DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction in a hospital, sanatorium, or other institution for the physically and/or mentally ill, has charge of the professional and nonprofessional nursing, school of nursing, attending services, and maintenance services, and has administrative responsibility for adherence to provisions contained in the Nurse Practice Act (Department of Law and Public Safety) and to principles of accreditation; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Organizes the nursing service program in accord with standards of the institution as formulated to adhere to the principles of accreditation prescribed by the American Hospital Association.
• Is responsible for the establishment of standards for the school of nursing to meet the requirements of the New Jersey Board of Nursing by ascertaining, selecting, and organizing curriculum, facilities, instructional personnel, equipment, and materials necessary for instruction and the determination of standards for admission.
• Participates in the planning of the construction of the new and reconstruction of the old physical facilities of the institution and advising for the improvement of patient care through maximum utilization of staff time and activities by proper placement of facilities.
• Determines standards of patient care and selects and recommends for appointment all nursing and educational personnel.
• Participates in the selection and appointment of all other attending and service personnel.
• Establishes an inservice training and orientation program for new personnel.
• Establishes, formulates, and implements an organizational setup for professional and nonprofessional personnel and delegates authority and responsibility necessary in each unit of the division.
• Establishes specifications for each unit in nursing and teaching services, and evaluates and controls adherence to specifications.
• Establishes and causes to maintain a system of recording service of personnel by receiving reports from visits to patient areas and efficiency reports from supervisors.
• Evaluates and revises personnel program and policies to ensure flexibility and growth.
• Directs the establishment and maintenance of a system of requisitioning, distributing, recording, and dispensing procedures, and use of equipment, supplies, medication, and narcotics.
• Confers with the administrative, medical, psychiatric, and related staffs in the formulation of policies, procedures, and organization for patient care.
• Prepares and causes to prepare reports and surveys containing conclusions and recommendations.
• Directs the establishment of and maintenance of records and files for medical, clinical, and personnel reports.
• Remains in close contact with the various departments and agencies to continuously search for information for improvement of service and maintenance of a high degree of public relations.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in nursing or nursing education.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience as a registered professional nurse, three (3) years of which shall have been supervisory experience in work involvin the development of and carrying out of an extensive program of nursing service and/or education.

License

Appointees must possess current, valid registration as a professional nurse in the State of New Jersey.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and objectives of professional nursing and nursing education.
• Knowledge of modern hospital and/or institutional organization.
• Knowledge of the use of facilities and their application to specific cases.
• Knowledge of conferring with administrative, medical, clerical, psychiatric, and other service staffs to develop policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of organizing assigned professional and administrative work and developing effective work methods.
• Knowledge of the use and planning for physical facilities.
• Knowledge of laws governing registry and training of nurses, curriculum content of all nursing specialties, and of the administration, supervision, and evaluation of suitable work schedules.
• Knowledge of proper procedures in modern personnel practices.
• Knowledge of procedures in training employees.
• Knowledge of procedures in dispensing equipment, supplies, medication, and narcotics.
• Knowledge of the handling of correspondence, records, surveys, files, and recommendations.
• Ability to analyze, comprehend, administer, implement, establish, and utilize the objectives of nursing and nursing education.
• Ability to organize a proper and effective work program embodying the principles of ethics and accreditation.
• Ability to work well will superiors, fellow workers, and subordinates.
• Ability to evaluate and comprehend all techniques, procedures, and changes to meet variable situations.
• Ability to study, comprehend, and evaluate reports advanced by research in new techniques.
• Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to continuously maintain a proper and dignified relationship with fellow employees and a professional approach in public relations.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

If position includes responsibility over a school of nursing, a Master's degree in Nursing Service or Education will be required.