Director of Nursing Services

Position Title: Director of Nursing Services

Location: Bellevue Hospital, Jamaica

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Nursing Services is the Chief Advisor to Nurses and represents the Nursing profession at national, regional and international levels. This is a single post at the top of the hierarchy of the Nursing profession. Responsibilities are delegated with commensurate authority to Assistant Nursing Officers for the planning, implementation and evaluation of programmes and activities for attracting and retaining nursing personnel for the delivery of quality nursing care.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a member of the inter-disciplinary team at National Level in Health Planning and Programming.

• Promote achievement of the goals and objectives for Health Services for the Country.

• Interpret policies and plans of the Ministry of Health to other levels of Nursing Personnel.

• Coordinate the activities of the Nursing Officers within the Bellevue Hospital to ensure proper planning and implementation of programmes to achieve quality nursing care of clients and socio-economic well-being of Nursing Personnel.

• Advise the Senior medical Officer on Nursing matters.

• Submit periodic reports on Nursing Issues to the Senior Medical Officer.

• Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer and Human Resource Management on personnel and administrative matters.

• Collaborate with Nursing Officers in:

- writing philosophy and objectives for Nursing at national level.

- defining the Role of Nursing within the health care system.

- developing an overall plan for Nursing/Midwifery which is consistent with the National Plan for Health Services.

- developing and ensuring implementation of written policies, norms and procedures within which Nursing/Midwifery will operate.

- developing and ensuring implementation of Standards for Nursing Service and
Nursing Education.

- defining functions and responsibilities for all levels of nursing personnel.

- developing a Nursing Manpower Plan, that is, projections of numbers, levels and categories of nursing personnel required to meet health care needs of the country.

- developing and ensuring implementation of a quality control programme.

• Ensure that the Basic Nursing Education Programmes are consistent with current trends in Nursing and health care.

• Plan and ensure implementation of a staff development programme for senior level nurses.

• Supervise and provide technical support to nurse-managers in institutional and non-institutional services.

• Recommend Nursing personnel for employment, promotion, transfer, disciplinary measures, and advanced Nursing education based on stated criteria.

• Conduct, initiate, direct and/or implement research activities in Health and promote utilization of findings to improve Health care.

• Prepare a budget for Nursing annually.

• Advise on changes in legislation which may affect Nursing personnel.

• Maintain appropriate records and prepare an annual report on Nursing.

• Attend interdisciplinary/intersectoral meetings to ensure the input of Nursing interests.

• Act as liaison officer between Bellevue Hospital and the general public on matters related to Nursing practice.

• Liaise with Nurses Associations, Nursing Council and the Department of Advanced Nursing Education.

• Participate in the collective bargaining process to ensure proper remuneration of Nursing personnel.

• Represent the Bellevue Hospital on Nursing matters nationally, regionally, and internationally.

• Participate in Government and Non-Governmental Organizations for the benefit of the health delivery system.

• Promote and support public relations activities to enhance awareness of the role and functions of Nursing personnel.

Required Qualification, Experience:

• Masters in Nursing, Public Health or combination

• Certificate/Diploma/B. Sc. Nursing from accredited Schools

• Advanced Nursing Administration

• General Management

Experience:

• Progressive experience in institutional and/or community nursing services or nursing education programmes with a minimum of eight (8) years in a management position

• Active involvement in the development of the Nursing profession

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

• Fundamentals of Nursing, Knowledge of Life, Behavioural, Natural and Medical Sciences Nutrition, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Research Methodology, Personnel Management, Nursing, health and Related Legislation, Organizational Policy, National Health Policy, In-depth Industrial and Human Relations, Staff Development Procedure, Principles of Administration and Techniques of Modern Management

• Knowledge of Professional Nursing Theories and Practice

• Knowledge of Health Planning and Programming

• Knowledge of Geographic, Political and Socio-economic Environment

• Knowledge of Education Methodology

• Knowledge of Research Methodology and its application

• Ability to identify, organize and implement relevant education/training programmes

• Sound education and professional qualification in Administration/Management

• Cognizant of Time Management, Employer/Employee Relationships, Roles and Functions of Labour Unions and Industrial Relations.

Attitude:

• Positive work attitude, ethical conduct, human relations, nursing philosophy, calm, controlled and purposeful manner, punctuality and reliability

• Role model, mentor

• Conciliatory approach, Administrative philosophy and objectives

• Innovative approach to Management Practice

Skills:

• Advanced Administrative/Managerial related to the public service in general and Ministry of Health in particular.

Special Conditions Associated with the Job:

• The job is based on a minimum forty-hour workweek; however, the nature of the company’s business may require that you work outside the regular business hours based on the requirements of the job. Mondays to Fridays 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

• The working environment dictates that the incumbent must be able to multi-task and work within a fast-paced environment.

• Standard office environment with occasional outdoor activity