The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) is responsible for assisting with the oversight of nursing operations. The ADON supports the Director of Nursing (DON), Chief Operations Officer (COO), Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Quality Coordinator to achieve quality outcomes and the delivery of patient-centered care. The ADON supports and upholds a professional nursing model and functions in a supportive role with nurse managers. They are responsible for establishing high quality nursing standards through visionary leadership, strategic planning and innovation.

Essential Functions

• Provides and assists in ensuring care is adequately provided for clinical services by clinical support staff.
• Maintains clinical expertise and competency as well as demonstrates thorough knowledge of procedures to deliver quality primary health care.
• Documents delivery of health care and nursing processes in accordance with center policy and procedures in a timely, accurate, and consistent manner.
• Leads clinical support staff in the education of patients and family members and significant others about the patients’ diagnosis and their plans of care. Acts as a resource for facilitating communication when necessary.
• Assists to coordinate the delivery of patient care provided by the health care team.
• Interacts with health center personnel and assists providers to ensure optimal patient care and to obtain optimum patient flow and increased patient satisfaction.
• Identifies and responds promptly to changes in patient’s condition and/or clinic event.
• Coordinates and delegates the timely processing of prescribed medications, and other identified needs of the patient.
• Assists DON with providing oversight for the nursing department and health center clinical operations.
• Leads and advises all clinical support staff under the direction of the DON and in conjunction with the CMO, COO, and QA Coordinator.
• Assists DON with responsibility and accountability for delegating, directing and supervising patient care activities.
• Remains knowledgeable regarding health center operations and programs including Texas Vaccines for Children, Adult Safety Net, and all grants.
• Remains knowledgeable about and assists with tracking metrics for all health centers. Works with administrative and health center team members to work towards improving metrics where needed.
• Serves as Primary or Backup Vaccine Coordinator as needed for the Texas Vaccine for Children and Adult Safety Net programs.
• Serves as interim Practice Manager in health centers when vacancies occur.
• Collaborates with the training department to enhance workflow processes and provides workflow designs.
• Assists the Training and Development Coordinator and IT as requested with Electronic Health Record systems upgrades or modifications.
• Serves as a resource and as a positive, proactive leader for the nursing department.
• Accepts responsibility for remaining current with nursing and health care trends and information that impact nursing practice.
• Participates in collaboration with the health care team in identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing patient and family needs to develop a plan of care.
• Participates in the evaluation of products, procedures, and patient care standards.
• Participates in the evaluation of health care and in monitoring health outcomes of patients.
• Collaborates with Patient Centered Medical Home and Meaningful Use initiatives.
• Is responsible for assisting with monitoring of appropriate infection control and employee health programs to include collaboration in training staff and compliance monitoring.
• Collaborates with Quality Assurance Coordinator regarding nursing documentation audits and implements system changes for the nursing staff as necessary.
• Travels when necessary to fulfill the center’s needs and attends meeting as necessary to represent Carevide.
• Assists in the provision of technical assistance and health education in the community as requested.
• Assists in the development of new clinical sites and corresponding clinical programs.
• Actively participates in quarterly Practice Manager and Provider meetings as requested.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Knowledge of advanced principles of health promotion, prevention and motivation
• Knowledge of protocols and has the ability to quickly gain specific knowledge of the Center’s current operational protocols
• Knowledge of medical terminology and appropriate abbreviations
• Thorough knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act
• Ability to read and comprehend medical instructions, short correspondence, and memos
• Ability to document, with clarity, all information relevant to a patient’s needs
• Ability to effectively present information in small group situations to patients, Center staff, and the general public
• Ability to prepare statistical and administrative reports
• Ability to work cooperatively with community agency personnel to coordinate services for patients
• Ability to use office equipment including but not limited to computers, fax machines, telephones and copiers
• Ability to prioritize and allocate resources
• Ability to use Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel at a high level.
• Ability to type at least 50 words per minute.

Credentials and Experience

Required

• Current unrestricted license to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) in the State of Texas
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Healthcare Professionals Certification
• Five (5) years of practice experience as an LVN giving direct patient care
• Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory or management role
• Experience in a primary care setting required.