POSITION SUMMARY:
The Associate Chief Nursing Officer is responsible for assisting the Chief Nursing Officer in planning, implementing and evaluating the nursing services to ensure the delivery of adequate and competent patient care. In the absence of the Chief Nursing Officer, the Associate Chief Nursing Officer has responsibility for the Nursing Supervisors, Nursing Directors and Clinical Education. He/she functions as an expert nurse who facilitates the development of the Nursing areas.

FUNCTIONAL EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
The Associate Chief Nursing Officer has responsibility for complying with all policies and procedures which pertain to HIPAA including the minimum necessary requirements for this position. As part of the requirements for this position, this employee has access to the entire medical record for the purposes of improving clinical staff performance. Activities include review of staff documentation, assessments and diagnostic reports to enable processes for improving staff competency. In addition, the ACNO will limit the PHI disclosed or requested to the amount reasonably necessary to achieve the purpose of the request. The disclosures or requests that occur on a routine or recurring basis include: information regarding staff documentation of assessments and nursing care to the clinical staff, managers, risk manager and/or Chief Nursing Officer. The ACNO makes these disclosures for the purpose of identifying staff training/management issues and developing interventions to meet the identified needs. Criteria established for the PHI disclosures/requests is based upon individual clinical staff performance indicators as necessary.

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer:

• Understands individual role in the HICS Structure. Has knowledge of the Emergency Code System. Demonstrates/verbalizes required responses to the Emergency Code system. Accepts/participates on assigned Team for Hurricane (Code White) response.
• Serves as a clinical resource to nursing personnel, patients, and significant others, providing consultation as needed through sharing of expertise, providing information, demonstrating technical skills, and relating theoretical concepts to clinical practice.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and provides guidance in the delivery of nursing care.
• Acts as a preceptor to affiliating graduate nursing students involved in CS programs as requested.
• Responsible for the selection and preparation of all educational materials purchased by the hospital.
• Assumes responsibility for all school affiliations.
• Reviews annually and updates the orientation program as indicated by evaluations.
• Collaborates with Nursing Directors in developing, monitoring and revising clinical indicators, especially in the area of applying statistical tools and analysis.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP - EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
As a leader in healthcare, Tenet is committed to providing the best possible care to every patient, with a clear focus on quality and service. Strong leadership is essential to delivering on this commitment, and we believe that the quality of our leaders can give us a significant long-term competitive advantage. We want to ensure every current and future leader in Tenet is successful, and we support that through our selection and hiring process and by providing coaching and training to our leaders.

In this regard, we have identified core competencies that will enable a leader to succeed at Tenet, and have defined them within the following five areas critical to performance:

Use Astute Judgment

• Promotes decisions that are patient-centered (e.g., plans to reduce noise in patient areas at night).
• Promotes �systems thinking� as a value in the nursing organization. Synthesizes and integrates divergent viewpoints for the good of the organization (e.g., implements shared governance councils).
• Considers impact of nursing decisions on the healthcare organization as a whole (e.g., reduces falls, pressure ulcers, and other nurse sensitive patient outcomes).
• Provides leadership in building loyalty and commitment throughout the organization (e.g., builds career development path for high performing staff).
• Assures that the clinical perspective is included in organizational decisions (e.g., leads work that results in successful JC accreditation).

Shape Strategy

• Formulates objectives, goals, and specific strategies related to the organization�s mission and vision (e.g. participates in preparing the budget with cost improvements in nursing departments).
• Promotes a results-oriented environment (e.g., cascades and measures BSC, CQ BSC, and CNO BSC targets).
• Represents nursing/patient care issues within the organization�s governance and medical staff structures (e.g. actively participates in governing board by presenting a monthly nursing report).
• Represents nursing/patient care in strategic planning and quality initiatives with the governing body (e.g., presents new ideas and external and internal benchmarks at board meetings).
• Monitors and evaluates quality through public reported measure (e.g. core measures, nurse sensitive patient outcomes, infection control, VBP risk protection, etc.) in collaboration with the facility DCQI and ICP, as well as national resources.
• Supports the development of a facility wide patient safety program (e.g. zero never events; reduced falls with injury, reduced facility acquired pressure ulcers, etc.; meets targets on CNO BSC).
• Designs safe clinical systems, processes, policies and procedures.

Apply Financial Insights

• Allocates nursing resources based on measurement of patient acuity/care needed (e.g. meets JC conditions of participation for nursing services).
• Demonstrates sense of urgency in management of labor expense (e.g., meets targets for SWB).

Ensure Collaboration

• Effectively communicates with all internal and external constituents, including staff, colleagues, and physicians (e.g., holds weekly staff meetings with Department Directors, routinely rounds with physicians).
• Builds �privileged relationships� with key internal stakeholders (e.g. CEO, RSVP, etc.) and manages organizational relationships in a manner which builds mutual trust and respect. Addresses and manages conflict in a constructive and productive manner (e.g., immediately addresses a conflict situation between a nurse and physician to a positive outcome).
• Actively networks and creates peer relationships with other internal and external nursing leaders (e.g. leadership role in industry organizations, actively mentors, etc.).

Drive Organizational Success

• Understands and articulates patient care standards reflected in federal and state regulation, TJC, the state Nurse Practice Act, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Ensures that the care delivery model, clinical environment of care and related technology is appropriate to needs of caregivers and patients.
• Supports and embraces role in the adoption of EMR within facility and successfully implements within SWB budget.
• Recognizes the utility of nursing involvement in the planning, design, choice and implementation of information systems in the practice environment.
• Monitors and evaluates service indicators (Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Reports) and implements action plans in collaboration with related team members at the facility level (e.g., action to implement formal discharge calls).
• Actively facilitates Physician satisfaction survey, monitors results and collaborates with facility team members to develop and implement action plans (e.g., action to improve communication with physicians).
• Monitors and evaluates results of annual Employee Satisfaction Survey and collaborates with related team members to develop and implement action plans (e.g., action to increase recognition).

Develop Organizational Talent

• Participates in workforce planning to ensure an adequate and competent workforce.
• Develops succession plan for nursing leadership (e.g., promotion of RN Directors to ACNO and CNO roles).
• Assumes personal and professional accountability (e.g. meets or exceeds requirements for licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in the state where employed; maintains required CEUs, actively seeks out career development opportunities, etc.).
• Supports a non-punitive environment and a reward system for reporting unsafe practices (e.g. improved scores on Annual ARHQ Patient Safety Survey regarding non-punitive environments for reporting unsafe practices).

CANDIDATE EXPERIENCE, ATTRIBUTES AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
Required Background
Established record of progressive administration and leadership responsibility in a comprehensive tertiary health care facility.

Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Strong labor relations background.

An individual able to effectively and efficiently organize patient care promoting optimal outcomes, patient safety, and patient, physician and employee satisfaction.

A proactive nurse executive who takes the lead in complying with regulatory standards, rules and laws.

Professional and Personal Attributes

Ability to plan strategically and implement new processes and programs through data analysis and cost effective interactions.

One who is positive, creative and innovative with a strong understanding of the business aspects of healthcare and the acumen to play a substantive role in developing strategies, budgets and business plans. Financially astute, with a solid understanding of cost issues and initiatives.

Clearly a leader by example, able to articulate a clear vision and expectations for patient care services and other areas of responsibility.

An individual of highest personal and professional integrity, principle and knowledge, earning respect and support when making difficult decisions and choices. Able to establish immediate credibility with peers, senior leadership, medical staff, and the Board.

A collaborative and operational manager who will give employees a voice and encourage full participation of all team members.

Excellent interpersonal skills; a dedicated listener, comfortable in a variety of settings dealing with diverse constituencies; a broad thinker. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.

A leader who will inspire confidence and establish a sense of common direction and vision for the medical staff.

Education/Certifications
An academic degree in nursing is required, and a Master�s degree in Nursing or related field (Health Administration, Business, Public Health, or Management) is preferred.

Active and current registered nurse license in the state of residence/practice is required.

Current CENP or NEA certification preferred.

Compensation
A competitive compensation program will be tailored to the selected candidate. Base salary will be supplemented by a performance bonus and comprehensive, well-rounded benefits program, which includes relocation assistance.

Travel
Approximately 25 percent.

Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant�s or employee�s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.