Nurse Director (DON) - L&D Perinatal

Interested in a career with both meaning and growth? Whether your abilities are in direct patient care or one of the many other areas of healthcare administration and support, everyone at Parkland works together to fulfill our mission: the health and well-being of individuals and communities entrusted to our care. By joining Parkland, you become part of a diverse healthcare legacy that’s served our community for more than 125 years. Put your skills to work with us, seek opportunities to learn and join a talented team where patient care is more than a job. It’s our passion.

Primary Purpose

Responsible for the overall direction and daily operational activities of multiple designated department(s) including planning, budget, personnel, quality improvement, coordinating clinical services, policy/procedure development and collaboration with physicians and administration to ensure high quality, patient-centered services.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Must hold at a minimum, a master's degree. If the master's degree is not in nursing then either a baccalaureate degree or doctoral degree must be in nursing.
• Current incumbents in the role as of 5/1/2023 must obtain a master's degree no later than 4/30/2026.

Experience

• Must have 8 years of experience to include 3 years of operational leadership experience including experiences such as directly or indirectly leading teams, quality and process improvement initiatives, strategic initiatives with organizational implications, and/or providing oversight of staff and resources for efficient and effective patient care required.
• Must have seven years of Labor and Delivery and Recovery Experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have current RN license or valid temporary permit with the Texas Board of Nursing; or, valid Compact RN license.

• Must have a current Heartsaver CPR course completion card within 90 days of hire and/or placement in job from one of the following:
  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross.
  • Military Training Network

• Must have current Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification upon hire or placement in the role. Certification must be from one of the following:
  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross
  • Military Training Network
• Must have current NRP certification upon hire or placement in role. Certification must be from one of the following:
  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross
  • Military Training Network
• May be required to have additional specialty certifications.
• Must have one of the following, upon hire or transition into the role:
  • AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) Intermediate Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certificate OR,
  • AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) Advanced Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certificate OR,
  • NCC (National Corporation Certification (NCC) Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification.

• Must retake every two years from completion date of previous certificate:
  • AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) Intermediate Electronic Fetal Monitoring OR,
  • AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) Advanced Electronic Fetal Monitoring,
• National Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification must be renewed every three years.

Required Tests for Placement

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must be able to provide leadership care to assigned department patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, ANA Scope and Standards, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care and clinical area specific standards.
• Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Must have effective verbal and written communication skills in working with a diverse population of physicians, nurses, and support staff.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skill in resource management including budget and personnel practices.
• Must have effective leadership skills and be capable of motivating, recruiting and educating staff through department adaptations.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of Parkland policies, structure, procedures and mission.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.

Responsibilities

1. Responsible for effective fiscal management of multiple departments. Ensures informed use of department resources. Investigates, evaluates and implements expertise in cost management from diverse sources including developing and administering grants. Develops and administers the operating and capital budgets, to ensure that the department has the necessary funds to carry out the goals and objectives that have been established for the department. Utilizes benchmarks for cost utilization. Demonstrates ability to flex resources to changing volume and acuity requirements. Correlates volume, revenue and cost to meet operating requirements for all service areas. Assures departments operate within allocated resources. Manages cost per patient in an efficient and effective manner. Develops, implements and evaluates action plans to correct variances.

2. Serves as a clinical resource and role model, facilitating problem solving and staff development. Effectively delegates responsibilities. Fosters environment for low turnover and high retention of staff. Identifies and utilizes strategies to meet/exceed employee growth and development, as well as ensure satisfaction and quality of work life needs.

3. Directs the recruitment, selection, practice environment and the education of staff. Develops, implements and monitors a comprehensive plan that ensures availability of staff to enable effective operations.

4. Responsible for quality management practices that deliver effective and efficient services and ensure optimal patient outcomes. Collaborates with nursing, medical staff and administration to assess department operations and evaluate quality. Identifies and analyzes the design of jobs, work processes and flows, and implements appropriate changes to improve effectiveness, productivity and efficiency that support the overall goals of the department and Parkland. Directs, reviews, and evaluates performance improvement plans/projects, utilizing performance indicators to track/trend outcomes. Directs, reviews, and evaluates patient satisfaction, infection rates, delays, chart audits and other practice feedback. Coordinates quality functions with other departments as needed.

5. Serves as WISH liaison for physicians, nurses, administration, other departments or hospitals and community agencies to ensure complete and accurate information. Researches and provides reports for administrative or staff review. Demonstrates responsiveness to innovation, data and cross-discipline expertise in strategic planning. Utilizes available information, tracking and trending patient volume/flow, billings, practice outcomes and other data for analysis and incorporation into strategic plan.

6. Responsible for a collaborative work team to ensure positive working relationships. Communicates effectively with physicians, nurses, ancillary staff, other departments/units, administration and vendors. Maintains good communication with other hospitals and community, government representatives.

7. Identifies and develops special projects that enhance the accessibility, quality or regulation of Women and Infants. Health including educational projects, collection and billing projects, nursing research, Joint Commission or other regulatory agency review, publication, and staff recruitment.

8. Serves on department and interdepartmental committees as selected and assigned.

9. Any duties deemed competent.

Parkland Health and Hospital System prohibits discrimination based on age (40 or over), race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, disability, national origin, marital status, political belief, or veteran status. As part of our commitment to our patients and employees’ wellness, Parkland Health is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.