Job Description
The Surgical Services Clinical Coordinator reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
This position is an experienced Registered Nurse who, in addition to providing direct patient care, is accountable for facilitating an interdisciplinary approach to patient care, patient flow, staffing, resource utilization, and problem solving on a given shift.
_ Responsibilities:_
- Facilitates unit operations on a shift basis according to policy, procedure, and regulatory requirements.
- Coordinates unit based staffing assignments on a shift basis to achieve high quality and cost effective care.
- Directs patient care provided by staff nurses and support personnel for a specific shift.
- Communicates directly with patients and significant others about nursing care.
- Champions new initiatives and helps in unit/departmental or hospital wide committees/task forces.
- Implements appropriate action plans to provide safe, quality, and efficient care.
- Assures safety and security of patients, significant others, and staff.
- Provides direct patient care.
- Clinical:
- Demonstrates clinical competence.
- Performs ongoing assessment of assigned patients and their significant others' biopsychosocial and learning needs (as appropriate).
- Implements appropriate actions to respond to needs of patients and their significant others.
- Monitors and documents the patient's response to therapeutic interventions and progress toward outcomes (as appropriate).
- Maintains critical communication with Surgeons, Anesthesia providers, Surgical Services leadership team, ancillary staff and other hospital departments.
- Assesses the appropriateness of staff assignments to provide the best patient care experience.
- Continually reassesses departmental staffing needs (to include breaks and lunch relief) based on changes in departmental acuity.
- Demonstrates "Patients' First" and cost effective approach to patient care in terms of equipment, staff, supplies and all other resources.
- Assures that quality improvement activities are completed for the assigned shift.
- Supports "Time Outs" and "Team Briefings".
- Assesses and intervenes in critical situations involving patients, staff, and visitors and consults with manager or administrator for guidance as needed.
- Demonstrates the following professional attributes:
- Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner, and presentation.
- Is an advocate for patients and their significant others, coworkers, the community, and the nursing profession.
- Consistently demonstrates accountability.
- Consistently demonstrates compassion to internal and external customers.
- Dynamic representative of the nursing profession in internal and external forums.
- Integrates theoretical knowledge base and clinical expertise in decision making.
- Assumes responsibility for meeting regulatory and other mandatory requirements.
- Assumes responsibility for personal development plan and education/certification related to clinical specialty area.
- Leadership:
- Acts in accordance with organizational culture; understands how own work team affects others in the organization and knows when to escalate an issue, problem, or decision.
- Ensures that the environment is clean, attractive, safe and free from hazards for patients, staff and visitors in accordance with regulatory requirements.
- Analyzes patterns of daily activities and recommend operational/program/schedule changes as needed.
- Anticipates staffing needs for subsequent shifts and makes necessary arrangements for coverage.
- Assumes responsibility for efficient and effective use of time and effort of all staff.
- Facilitates effective interdepartmental communication of incidents with appropriate personnel (manager, administrator, medical staff, etc.).
- Promotes philosophy and annual implementation plan objectives of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
- Provides a milieu conducive to communication and cooperation among patients, staff and visitors.
- Identifies and communicates key issues and trends to managers and makes recommendations for improvement on an ongoing basis.
- Provides input to manager on budgetary issues, particularly staffing and cost containment strategies.
- Establishes relationships across departments to optimize patient care.
- Education:
- Assesses and communicates staff development needs to manager.
- Orients staff to Clinical Coordinator role.
- Serves as a resource for staff.
- Contributes to unit orientation.
- Research:
- Assures that research activities are completed for an assigned shift.
- Participates in nursing research activities.
- Skills:
- Prioritization and analytical ability are required.
- Basic PC skills are required.
- Communication skill is required in order to teach and lead.
- Interact effectively and collaborate with others in difficult situations.
- Abilities:
- Handle many tasks under potentially stressful situations and requires standing or walking most of the designated shift.