The Senior Nursing Director is a senior nurse executive accountable for overseeing oncology nurse navigation (ONN) practice throughout Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). They work collaboratively with Physicians, nurses, and other clinical and administrative leaders to achieve program goals and objectives. They serve as a member of the medical, administrative and nursing team leading DFCI ONN nursing practice, accountable to a nurse executive. They collaborate with interdepartmental and multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure optimal patient and family-focused care, and in collaboration with their physician and administrative colleagues is accountable for programs and services related to nursing navigation for oncology care across the continuum throughout DFCI.
Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
Vision & Strategy - As a member of the Nursing Leadership team and with guidance from the Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Nursing Leadership team, develops and articulates the vision for oncology nursing navigation practice at DFCI and communicates that vision across all areas.
- Works collaboratively with Provider and Operational Leadership across DFCI in leading the implementation of the strategic initiatives. Participates in the development of the DFCI’s plan for the recruitment and retention of oncology nurse navigators and other clinical and nonclinical staff to assure enough and complement of staff to meet the needs of the patient population.
- Demonstrates leadership in forecasting trends in the effective management of human, financial, material and informational resources related to nurse navigation.
Clinical Operations and Care - Provides goal-directed visionary leadership for the staff and establishes and exemplifies a collaborative practice model in concert with physician, nursing and Institute leadership.
- Assumes joint strategic planning and decision-making responsibility for clinical operations with the physician and administrator co-leader.
- Collaborates with clinical area leaders to share ideas, identify patient care and operations issues and to address and resolve broader nursing issues.
- Develops, implements and continually refines structures, functions, processes, policies and procedures and channels of communication, which meet quality patient care standards, needs of patients/families, needs of individuals providing care and goals of the Institute.
- Continues to develop and implement nursing navigation care consistent with national and Institute clinical practice standards.
- Assures that clinical and administrative information systems support multidisciplinary practice and workflow, and that appropriate data are collected, analyzed and presented to nurse, physician and administrator leaders.
Patient and Family-Centered Care - Serves as a strong advocate for the oncology patient and family and embodies the patient/family-centered care model that is the binding premise on which care is delivered at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
- Assures that active involvement of patients and families occurs within all multidisciplinary disease centers and organizational task forces and committees.
- Assures mechanisms of communications with the inpatient adult services to assure that patient and family-focused care occurs across the continuum.
Nursing - Supports the vision, mission and values of the Department of Nursing and leads various initiatives to achieve the annual goals of the department.
- Assures that proper nursing credentialing systems are implemented and monitored, working collaboratively with the Center of Clinical and Professional Development Director and Human Resources.
- Ensures the highest quality of professional and clinical service, meeting and maintaining Magnet criteria and compliance with all regulatory standards.
- Recruits, hires and mentors quality nursing leaders and staff and supports their ongoing professional development and learning.
Quality Monitoring and Improvement - Develops systems for monitoring quality, cost and outcomes, developing and implementing methodologies for assuring compliance with patient care standards, laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements and standards and requirements of various professional organizations and agencies.
- Collaborates with nursing, physician and administrative leadership to coordinate preparations for accreditation surveys and maintain adherence to required standards.
- Assures the development and implementation of educational programs, which meet the educational needs of staff and offer opportunities to staff for ongoing professional development.
Collaborative Work Environment - Collaborates with the medical and nursing leadership, along with other multidisciplinary and interdepartmental colleagues, to promote departmental integration and cohesiveness and to ensure high-quality patient care, using a patient-focused and customer-oriented approach.
- Develops and empowers the staff to enhance customer satisfaction and effectively communicate, coordinate and integrate with other disciplines to achieve improved and cost-effective services and patient outcomes.
- Supports and serves as a role model in an open, compassionate and collaborative working environment built on supportive and collegial professional relationships in an evolving matrix organization.
- Manages resources successfully to assure that the orientation, education, evaluation, certification and retention needs of the staff are met in collaboration with the Center of Clinical and Professional Development Director and Human Resources.
- Collaborates with other members of Institute leadership to direct activities and initiatives towards the goal of continual enhancement and improvement of existing programs and the creation and development of new programs and services in ambulatory oncology care.
Financial Planning and Management - Determines best practice models of interdisciplinary care, focusing on quality, safety and efficiency.
- Uses management information systems to determine trends, forecasts and marketing strategies, which have implication for the Institute’s operational and strategic direction.
- Develops and manages an operational plan and related budgets in collaboration with appropriate support staff.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in developing financial plans for new and existing programs.
Personnel Management: - Works continually to educate, develop and mentor NPCS leadership staff (nurse directors, nurse managers and clinical specialists) and actively promotes their professional growth.
- Oversees the hiring, orientation, evaluation, coaching and mentoring of nursing staff in accordance with Institute policies and collective bargaining agreement.
- Creates and continually supports an environment which enables staff to participate in the attainment of Institute goals and objectives, plan and negotiate needs of the patient/family, participate in performance improvement activities and accept responsibility for their own professional growth and competence.
- Determines and manages patient care services’ human resource requirements and plays an active role in recruitment and retention of staff and development of programs that meet these requirements.
- Participates in the development, implementation and monitoring of performance standards and performance management systems to assure continuous improvement of the quality of service and care.
- Holds leadership staff accountable for meeting Institute, NPCS and individual goals.
- Creates an environment that recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence and teamwork.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required
- An energetic and flexible team player and team builder who is creative, diplomatic and can function autonomously.
- Strategically focused, able to effectively manage multiple competing demands and proactively negotiate priorities.
- Experienced and skilled in working collaboratively with physicians in a joint leadership model.
- An individual who enthusiastically advocates for and champions the nursing profession.
- Possesses a sense of humor, enjoys celebrating the successes of staff and provides staff with positive feedback and praise.
- A politically astute risk-taker who facilitates an environment of innovation, is comfortable with, and enjoys working in, a rapidly changing environment.
- Able to communicate in an accurate, clear, concise, positive and timely manner, consensus oriented and a good listener.
- Appropriately utilizes effective conflict resolution skills.
- Positively motivates others to reach their maximum potential.
- Effectively articulates beliefs, philosophy and progressive vision.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes. This role will have a mix of direct supervision for oncology nurse navigation leadership and indirect supervision for oncology nurse navigation leadership in the regional campuses and other potential departments.
The Senior Director directly supervise nurse managers, nurse directors, clinical specialists, and has matrixed dotted line leadership to leaders of other ONNs throughout DFCI.
- Registered nurse with 10 -15 years’ experience in health care required. Progressive executive leadership experience is required. Oncology nursing experience preferred.
- Baccalaureate and master’s degrees required, one in nursing, DNP or PhD preferred.
- Board certification in oncology nursing and nursing administrative certification highly preferred.
- Current nursing licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.
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