INTERMITTENT HEAD NURSE

Code: 09026 Local Non-Competitive

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, has charge of the nursing care of a unit, a division of a unit, or a clinical department and assumes appropriate responsibilities as assigned by a supervisor; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Interprets and enforces hospital policies and procedures.
• Plans nursing service in the unit within the limit of existing policies.
• Assigns duties to subordinate personnel based on patient care needs, available staff, and unit needs.
• Supervises all nursing activities related to patients and patient care in the unit.
• Develops effective work methods and work schedules.
• Responsible for the execution of doctors' orders.
• Participates in developing effective methods of implementing doctors' orders and interprets to the personnel such orders.
• Gives direct nursing care to patients.
• Confers with and reports to the physicians the patients' needs, preferences, and progress.
• Responsible for the accurate reporting and recording of patients' symptoms, reactions, and progress.
• Promotes and participates in rehabilitation programs for patients.
• Responsible for the handling, requisitioning, dispensing, use of, and recording of narcotics, medications, and supplies in the unit.
• Evaluates the work performance and attributes of nursing personnel and prepares reports and recommendations for supervision.
• Instructs and orients new staff members and continuously interprets and instructs personnel for higher standards.
• Participates, through proper channels, in planning for budget organization, utilization of physical facilities, use of supplies and materials, and standards of patient care and objectives.
• Responsible for the instruction and care for students and volunteer workers assigned to the unit. Maintains a dignified professional association with hospital personnel and the public.
• Participates actively in civic, educational, and professional organizations.
• 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.

Experience

One (1) year of experience as a general duty nurse.

License

Current and valid registration as a professional registered 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 principles, procedures, and methods of professional nursing and hospital organization.
• Knowledge of organizing assigned nursing and supervisory work and developing effective work methods.
• Knowledge of sterilization, immunization, and diagnoses.
• Knowledge of the preparation and maintenance of accurate medical and other records.
• Knowledge of the precaution to be taken in the use of narcotics and other medications and treatments.
• Ability to analyze, comprehend, and interpret professional nursing problems.
• Ability to organize assigned nursing and supervisory work.
• Ability to develop effective work methods.
• Ability to provide suitable assignments and instructions.
• Ability to work harmoniously with associates.
• Ability to develop suitable work schedules for assigned employees.
• Ability to handle, dispense, direct the use of, and keep records of narcotics, medications, and other supplies.
• Ability to apply the principles, procedures, and practices of nursing to specific cases.
• Ability to observe and report symptoms and conditions of patients.
• Ability to administer medications.
• Ability to prepare requisitions for medications, equipment, and supplies.
• Ability to establish and maintain informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain records and files.
• 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.
• <b>SPECIAL NOTE</b>
• The intermittent designation shall be utilized only where the work responsibilities are characterized by unpredictable work schedules that do not meet normal criteria of regular, year- round full-time or part-time assignments. Such category is not to displace or be used in place of regular full-time or part-time employees.
• <b>Assignment of Work</b> Assignment of work hours to intermittent employees shall be based on managerial needs and shall be limited to work that is appropriate to the class title.
• <b>Furlough and Recall</b> Whenever it is necessary to furlough intermittent employees, furloughing will be done in the inverse order of seniority based on official records at the end of the last pay period. A furlough means that an intermittent employee cannot be scheduled for work within the next week. Reasonable advance written notice of furlough action shall be given to the employee. A furlough will not be considered a layoff and will not require the issuance of the forty-five (45) day notices. The seniority organization unit for purposes of furlough selection will be employees currently working in a designated work unit, prior to use by the appointing authority, designated work units must be submitted to and approved by the NJ Department of Personnel. Seniority shall be determined by the number of regular hours worked by the intermittent employee. Recall from furlough will be made in seniority order from the most senior to the least senior employee from among furloughed employees who are assigned within a designated work unit that may be the local office and/or satellite office. In cases of equal seniority, the tie will be broken by determining the number of hours the employees were in pay status under special service during the last two-(2) years immediately preceding their conversion to an intermittent title. Recall of employees may be extended on a regional or statewide basis if the recall list for the work unit has been exhausted.
• When the recall procedure is extended beyond the work unit, or when the recall is for less than four hours of work, the termination actions listed below will not apply when the intermittent employees cannot be contacted or refuses an offer of recall. However, when an offer of recall is accepted to a work unit other than the one from which the employee was furloughed, the new work unit will become the employee's seniority organization unit for future furlough and recall actions.
• Recall actions shall be initiated during the first two-(2) hours or the last two (2) hours of the workday. If the department is unable to contact the employee during these times, the next employee on the recall list will be called until a sufficient number has been secured. If a department is unable to contact an employee on two (2) consecutive occasions, the employee shall be notified in writing of the specific dates and times the contacts were made. Employees will be given five (5) calendar days from date of receipt to advise of their current availability for future scheduling. Failure to respond as directed shall be considered a resignation. If on the next occasion the same employee is unavailable, this also shall be considered a resignation.
• Intermittent employees who are contacted and refuse an offer of recall for reasons other than verified illness, disability, or approved leave may be resigned.

Note

The 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.