Job Description:

Position Purpose summary:

Reporting to the Executive Director, as a member of the Executive Team, the Nursing Lead is responsible for organization, development, and management of the nursing department, including cost management, personnel, materials, productivity, and quality of work; plans for resident care within the organization according to strategic objectives and priorities; provides leadership for all new admissions, complex cases; plans, coordinates, and leads family meetings; accountable for nursing related discipline/grievances, in collaboration with Employee Relations.

The Nursing Lead acts as a clinical resource for the nursing section and is responsible for day to day coordination of nursing care activities; promotes the philosophy, mission, objectives, and policies of The Salvation Army Agape Hospice while interacting with residents, families, staff, and the community.

Accountabilities:

Leadership

• Work collaboratively with the Assistant Nursing Manager to provide leadership and management of the provision of care for the residents/families.
• Schedule, assign workloads, and overall management of Charge Nurses, Registered Nurses, Graduate Nurses, Resident Attendants, Unit Clerks, Volunteers, practicum students and other related nursing section positions.
• Assess nursing requirements to ensure that care needs are met.
• Problem solved with the Unit Clerk to ensure that scheduling needs are met.
• Ensure that regular breaks are offered and provide coverage where necessary.
• Collaborate with the Charge Nurse to ensure that nursing assignments are completed for all shifts; delegates the workload within the section in accordance with acuity levels.
• First point of contact with questions and/or concerns during working hours; works to resolve any immediate differences that occur.
• Ensuring communication (verbal and/or written) is provided to all members of the nursing section on a timely basis, so that direct reports successfully complete their tasks.
• Develop or delegate responsibility to the appropriate RN for completion of the nursing portion of the care plan based on the initial assessment.

• Assess nursing practices and techniques and recommends changes, development and/or education needs.
• Delegate and follow up on tasks for the Charge Nurse where appropriate.
• Temporarily assist on the floor when is required and demand is high.

Clinical Care

• Establish and maintain standards of care, adherence to policies and procedures to promote consistency and high-quality care;
• Maintain up-to-date records for educational centers requesting practicums and student placements; ensure all paperwork has been completed for contract and approved as required by The Salvation Army prior to accepting placements. Assign preceptors for all practicum/student placements in the nursing unit; ensure accurate assessment/evaluations are completed by preceptors for each student.
• Ensure that nursing audits and accreditation requirements are completed within established timelines.
• Provide leadership with complex or demanding resident and family situations.
• Ensure weekend and holiday pharmacy requests are sufficient.
• Ensure that the admission process on all new residents is completed and accurate.
• Ensure division of tasks for nursing section is balanced - fulfilling the special requests from the residents.
• Ensure the narcotic count is complete and accurate.

• Attend Calgary Zone meetings and inter-professional rounds as required within the role.

Administrative

• Prepare annual budgets, planning for all nursing section manpower needs, including recruitment/retention and scheduling strategies and alerts the Executive Director of any unusual variances
• Monitor section performance against goals to ensure that progress is being made and that corrective action is taken in accordance with the collective agreement and related legislation.
• Prepare and provide written performance appraisals identifying employee strengths and limitations; provides guidance and suggestions to improve performance by encouraging professional development and further education.
• Ensure that statistics (i.e. bed count, bed occupancy, PPS, POS information is completed and submitted in accordance with The Salvation Army and Alberta Health Services requirements.
• Act as the lead for nursing department (employee & client) complaints and investigations.
• Conduct investigations and provide recommendations on all incidents, errors, and near misses for learning opportunities pertaining to the nursing sections, except were named in the complaint.
• Ensure that appropriate documentation is completed and approved for employees relating to WCB/Disability claims, Incident Reports, paid and unpaid leaves, and overtime requests.
• Monitors cost and approved budget for direct nursing, supplies, and day-today expenditures; reports unfavorable variances.
• Oversee medical supply orders and ensure appropriate stocking and organization of medical and pandemic supplies within budgetary requirements. Ensures the most cost-effective requirements are utilized.
• Immediately respond to any safety concerns that arise.

• Notify the Executive Director or designate immediately if a critical incident occurs.
• Ensure that Incident Reports and WCB forms are given to employees when occupational health and safety incidents occur,
• Ensure that Incident Reports are initiated for any resident related incidents,

• In collaboration with the Unit Clerk, ensure that non-urgent facility needs are communicated to Maintenance at the beginning of the shift (i.e. elevator not working).

• Plan and lead nursing section meetings.
• Ensures Infection Prevention and Control protocols are consistently undertaken by all individuals entering resident rooms.
• Performs others related duties as assigned.

Professional

• Promote the professional reputation of Agape Hospice by presenting them at palliative/hospice conferences wherever possible

CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Governance Boards and Councils:

Internal:

• Assistant Nursing Manager. Registered Nurses, Graduate Nurses, Undergraduate Nurses, Unit Clerks, Volunteers and Students
• Various ad hoc committees (e.g Occupational Health & Safety Committee)

External:

• Liaise with Provincial Health Care Services , pharmacy, physicians and families of the residents

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• This position reports directly to Executive Director
• This position has direct reports comprised of a pool nursing staff

FINANCIAL AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT:

• Department Budget
• Nursing and medical supplies, medication
• Client confidential information
• Clinical software application and program.

Working Conditions:

• Intermittent exposure to health hazards in treating residents; knowledge of good body mechanics; position requires lifting, transferring, carrying, and bending to move residents.
• Works a schedule that regularly falls during weekdays, although must be flexible to work other shifts in an emergency; work environment may involve discomfort and hazards due to hostile individuals.

The above responsibilities must be discharged in accordance with The Salvation Army9s Mission Statement, in a professional manner, upholding our code of conduct.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Qualifications and Certifications:

• Current active registration with the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA) or Professional Association relating to degree.
• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing program; baccalaureate degree in nursing with an emphasis in palliative care an asset.
• Current CPR Certification, CHPCN Certification required or currently in the CHPCN Certificate program with graduation within two years, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience and Knowledge Requirements:

• 7-10 years9 previous experience in a hospice/palliative care setting essential.
• Minimum of three years9 experience with in charge duties and responsibilities.
• 2-3 years9 experience in a supervisory position within a health care setting, preferably hospice/palliative care.

Skills and Capabilities:

• Effective interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills at all levels of the organization and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to work well as a team leader and a member of the nursing section; excellent teamwork and team building skills.
• Ability to review clinical work according to professional standards and practice guidelines;
• Strong client service and troubleshooting skills; well organized;
• Acts as a role model and sets the tone for a positive work environment.
• Shares information effectively using excellent verbal and written communication skills;

Compensation:

The target hiring range for this position is $109,470.40 to $136,843.20 with a maximum of $164,195.20.

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.