Director of Nursing - (24000B1S)
Description
The Massachusetts Mental Health Center, a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Department of Mental Health is seeking a dynamic Director of Nursing to oversee the daily operations of nursing staff and services across the Center’s behavioral health continuum. This role ensures that psychiatric nursing care is delivered efficiently and in line with established standards and protocols. The Director of Nursing will lead by example, fostering a collaborative work environment while guiding, mentoring, and supervising the nursing team.
Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):
- Provides discipline-specific supervision and support to all nursing staff across the Center’s continuum of services (clinic and 24/7 shelter) ensuring the care delivered is in line with behavioral health/medical standards and is responsive to the needs of the people who access services through the Center.
- Functions as the Infection Control Manager for the Center, ensuring that all protocols are followed, all precautions are taken to prevent exposure, and that all appropriate reporting including industrial accident reports are submitted if/when an exposure incident occurs. Also ensures the disposal of biohazardous materials is performed in line with agency policy and procedures.
- Works with contracted laboratory services to ensure that all labs are appropriately charged and billed.
- Collaborates with staff to maintain an up-to-date inventory of clinic supplies, ensuring timely orders for necessary supplies, and oversees the regular maintenance of all medical equipment at MMHC to ensure proper functioning.
- Acts as a senior member of the nursing staff, contributing nursing perspectives in all administrative and departmental meetings.
- Provides clinical coverage when staff/clinicians are absent or unavailable, including Fenwood Inn, which operates 24/7, and offers leadership and support for assigned MMHC department(s), facilitating department meetings and ensuring adequate coverage.
- Promotes teamwork within assigned department(s) by demonstrating flexibility, listening to others' views, compromising, handling conflict, and staying focused on achieving positive outcomes.
- Encourages staff and persons served to foster an atmosphere of safety and respect at MMHC.
- Ensures that assigned staff follow agency risk mitigation policies and procedures for reporting significant events/incidents, completes required documentation, and serves as a lead for public health audits.
- Follows established guidelines for performance reviews, providing reviews no less than every 6 months. Offers behavioral descriptions of staff strengths and weaknesses and ensures that supervisors conduct similar reviews for their respective teams. Reports staff performance and development plans to department heads, provides feedback, and develops corrective action plans as needed.
- Identifies behaviors or patterns that hinder optimal treatment or agency functioning, meets with involved individuals to gather information and feedback, and develops plans for corrective action. Monitors implementation and adapts the plan as necessary.
- Represents the nursing team in the larger community mental health landscape and engages in outreach to promote nursing perspectives on mental health awareness and access to care.
- Performs other duties as required/assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of nursing. as well as the terminology and standard abbreviations used in nursing.
- Familiar with the problems in providing nursing services to special client groups: mentally handicapped.
- Understands the methods and techniques followed in collecting/transporting laboratory
- Trained in the standard nursing policies, procedures, methods, and techniques as well as the principles of physiological, psychological, and emotional growth and development
- Familiar with the types and characteristics of drugs used in treating physical and mental disorders.
- Well versed in the uses of diagnostic procedures employed in nursing practice, interviewing and problem-solving techniques and the psychotherapies and principles of psychosocial rehabilitation.
- Ability to understand and apply rules, regulations, and laws governing agency and unit operations, interpret documents, physician orders, treatment plans, maintain accurate records, and give clear and precise oral and written instructions.
- Adept participating in a multi-disciplinary health care team, exercising sound judgment, making decisions and acting quickly in emergency situations.
- Skilled establishing rapport and dealing effectively with persons from diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles.
- Able to maintain confidentiality of client information, motivate clients to participate in individual treatment plans and treat and interact with persons who are under physical/emotional stress.
- Proficient assessing, analyzing, drawing conclusions and determining the applicability of clinical data in order to make and/or take appropriate actions, recommendations, or referrals.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledgeable about the laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing agency and unit, as well as the types and uses of agency and unit forms.
- Familiar with public and private community-based resources for clients.
- Experienced with the safety practices and procedures followed by agency and unit
- Well informed about newer therapies, interventions and behavioral techniques
Please Note: The hours for this position are 9am to 5:30pm, and may vary depending upon the clinical staffing needs of the Nursing Team. Employees in this position will be required to perform mandatory overtime
About The Massachusetts Mental Health Center
The Massachusetts Mental Health Center (MMHC) is a Department of Mental Health operated community mental health center located in the Longwood Medical area of Boston, Massachusetts.
In its state-of-the-art facility, MMHC offers a vast range of community mental health services and remains one of the most preeminent community mental health teaching programs in the country.
DMH Mission Statement
The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights, and supports mental health training and research.
Pre-Offer Process
A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the
ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as a registered nurse in a recognized hospital, clinic, or medical facility and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions
- A Graduate degree with a major in nursing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*
No substitutions will be allowed for the required (B) experience.
- Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LEVELS IN SERIES: Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.*
- Recent graduates from an approved school of nursing must have applied for the first available registered nurse examination.
Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license may be required.
Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title: Registered Nurse VI
Primary Location
: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-75 Fenwood Road
Job
: Medical Services
Agency
: Department of Mental Health
Schedule
: Full-time
Shift
: Day
Job Posting
: Jan 7, 2025, 2:28:49 PM
Number of Openings
: 1
Salary
: 111,646.60 - 186,300.66 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: William Herbert/William.L.Herbert3@mass.gov - 6173488473
Bargaining Unit: 07-MNA - Professional Health Care
Confidential: Yes
Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: No
