to attain or exceed objectives. Manages their own time effectively to accomplish assigned tasks. Successfully prioritizes multiple projects and duties as needed.
• Acts Strategic: Creates effective plans that anticipate future consequences and opportunities and is able to connect the day-to-day operations to longer-term objectives, shifts in the industry, and system goals.
• Applies Business Acumen: Demonstrates knowledge of current and future trends that impact organizational success. Applies proven practices and business theories to get results that meet financial as well as other business goals. Recognizes opportunities for new services and products and acts accordingly, taking measured risks into consideration. Possesses a thorough knowledge of their field and independently carries out their work in accordance with professional standards of the profession.
• Behaves with Integrity and Builds Trust: Acts consistently in line with the core values, commitments and rules of conduct. Leads by example and tells the truth. Does what they say they will, when and how they say they will, or communicates an alternate plan.
• Cultivates Respect: Treats others fairly, embraces and values differences, and contributes to a culture of diversity, inclusion, empowerment and cooperation.
• Demonstrates Adaptability: Learns quickly when facing a new problem or unfamiliar task; is flexible in their approach with changing priorities and ambiguity. Manages change effectively and does not give up during adversity. Capable of changing one's behavioral style and/or views in order to attain a goal. Absorbs new information readily and puts it into practice effectively.
• Demonstrates Emotional Intelligence: Exhibits a high level of self-awareness, self-management, other awareness and relationship management. Conducts themselves in an empathic, appropriate way, with a sense of humor and stimulates a collaborative work environment. Is respectful of the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others and aware of the influence of their own behavior on them. Is aware of relevant social, political, system, and professional trends and developments and uses this information for the organization's benefit.
• Develops Self and Others: Takes responsibility for engaging in professional self-development activities and programs. Strives to gain insight into their own values, strengths and weaknesses, interests and ambitions and takes action in order to enhance competencies and skills when possible. As a leader, encourages and guides employees towards growth opportunities to enhance performance and help them reach goals. Reviews and analyzes employees' strengths and weaknesses to distinguish their talents and development needs, and to ensure they are enhanced appropriately.
• Effectively Communicates: Listens, speaks and writes appropriately, using clear language. Communication methods are fitting to the message(s), audience, and situation and follow-ups are regular and timely. Shows that important (non-) verbal information is absorbed and understood and asks further questions to clarify when necessary. Expresses ideas and views clearly to others and has ability to adjust use of language to the audiences' level.
• Exercises Sound Judgment & Decision Making: Understands and processes complex information, which allows for appropriate and accountable conclusions. Does not react too quickly or slowly. Balances facts, goals, and potential approaches taking the appropriate criteria into account. Makes active decisions and commits oneself by communicating confidently and respectfully.
• Fosters Accountability: Creates and participates in a work environment where people hold themselves and others accountable for processes, results and behaviors. Takes appropriate ownership not only of successes but also mistakes and works to correct them in a timely manner. Demonstrates understanding that we all work as a team and the quality and timeliness of work impacts everyone involved.
• Fosters Innovation: Employs and encourages the use of meaningful creativity in solving challenges. Proactively identifies opportunities and uses new approaches to enhance processes, systems and services. When appropriate, suggests or initiates new strategies, products, services, and markets.
• Influences and Inspires: Builds enthusiasm and commitment among others to move in a desired direction and models it personally. Creates a compelling vision of success that motivates workplace initiative and energizes others to follow. Provides direction and guidance to encourage cooperation between team members in order to attain an objective. Has the ability to appropriately influence others' actions and decisions with and without express authority.
• Practices Compassion: Exhibits genuine care for people and is available and ready to help; displays a deep awareness of and strong willingness to relieve the suffering of others.
• Promotes Health and Safety: Promotes a healthy and safe environment for patients, employees and visitors. Advocates and models healthy physical and mental health behaviors even in challenging circumstances. Sets high quality standards and strives for continuous improvement and quality assurance by reporting and encouraging others to report near misses and safety issues.
• Provides Patient-Centered Care: Demonstrates understanding of patient care quality and service as organizational priority. Proactively supports change to improve patient experience and results. Exhibits the ability and willingness to find out what the patient wants and needs and to act accordingly, taking the organizational and outside resources into account. Cooperates, collaborates, communicates, and integrates care within and between teams to ensure that care is continuous and reliable.
• Resolves Conflict: Promptly acts to find alternatives/solutions when team members disagree. Addresses issues in a direct, honest, and appropriate manner. Handles conflicting interests diplomatically and helps to solve them. Transforms difficult situations into teachable moments using respect and accountability.
• Seeks Process Improvement & Applies System Thinking: Possesses and gains insight into situations, problems, and processes. Understands the interconnection between organizational elements. Deconstructs problems and systematically investigates the various components. Considers the impact of actions on the entire process/system. Detects problems and opportunities, recognizes important information, and links various data to trace potential causes and relevant details.
• Serves Others: Strives to understand, meet and exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers which may include the people and communities in our service areas. Develops and maintains relationships, alliances and coalitions within and outside the organization and leverages them in order to obtain information, support, and promote cooperation and collaboration.
• Utilizes Resources Effectively: Understands how to get the most out of available resources and uses cost-benefit thinking in decision-making and in setting priorities. Monitors and analyzes resource usage to identify and eliminate areas of waste and maximize resources. As a leader, defines targets and provides appropriate means; oversees progress and adjusts when necessary. Appropriately delegates work, sets clear direction and manages workflow and time.

Essential Credentials:

• Maine Registered Nurse license or eligible to obtain. * BLS required

Education:

• Master's Degree or ability to obtain a master’s degree within thirty (30) months of placement; *Psychiatric Nursing Certification preferred

Experience: 

Education:

Essential Credentials:

• Maine Registered Nurse license or eligible to obtain.
• BLS required

Education:

• Master's Degree or ability to obtain a master’s degree within thirty (30) months of placement; *Psychiatric Nursing Certification preferred
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership position(s) required, with at least two (2) years in the Nursing leadership space.

Experience: *Four (4) years of nursing experience with at least two (2) years in Psychiatric nursing experience. Or,

Four (4) or more years of psychiatric nursing experience preferred.

Working conditions:

Essential:

• Potential exposure to abusive and/or aggressive people.
• Potential exposure to diseases or infections.
• Work with computers, typing, reading or writing.
• Lifting, moving and loading 30 to 50 pounds.
• Continuous sitting.
• Continuous walking.
• Work beyond the regularly scheduled hours.