Assistant Unit Manager, Medical & Surgical Care, Full Time, Days

Greenbrae, CA

ABOUT MARINHEALTH a UCSF Affiliate

Come and be a part of our healing team at the award-winning MarinHealth! Ranked in the top 3% of general hospitals in the country, we have made great strides since returning to our roots as an independent hospital. As Marin County’s only acute hospital and a vital resource for a wide range of essential health care services, it is our mission—and our passion—to excel in every medical specialty. We attract the finest physicians and employees who appreciate having the best of both worlds: the resources and medical sophistication of an academic medical center combined with the personalized, caring touch of an independent hospital. We have an exceptionally collaborative team that adheres to the highest service excellence standards to ensure that we deliver world-class, personalized care to patients. Our Joint-Commission accredited hospital has won numerous awards and certifications in delivering best-in-class health care in the San Francisco Bay Area.

WHAT WE OFFER

MarinHealth offers a generous suite of employee benefits, which includes a comprehensive and rich health benefits program (medical, dental, vision and prescription plans). Our robust Wellness @ Work program (e.g. onsite health & fitness classes, discounts, etc) also promotes a healthier lifestyle for employees and to support you on your Healthy Healer journey. Other benefits include, but are not limited to, a 403(b) contribution plan and company-funded retirement plan, life insurance, vacation, holiday and sick leave, which you will start accruing immediately. Our benefits are highly competitive and considered to be one of the best in the Bay Area! Find your healing place at MarinHealth.

External hires are subject to a background check and pre-employment medical screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal, state and local laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classifications protected by federal, state & local laws.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: Manager or Director

PURPOSE:

The following reflects a definition of essential functions for this role, but does not restrict the functions and tasks that may be assigned. Duties and responsibilities may be assigned or reassigned according to departmental needs.

The Assistant Unit Manager (AUM) is a frontline manager that directs staff to assure a safe patient centered environment, is a member of the clinical team and serves as a supervisor, coach, resource and support to the direct patient care Registered Nurse (RN). The AUM utilizes discretion and independent judgment in providing supervision and oversight of a team of licensed and unlicensed nursing personnel during an assigned shift.

Essentials of the role are:

Is part of and collaborates with the leadership team (Manager, Director, Administrative Nursing Supervisor and other AUMs) to ensure continuity of care is provided from shift-to-shift

Serves as a resource to staff

Role model and provides a positive influence to facilitate changes

Utilizes interpersonal skills to maximize customer service in a manner that supports excellence in patient experience, evidence based safe patient care, and professionalism

Contributes to a work environment of caring and cooperation among a culturally diverse workforce and patient population

JOB STANDARDS

Education and Certifications

Current California State license as a Registered Nurse

BSN required; BSN within 5 years for qualified internal candidates

BLS certification

ACLS certification in monitored areas

Experience

Must meet minimum CNII requirements

Two years (or one year if MSN degree), 0.8 FTE to full time of demonstrated direct patient care experience in which the level of responsibility has been expanded (by request or assignment), with at least one-year concurrent experience in appropriate clinical care area, necessary in order to gain full knowledge of and advanced skill in nursing care techniques and methods, as well as unit staffing and operations

Prerequisite Skills

• Interpersonal skills necessary to provide effective leadership for unit personnel including: demonstrated skill in fostering a cooperative, team-focused working environment, conflict management, maintenance of effective communication, intra and interdepartmentally (inclusive of physicians); ability to instruct and comfort patients and their families.
• Analytical skills necessary to organize and assist in oversight of unit activities, prepare nursing care plans, implement effective nursing care and develop solutions to difficult unit administration and patient care problems.
• Recent performance must be absent of any disciplinary actions for a minimum of one year.

JOB FUNCTION - Essential (not modifiable)

• Key role responsibilities include: staff supervision, holding care providers accountable to clinical and service standards, coordinating patient throughput, and demonstrating high standards of quality patient care. Demonstrates and coaches’ others to utilize critical thinking skills. Works under the direction of the Manager and Director of the department to develop, implement and evaluate systems that promote cost effective, quality patient care. Quality patient care is defined as care that is safe, effective, efficient, timely, equitable, patient-centered, and evidence based.
• Supervising and directing unit personnel in order to ensure effective, efficient and safe provision of nursing care in accordance with established standards.
• Evaluates patient care needs in assigned unit, determines work priorities and approves assignment.
• Evaluates appropriate patient placement plan to admit and works closely with physician and supervisor to determine patient appropriate care assignments.
• Interviewing, orienting and training unit nursing personnel. Assists in validating staff competency.
• Assists with developing, evaluating and presenting in-service and educational programs.
• Assists in revising and/or developing departmental policies and procedures for area of responsibility. Implements and administers approved policies and procedures.
• Knowledgeable and competent in all service areas within the department.
• Close and effective collaboration with Administrative Nurse Supervisor.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate publications and other literature and attending related conferences and seminars.

LEADERSHIP

• Inspire, lead and serve as a mentor to coworkers.
• Support teamwork between staff and physician workflow. Manage conflict between caregivers and escalate up the chain of command as necessary.
• Develop leadership and management skills that support unit management, staff and successful planning.
• Evaluate, document and report staff competency, performance or behavioral concerns to Clinical Manager or Director.
• Monitor progress and effectiveness of Performance Improvement Plans (PIP); assist in introductory and annual evaluations
• Act as resource to orienting, floating or less experienced staff.
• Monitor unit for workplace safety.
• Responsible for unit labor oversight of clinical staff throughout the shift.
• Check email for updates and ensure communication flow to all staff on shift. Stays up to date on unit communications and model changes in policy and practice and new initiatives.
• Patient Assignments and Bed Flow
• Assign new patients to room & nurse, and control the process at the unit level; coordinate with ANS and sending AUM to receive patients in an organized, timely manner to ensure efficient room turnover.
• Receive and transfer patients within 1 hour of notification / bed availability. Coordinate direct orders with ANS and ensure completeness of admit orders according to the acuity level upon patient acceptance. Use of patient tracking board.
• Adjust staffing for admits / discharges / changes in patient status.
• In emergent situations if no other resources available, accept a patient on a temporary basis to maintain patient safety. Notify ANS of unit changes, events or incidents (death, MD issues, unsafe conditions, employee injury, etc).

Break Relief

Schedule and support break relief.

Coordinate rest and meal period assignments by assigning break RN to rest and meal period relief in rotation.

Acuity / Staffing

Collect and enter acuity data from all RN’s during shift and complete Acuity / Sitter Tracking Tool.

Report changes in patient acuity, ADT and/or staffing needs to ANS and staffing office throughout shift.

Report acuity changes pending post-ops, admits, discharges, transfers, and staffing needs to ANS as soon as possible and at designated times.

Productivity

Prepare staff for change of shift, assist with completing tasks or assign a resource. Verify and approve all overtime, missed breaks and meals.

Monitor ADT throughout shift, notify ANS of mandatory and voluntary call-offs.

Unit Operations

1. Telemetry (if applicable)

Provide oversight of telemetry utilization and verify telemetry unit assignments.

Triage telemetry units during shortages and contact physicians for telemetry needs.

2. Core Measures

Audit and report and assume responsibility for all applicable core measures (CLABSI, VTE, SCIP, HF, vaccines, MRSA, etc.) or assign staff and monitor to complete tasks prior to deadlines.

3. Communication, Devices and Access

Conducts shift huddles

Review of relief charge nurses’ communication, review email for updates

Assign communication devices, collect and inventory at end of shift

Maintain mobile phones function for communication

4. Environment

Maintain orderly unit and Fire/ Life / Safety compliance

Check crash carts and procedural carts (if applicable) daily and ensure availability after use

5. Clinical Support

Manage and assist with direct patient care or direct resources for efficient operations and patient safety.

Support organizational initiatives to improve communication, quality and patient experience (HCAHPS)

Manage emergency situations; call RRT and codes.

Coordinate coverage for patients off unit that require RN attendance or designate

Monitor high risk patients as designated by high acuity

6. Patient Support and Experience

Provide service recovery.

Investigate and resolve patient and family concerns regarding patient care, communicate other needs to appropriate staff.

Coach and role model to staff for positive performance.

7. Reports and Audits

Initiate and maintain all required logs and reports during shift.

Patient assignment board

Assignment sheet, unit events, codes, patient flow, assignments, ratio

Safety Incident Report (SIR) – entry and review

Employee injury / illness reports (EIIR) and MIR

Quality/core measures

Correct Pyxis discrepancies every shift and perform weekly audit

Quality control on department appropriate equipment

Maintain unit equipment at appropriate locations and at a par level

WORKING CONDITIONS

The following terms are used to designate the frequency of activities performed during a work shift.

MarinHealth remains committed to the health and safety of our employees, patients, and the entire community. As such, MarinHealth requires employees to receive all required immunizations, including, MMR, flu (seasonal availability), and COVID-19 vaccine + booster, as a condition of employment and annually thereafter, as required. Any exemptions from these requirements may be granted for limited and specific situations.

Additional Information

• Department: 6171 - Medical & Surgical Care
• Job Schedule: Full Time - 40 hours/week
• Job Shift: Day
• Hours per Two-Week Period: 80
• Shift Hours: 8 Hour Shift
• Job Number: 12063 - AN103