Provide managerial and clinical leadership for the Adult Psychiatry Inpatient Unit (7RC). The Nurse Manager will ensure that all staff provide safe clinical care and have the education, methods, and resources to accomplish their performance objectives.
This Nurse Manager will have oversight of 56 FTE’s to include registered nurses, psych nursing assistants, nursing unit clerks, and behavioral health consultants.
7RCP is separated into a 12-bed mood disorder unit and a 13-bed general adult psychiatry unit. We utilize an evidence-based, patient-centered, interdisciplinary approach, with contributions from physicians, psychologists, advanced practice providers, master-level therapists, nurses, social workers, dieticians, occupational and recreational therapists, all striving to work collaboratively with patients and families to provide the best possible care. 7RCP features a new and collaborative position, Behavioral Health Consultant, with a goal to elevate the patient and team outcomes. Evidence-based therapeutic modalities utilized on the unit include dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and trauma-informed care.
Positions in this job family usually have limited involvement in direct patient care and focus their efforts on planning, organizing, directing, evaluating, and improving health care operations, clinical education programs and research programs of clinical and health service departments.
Human Resources Management
Hire, develop, and manage the performance of staff in a nursing unit, clinic, or other patient care area. Responsible for talent management of staff and identifying succession plan strategies. Follow and apply leave management policies. Knowledgeable of and implement human resources policies/procedures and provisions in the collective bargaining agreements.
Hiring
Makes effective and timely recommendations in matters of hiring, promotion, transfer, and disciplinary action(s). Makes appropriate hiring decisions.
Staff Development
Manages the talents, strengths, and behaviors of each individual in a diverse work group and provides each employee with the opportunity to contribute to the goals of the unit. Actively seeks participation from staff on decision-making and customer service improvement activities; provides staff incentives and rewards for contributions toward achievement of service excellence. Demonstrates commitment to people; coaches staff to participate in team decision-making. Develops and implements succession planning.
Performance Management
Assures performance expectations are clearly understood. Holds staff accountable to meet or exceed patient needs/expectations as well as maintain standards of collaboration and respect within and among multidisciplinary teams. Completes staff evaluations on time with written, solid justification.
Leave Management
Reviews attendance data, recognizes trends, and takes appropriate follow-up with staff. Knowledgeable of University of Iowa policies and Federal laws regarding leave and accommodation processes.
Employee & Labor Relations
Adheres to all UI Health Care guidelines and Labor-Management agreements. Creates an atmosphere that provides for effective recruitment and retention of qualified staff.
Other
Ensures that all employees are treated with respect and in a manner consistent with University policies related to equal employment opportunity and diversity. Encourages staff/employees to meet or exceed customer needs and expectations.
Financial and Data Management and Analysis
Prepare budget or assist in development; provide projections and recommendations. Monitor and maintain unit/clinic operating budget within specified targets. Analyze variances and create action plans to take corrective action. Understand financial implications of collective bargaining agreements. Monitors unit operating budget, maintains unit within the budgeted HPPD target; analyzes variance and creates corrective action for expense reduction if needed. Develops a staffing plan and monitors staffing costs, manages inventory levels, tracks supply usage, and develops cost containment strategies. Forecasts expenses and capital needs, participates in capital budget development, and plans ahead for capital equipment replacement. Participates in the development of the unit operating budget, reviews staffing plan, develops a plan for minor equipment and furniture replacement, reviews service contracts, plans for new supply costs, etc. Is open to creativity in staff scheduling and staff flexibility. Assures that fiscal goals are clearly understood by staff and that objectives are met. Motivates staff to high performance by exercising strong stewardship of university resources.
Operations, Standards of Care, Regulatory Compliance, Quality, and Patient Satisfaction
Provide leadership to establish and/or maintain efficient and effective systems to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Identify trends and determine quality initiatives and priorities. Allocate resources to meet quality and productivity expectations. Review patient experience data and develop, implement, and evaluate plan(s) to enhance the patient experience. Ensure unit is survey ready. Provides managerial and clinical leadership for twenty-four-hour provision of patient care to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Provides leadership to establish and/or maintain efficient and effective systems of clinical nursing service within the area of responsibility. Consistently makes sound judgments after gathering factual, objective information. Identifies inefficiencies in current practice/processes, demonstrates tolerance for change, and develops a means to enhance the process. Incorporates the principles of Service Excellence to ensure positive patient/customer relations. Formulates, reviews, and revises policies and other standards of professional practice essential for optimum delivery of patient service; assures compliance with established standards of care (practice and performance). Creates and maintains a workplace of choice, which motivates employees to work at optimal efficiency; encourages staff to regularly establish goals and objectives toward career development. Ensures the unit is survey ready, including physical plant, staffing levels, staff education/competencies, and policies/procedures.
Patient Care/Services Delivery
Assess care coordination within the multidisciplinary team to maximize patient satisfaction and continuity of care. Identify needs, trends, and forecasts to provide quality patient care and ensure appropriate flex staffing. Assesses care coordination within the multidisciplinary team to maximize customer service and continuity of care. Monitors patient volume and ongoing changes in patient diversity, acuity, and complexity. Develops flexible staffing and reallocates priorities to ensure optimal patient care.
Planning and Goal Management
Develop action plans for the unit/clinic or division that meet healthcare strategic goals. Monitor/evaluate goal implementation and provide progress reports to nursing leadership. Interprets, communicates, implements, and monitors goals and objectives articulated in the institutional, departmental, and/or divisional strategic plan. Functions innovatively and looks beyond current reality to forecast future direction, takes risks, challenges traditional assumptions, and solves problems creatively. Uses customer feedback in planning and providing service.
Communication/Collaboration
Advocate for needs of unit/clinic with healthcare leaders. Facilitate multidisciplinary participation in clinical problem-solving. Utilize unit councils to identify opportunities for improvement and innovative models of care using a multidisciplinary team to impact patient outcomes. Designs innovative models of care utilizing skills of the multidisciplinary team yielding efficient and effective outcomes. Facilitates multidisciplinary participation in the clinical problem identification and resolution processes; utilizes human resources data and budgetary information to formulate recommendations to Directors/Clinical Functions. Builds and sustains relationships, resolves conflict, handles negotiation effectively, and develops collaborative working relationships.
Education Programs
Educate and mentor staff in the management of complex patient care issues. Provide clinical education and coaching to develop staff competency and professionalism. Participate in and support the education of healthcare students. Coaches staff in the implementation of standards of care, professional development, promotes staff specialty and clinical certifications, and adherence to the standards of regulatory bodies (i.e., The Joint Commission, OSHA, and other regulatory bodies as appropriate). Educates and mentors staff in the management of complex patient care issues. Actively participates in and supports the education of healthcare students. Invests in own continuous learning and skill enhancement.
Research Administration
Encourage staff to participate in evidence-based practice research initiatives and incorporate best practices into unit operations. Actively participates in benchmarking with similar practice sites, seeking and infusing best practices. Facilitates incorporation of quality management and evidence-based practices in nursing care. Supports changes in nursing care using evidence-based practice.
Education
As part of performing the key areas of responsibility and competencies described above, staff members are expected to meet reasonable standards of work quality and quantity, as well as expectations for attendance established by their supervisor. Staff members are also expected to comply with policies governing employee responsibilities and conduct, including those contained in the University Operations Manual.
Effective Communications:
Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools, and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.
We are seeking a Nurse Manager with experience in an academic medical center, preferably working with union staff. This role involves assisting with state and Joint Commission surveys, making previous experience in these areas essential. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to stabilize the unit workforce and bring creative and consistent problem-solving skills to the department. Given the many moving pieces and upcoming enhancements within the department, we need a leader who can collaborate effectively, stay focused on the mission, and prioritize the well-being of both patients and the organization.
University of Iowa Health Care includes a major tertiary- and quaternary-level health care facility, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, UI Health Care Medical Center Downtown in Iowa City, and outpatient clinic facilities across Iowa in population centers such as Waterloo, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids. In 2025, the system will open a three-story hospital and six-story medical office in the nearby community of North Liberty. The health care system employs nearly 20,000 individuals, including over 1,000 staff physicians and dentists, nearly 800 resident and fellow physicians, and more than 5,000 nursing staff members focused on providing outstanding care and service for patients and their families.
UI Hospitals & Clinics is the state’s only comprehensive academic medical center and serves patients from across the state and the region. It includes the main adult-care hospital, a specialized disabilities and development outpatient facility (serving pediatric and adult patients), and UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The 889-inpatient facility (205 pediatric) saw 33,189 admissions and more than 1.2 million clinic visits in FY23.
Joining the system in January of 2024, UI Health Care Medical Center Downtown has 194 beds and offers 24-hour emergency care. Services include Heart and Vascular care, general surgery, orthopedics, wound care, cancer services, and maternity care.
Opening in 2025, UI Health Care North Liberty campus will include a three-story hospital and six-story office building. The new facility will have 36 inpatient beds, 14 emergency care rooms, 12 Operating rooms, and indoor/outdoor physical therapy space.
Rankings and Accolades
