POSITION TITLE: Surgery Nursing Director

DEPARTMENT: Surgery  

EMPLOYEE REPORTS TO: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

SUPERVISES: N/A

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Part-time

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

This job description is a record of the essential functions of the listed job. The job description provides the employee, CEO, Human Resources, applicants and other agencies with a clear understanding of the job, where it fits into the organization, and the skill and work requirements in relation to other jobs. Jobs are always changing to some degree and the existence of the approved job description is not intended to limit normal change and growth. The facility will make reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified individuals who are capable of performing the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Surgery Nursing Director is responsible for overseeing all peri-operative nursing duties within the Surgery Department including pre-op, intra-operative care & recovery room, ensuring regulatory compliance, adherence to nursing processes, and the delivery of high-quality patient care. The Surgery Nursing Director supervises all nursing duties of personnel in surgical areas and is responsible for the coordination of the Total Joint Program. This role reports directly to the CAO but collaborates with the Director of Nursing on nursing-related matters and OR manager on all administrative and non-nursing technical aspects of OR management.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of California.
• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.
• Current CPR certification.
• 2-5 years of experience in the OR, with a minimum of 2 years of experience in nursing management.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, with completion of a critical care class, including basic arrhythmia interpretation.
• Knowledge and experience in the perioperative care of surgical patients.
• Ability to work under stressful situations and make sound decisions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills to promote conflict resolution and staff development.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Position-Specific Performance Measures:

• Direct and supervise nursing staff in the OR, post-anesthesia care unit, Central Supply, and surgical coordination.
• Maintain compliance with nursing standards and ensure a safe environment for all patients in the surgical department.
• Review staff performance evaluations and ensure high standards of care are consistently met.
• Analyze and implement necessary changes in staffing patterns, training, and processes based on new demands from surgical procedures and equipment.
• Maintain a strong focus on patient care, staff morale, and productivity.
• Ensure regular and effective communication with staff, hold timely staff meetings, and provide opportunities for discussion of issues or concerns.
• Participate in maintaining the Quality Assurance Program, reviewing patient and staff incidents and complaints, and taking appropriate action as needed.

Essential Functions:

1. Direct and supervise all nursing personnel in the OR, post-anesthesia care unit, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and hospital policies.
2. Oversee the perioperative care of patients in the immediate pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative stages, evaluating the quality of nursing care provided.
3. Provide leadership in maintaining high levels of nursing care and a safe environment for all patients within the surgery department.
4. Ensure nursing policies and procedures are up to date and in compliance with hospital and regulatory standards; collaborate with medical staff and committees to establish and maintain OR department policies.
5. Act as a liaison between OR services, medical staff, and hospital administration, ensuring smooth coordination and communication.
6. Supervise and assist with the scheduling of surgical procedures, working closely with surgeons, clinics, and other departments to maximize OR effectiveness and capacity.
7. Control the quality and quantity of nursing care by updating policies, establishing performance standards, analyzing needs, and implementing necessary training or changes.
8. Conduct performance evaluations of nursing staff, providing supportive counseling and guidance where needed.
9. Ensure that staff meetings are held regularly and that policies and procedural changes are communicated effectively to all personnel.
10. Manage the review and selection of supplies, instruments, and equipment in coordination with cost controls.
11. Coordinate with the facilities manager and Infection Control staff regarding physical facilities and processes to maintain a sterile and safe surgical environment.
12. Participate in Quality Assurance Programs, including monitoring statistics, absenteeism, turnover, patient and physician complaints, and incidents involving employees or patients, ensuring appropriate follow-up.
13. Anticipate staffing needs and coordinate with other department managers to ensure appropriate staffing levels without downtime; plan staffing at least two weeks in advance.
14. Make daily rounds in all surgical areas, ensuring sound nursing judgment, effective work processes, and economical use of supplies and equipment.
15. Serve as a pre-operative, post-operative, central supply technician, or scrub nurse as necessary; function as a house supervisor or float to other nursing departments when surgical schedules are slow.
16. Participate in nursing leadership meetings and associated hospital committees, contributing to overall hospital nursing management and decision-making.

Total Joint Program Coordination Duties:

1. Serve as a liaison between OR leadership, ORs, patients within the service line, and the physician's offices and care teams.
2. Possess expertise in sterile and aseptic technique and apply knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and relevant tools and technologies for invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, in accordance with AORN standards.
3. Maintain flexibility while contributing to individualized, ongoing care within the scope of nursing practice.
4. Model effective, timely communication with the perioperative team, fully participating in Time Out Processes, including briefings and debriefings.
5. Maintain currency in new technologies and procedures, including instrumentation and equipment.
6. Assist with patient coordination, ensuring operating efficiencies, throughput, and an optimal patient experience.
7. Perform follow-up communication and documentation throughout the patient experience, including patient updates, issues, and scheduling, via electronic health record (EHR) platforms and coordinate with clinical providers through 90 days post-surgery.
8. Identify and escalate concerns as needed regarding patient care and experience, and report patient experience and service concerns through leadership, ensuring documentation of occurrences.
9. Intervene and escalate patient medical concerns through the OR Manager and associated clinical team, ensuring proper documentation is completed in the patient charting system.
10. Collaborate with interdisciplinary groups to ensure the quality and delivery of services for the Total Joint Service Line.
11. Assist Case Management with auditing patient status orders before, during, and post-surgery for consistency and claim accuracy.
12. Perform other duties as assigned, ensuring compliance with HIPAA.
13. Obtain Orthopedic Nurse Certification (ONC) within one year of hire

HOSPITAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Attendance/Tardiness:

• Does not abuse or take advantage of sick time or personal days off. The standard is 5 unscheduled absences in a 12 month period. 
• Reports to work as scheduled; is consistently ready to work at start of the assigned shift. Returns from lunches and breaks on time. The standard is 5 occurrences in a 12 month period.  
• Provides proper notification for absence or tardiness.  

Confidentiality:

• Maintains the confidentiality of patient and facility records and information.
• Discusses confidential or sensitive information only with appropriate parties, privately – never in public places. 

Customer Service:

• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you get along with customers, co-workers and managers. 
• Effectively meets the needs of those served in a compassionate, responsive and courteous manner. 
• Demonstrate appropriate customer relations communications skills, actively listening, maintaining eye contact, using guest names, anticipating customer needs, and proactively offering assistance.
• Answer the telephone with a smile, identifying your department and yourself and speak in a professional, friendly tone. 

Culture Sensitivity / Age Specific:

• Respects cultural and religious differences.  
• Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide services appropriate to the age of the customers served in his/her assigned area. The skills and knowledge needed to provide such care may be gained through education, training or experience. 

Ethics:

• Conducts hospital business in an ethical and lawful manner and is willing to report any knowledge of real or potential fraud or abuse according to the CMC Code of Conduct.  

Interpersonal Skills:

• Is sensitive to the needs, feelings and capabilities of others. Approaches others in a non-threatening and pleasant manner and treats them with respect. 

Professionalism:

• Must adhere to all CMC policies and procedures.  
• Observes hospital/department dress code. 
• Wears hospital ID badge with name clearly visible. 

Safety:

• Demonstrates knowledge of hospital and departmental safety regulations, disaster plans, infection control policies, fire safety regulations, and hazardous materials protocol
• Always utilizes Standard Precautions for infection control.   
• Demonstrates a working knowledge and understanding of National Patient Safety goals.
• Responds to and uses disaster codes appropriately.
• Maintain a quiet, clean and safe work environment. 

Teamwork:

• Cooperate and perform duties in a way that helps your co-workers throughout the hospital perform their duties. 
• Address concerns with co-workers professionally and privately.  
• Actively participates as a member of a team or department to get the work completed. Demonstrates flexibility and cooperation. Helps to remove obstacles for the team to reach goals. 

Values:

• Looks for ways to better themselves and the hospital. Does not remain idle; is hard working, self motivated. 
• Able to demonstrate hospital values by his/her action. 

Corporate Compliance:

1. Conduct hospital business in an ethical and lawful manner and is willing to report any knowledge of real or potential fraud or abuse according to the CMC Code of Conduct.  

An individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

DESCRIPTION OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Stand 2/3 & more
• Walk 2/3 & more
• Sit 2/3 & more
• Talk or hear Up to 1/3
• Use hands to finger, handle, feel 2/3 & more
• Push/pull 2/3 & more
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl 2/3 & more
• Reach with hands and arms 2/3 & more
• Taste or smell Up to 1/3
• Climbs stairs 0

This job requires that weight be lifted or force be exerted.

• Up to 10 pounds 2/3 & more
• Up to 25 pounds 2/3 & more
• Up to 50 pounds 2/3 & more
• Up to 100 pounds Up to 1/3
• More than 100 pounds 0

This job may have special vision requirements.

• Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less)
• Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
• Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
• Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point)
• Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)
• Ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus)

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Wet, humid conditions (non-weather) 0
• Work near moving mechanical parts Up to 1/3
• Fumes or airborne particles Up to 1/3
• Toxic or caustic chemicals Up to 1/3
• Outdoor weather conditions 0
• Extreme cold (non-weather) 0
• Extreme heat (non-weather) 0
• Risk of electrical shock Up to 1/3

The typical noise level for the work environment is:

• Moderate noise

Hearing:

• Ability to hear alarms of equipment
• Ability to hear patient call
• Ability to hear instructions from physicians or staff

REPETITIVE MOTION ACTIONS:

Repetitive use of foot control

Right only 0

Left only 0

Both 0

Repetitive use of hands

Right only 5-6

Left only 5-6

Both 5-6

Grasping; simple/light

Right only 5-6

Left only 5-6

Both 5-6

Grasping: firm/heavy

Right only 1-2

Left only 1-2

Both 1-2

Fine dexterity

Right only 3-4

Left only 3-4

Both 3-4

WORKPLACE BEHAVIORS

I. RESULTS ORIENTATION – Meets current objectives and positions the organization for future growth. Completes daily tasks and assignments and processes large volumes of work associated with the operation of the department.

II. SOCIAL SENSITIVITY - Builds positive relationships based on respect for others. Demonstrates a helpful, positive attitude. Maintains effective communication with peers, medical staff, patients, visitors, and families.

III. QUALITY OUTCOMES – Meets and exceeds expectations of internal and external customers. All organizational and departmental standards regarding quality of performance are met. Demonstrates a strong commitment to confidentiality. Participates in quality improvement programs as directed.

IV. SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT – Demonstrates an awareness of and adherence to safety and legal requirements established at the facility with an emphasis on maintaining a safe environment for all persons working in the facility.

A. Accident/Injury Reporting – Reports any accidents, injuries, and unsafe equipment and conditions to supervisor by the end of the shift and reports any pre-existing conditions as identified by the ADA.

B. Unsafe Conditions – Immediately reports and corrects, if possible, unsafe conditions or equipment.

C. Workplace Standards – Compiles with relevant regulations, standards and policies governing safe workplace environment (OSHA, Accreditation, etc.)

D. Safety Techniques – Maintains current knowledge of all aspects of the facility’s safety program by attending safety-related training as mandated upon hire and thereafter as required by facility.

E. Modified Work – Accepts modified work assignments after receiving the physician’s release to return to work following an accident/ injury. 

F. Follows Prescribed/Recommended Treatment – Follows the prescribed/recommended treatment given by treating physician(s) after an accident/injury.

V. EDUCATION – Participates in required in-services and educational programs on an ongoing basis.

VI. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY – Follows all facility guidelines outlining standards of attendance and punctuality. Responsible for reporting to and completing work at assigned times.

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

Universal precautions will be observed in order to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Under circumstances in which differentiation between body fluid types is difficult or impossible, all body fluids shall be considered potentially infectious materials. All blood or other potentially infectious materials will be considered infectious regardless of the status. The category shown below is designed to communicate the risk of exposure for this particular position.