Assistant Unit Director - Adult Inpatient Dialysis

Involved in ensuring optimal patient outcomes through effective leadership and / or provision of patient care delivery in assigned nursing unit(s) or area(s). Promotes environment for a shared voice in nursing practice and exchange of ideas to continually improve nursing and patient care outcomes. Accountable for the quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. Consults and collaborates with other health care professionals to coordinate the management of patient care. Serves as a resource to staff, physicians, students and others.

Supervises staff involved in providing clinical patient care. Assists in ensuring the quality of patient care delivery in a specific patient care area and serves as a role model for professional nursing practice. Assists with the administration and management of personnel, fiscal, and material resources. May assume full responsibility for the unit in delegated areas and in the absence of the manager.

Under general supervision of the Unit Director and the Medical Director, the Assistant Unit Director (AUD) has primary administrative responsibility for clinical operations of the Adult Inpatient Dialysis programs at Stanyan, Hyde, and Mt. Zion. The Assistant Unit Director works with providers and staff to develop, monitor, and continuously improve systems pertaining to all aspects of patient care. They supervise all clinical staff including RNs, Certified Hemodialysis Technicians, Analysts and Administrative Assistants, facilitating positive interactions with providers, patients, and other departments. The Assistant Unit Direcotr is responsible for assuring licensure, competency and skills training and documentation for all clinical staff. In the supervisory role, the AUD works to establish and promote teamwork among practice staff.

The AUD also provides dialysis treatments to patient population, as needed, facilitating continuity of care and patient satisfaction. Responsibilities include staffing the sites as needed. The Assistant Unit Director consistently projects a professional and courteous demeanor. The AUD shall comply with the Medical Center House and Telephone Standards.

The AUD will serve as a liaison to Pharmacy, Quality Management and Performance Improvement to introduce new quality guidelines, to meet new standards and to measure existing performance. The AUD is responsible for leading site surveys including Department of Health Services surveys, health-plan reviews, and JCAHO surveys. They are a key liaison between the Nephrology Team and the unt. Responsibilities also include overseeing ordering of supplies and medications for the practices and assuring Pharmacy guidelines are met.

The Assistant Unit Director will develop and maintain relationships with other inpatient and outpatient services to assure a smooth continuum of care for the patients (including Apheresis Hemodialysis Unit (AHU), Pediatric Dialysis Unit, Mount Zion Outpatient Dialysis), to support teaching objectives and to provide overall administrative coordination. The AUD assumes primary responsibility for point of clinical performance measures, infection control, and clinical safety measures and training.

The AUD will be responsible for evaluating and implementing new program specific clinical and operational protocols and for maintaining existing protocols and will support the development of new primary care based clinics and services.

The Adult Inpatient Dialysis program supports inpatient dialysis at Stanyan, Hyde, Mt. Zion, Parnassus and Mission Bay campuses. Renal failure patients who require dialysis while hospitalized at UCSF, are cared for by the dialysis staff.

UCSF dialysis nurses have strong nephrology and dialysis backgrounds. All nurses are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and competent in telemetry monitoring.

Nurses work as a team to provide dialysis and apheresis treatments to a diverse patient population with various nursing needs and medical diagnosis. A dynamic patient census challenges staff to be flexible and organized in their approach to patient care while maintaining the standards of care defined by the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA).

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of two years of experience as a nurse in an inpatient dialysis unit
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
• Demonstrated skills to effectively supervise clinicians and to manage the complex workflow and multiple priorities involved with a patient care unit.
• In-depth knowledge of patient care clinical standards and care delivery, systems, external regulations, and internal policies.
• Strong knowledge of human resources management policies, with the ability to train, monitor, evaluate, and document human resources matters and employee performance. Provides input to decision-makers on human resources matters.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to quickly analyze problems, determine the appropriate level of intervention, and develop and apply effective solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective information exchange and problem solving with all levels of management and staff, consultants and outside agencies.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to train and mentor subordinates, to convey complex clinical and technical information in a clear and concise manner. Prepares and presents a variety of reports, documentation, analyses, and project proposals.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Registered Nurse in the State of California
• Active American Heart Association BLS certification
• Active American Heart Association ACLS certification (within three months of start date)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Specialty certification in hemodialysis and/or apheresis
• Apheresis experience
• Knowledge of business software and specialized applications and data management systems used in nursing units or departments.
• Knowledge of relevant healthcare information technology and patient care workflows and processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements, as well as related legislative, accreditation, licensing, and compliance environments.
• Proven ability to organize, manage multiple priorities, and delegate work functions efficiently.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of two years of experience as a nurse in an inpatient dialysis unit
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing
• Demonstrated skills to effectively supervise clinicians and to manage the complex workflow and multiple priorities involved with a patient care unit.
• In-depth knowledge of patient care clinical standards and care delivery, systems, external regulations, and internal policies.
• Strong knowledge of human resources management policies, with the ability to train, monitor, evaluate, and document human resources matters and employee performance. Provides input to decision-makers on human resources matters.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to quickly analyze problems, determine the appropriate level of intervention, and develop and apply effective solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective information exchange and problem solving with all levels of management and staff, consultants and outside agencies.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to train and mentor subordinates, to convey complex clinical and technical information in a clear and concise manner. Prepares and presents a variety of reports, documentation, analyses, and project proposals.

Required Licenses/Certifications:

• Registered Nurse in the State of California
• Active American Heart Association BLS certification
• Active American Heart Association ACLS certification (within three months of start date)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Specialty certification in hemodialysis and/or apheresis
• Apheresis experience
• Knowledge of business software and specialized applications and data management systems used in nursing units or departments.
• Knowledge of relevant healthcare information technology and patient care workflows and processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements, as well as related legislative, accreditation, licensing, and compliance environments.
• Proven ability to organize, manage multiple priorities, and delegate work functions efficiently.