RN Clinical Coordinator | General Surgery

The Clinical Coordinator is responsible for initiating and supporting work efforts that maximize quality, safety, and services in defined perioperative specialties. S/he is accountable for organizing patient care activities and serves as the primary clinical resource to the OR team in the designated specialty to provide quality nursing care. The Clinical Coordinator supports the overall coordination of the surgical specialty and actively collaborates with physicians and staff to facilitate the dynamic environment of perioperative services. Practices professional nursing and promotes patient advocacy in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, CNMC and CSS Policies and Procedures, and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and accountable for their own practice. CNMC and CSS supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large. Responsible for facilitating the activities of the school health services personnel team.

Qualifications:
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree BSN Preferred (Required)

Minimum Work Experience
4 years Experience as an OR RN (Required)
1 year Minimum of 1 year of demonstrated nursing leadership experience. (Preferred)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Adaptability - Maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusting effectively to change by exploring the benefits of trying new approaches, and collaborating with others to make the change successful
Building Partnerships - Developing and leveraging relationships within and across work groups to achieve results
Collaboration - Working cooperatively with others to help a team or work group achieve its goals
Communication - conveying information and ideas clearly and concisely to individuals or groups in an engaging manner that helps them understand and retain the message; listening actively to others. Including of written and verbal skills. Able to read, write, and use English proficiently
Diversity and Inclusion - Being sensitive to culture diversity, race, gender, and other individual differences in the workforce; recognize the value of diverse perspectives and experiences and fosters a work environment reflective of the community at large.
Decision Making - Identifying and understanding problems and opportunities by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting quantitative and qualitative information; choosing the best course of cation by establishing clear decision criteria, generating and evaluating alternatives, and making timely decisions; taking the action that is consistent with available facts and constraints and optimizes probably consequences.
Managing Relationships - Meeting the personal needs of individuals to build trust, encourage two-way communication and strengthen relationships
Managing Work - Effectively managing one's time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently
Participates in the quality improvement activities and uses quality measures to understand individual and unit performance
Works within scope of practice and delegates according to Nurse Practice Act

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse in District of Columbia (Required)Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider (BLS) (Required)
Certified Nurse OR (CNOR) (Preferred)

Functional Accountabilities
Functions in the role of a Clinical Coordinator

• In collaboration with the perioperative team and physicians, plans, organizes, and directs the specialty service under their charge to ensure case readiness• Serve as the primary surgeon interface for the designated surgical specialty(s)• Actively communicates with physicians to plan for resource needs and utilization• Maintain awareness of upcoming surgical cases and arranges adequate resources/resolves conflicts in advance of the surgery• Create and maintain surgical procedure / surgeon preference cards within the specialty to provide a comprehensive description of equipment instrument, room set up, medication and patient care needs necessary for the intraoperative care of the patient undergoing the identified surgery. • Be available daily (when working) to provide clinical expertise and assistance to staff working within the specialty practice.• Display a proactive, positive customer service attitude.
• Demonstrate the ability to respond to multiple demands at once and prioritize and delegate appropriate tasks to all OR team members to facilitate the efficient and safe movement of patients through the OR.
• Communicate with Perioperative leadership / AIC / charge nurse regarding OR room changes that affect the scheduled time of patients.
• Exhibit ethical and professional responsibility to contribute to patient care, customer service, teamwork, and professionalism always.
• Coordinate the ordering and securing of supplies, equipment, and instrumentation• Coordinate the ordering and securing of supplies on behalf of providers in a cost-conscious manner• Facilitate the ordering of specialty instrumentation to ensure broken or missing instruments are repaired or replaced, or to advance new technologies.• Identify need for loaner equipment when necessary.• Monitor proper care and handling of instruments including placement of instruments on case carts• Keep staff aware of status of specialty equipment.• Communicate closely with the SPD manager on the quality, quantity, and functionality of instruments.
• Coordinate new product evaluation for the defined specialty service(s):• Establish effective relationships with manufacture reps• Maintain current knowledge of product innovations• Involve physician and nursing staff with product evaluations• Purchase and or recommend for purchase supplies/instrumentation• Provide input and recommendations for preparation and implementation of capital budget
• In collaboration with Education Team: • Ensure staff are well prepared to optimally perform clinical accountabilities. • Identify team and department education and training needs for the specialty service (s) • Precept / supervise new employees to the specialty service(s) • Educate staff on new or established techniques, technology, and equipment • Teach and enforces department standards for performance, patient care, safety, and service • Informs other team members of orientee's progress and goals when assigning them to work with an orientee • Continually reviews and evaluates the individual's practical application of knowledge and skills, providing additional training as required • Assures appropriate documentation of orientation program vias skills checklist • Suggest daily patient care assignment for orientee in collaboration with Manager and Education team
• Quality and Safety• Demonstrate knowledge and implements patient safety and quality improvements for the defined surgical specialty• Foster a collaborative practice to promote safety, quality and problem solving• Maintains an environment to assure surgical specialty readiness for all accreditation and regulatory surveys• Exhibits an open mind to listen, challenge, and influence patient safety and clinical outcomes
• Supports leadership decisions and initiatives in a positive manner
• Actively participates in the development and revision of department policies
• Provides direct patient care as needed.

Demonstrates the knowledge of risk and safety issues and uses measures to ensure optimal outcomes

• Actively participates in Universal Protocol and timeout, including fire risk assessment with the surgical team prior to the start of the surgical procedure according to hospital policy guidelines
• Validates implants with Surgeon
• Understands purpose of positioning devices and uses them correctly, following policy, to protect the patient from injury and to promote optimal exposure
• Follow established policy and procedures for instrument counts; initiate corrective actions when instrument counts are incorrect
• Verifies medications, concentrations, expiration dates of all medication received on the sterile field in concert with ST, surgeon and Anesthesia provider
• Communicates observations or concerns related to unsafe situations that pose a risk to patients, families or the healthcare team
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to resolve the situation
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making
• Demonstrate accurate, clear, and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers.
• Pay attention to detail, practice STAR - Stop, Think, Act, Review
• Assist the surgical team with emergency situations

Demonstrates actions that show accountability and professional judgment

• Exercise judgement in decision making
• Arrives to the unit on time
• Handles difficult situations appropriately
• Utilizes downtime constructively
• Complies with departmental policies and procedures
• Able to identify own learning needs. Seeks out opportunities to meet needs and attends all required meetings/in-services/programs; Applies education and traning to daily work to enhance personal knowledge and skills
• Consistently participates in staff meting and in-service to improve skills
• Completes, documents, and reports all mandatory education and training

Exemplary Professional Practice

• Role model excellent clinical skills with complex patients; care reflects analysis of patient status and appropriate interventions
• Direct prioritization of organization of care for complex patient with rapidly changing needs
• Documentation exemplifies adherence to the highest standards of practice
• Excel in organizational skills, adjust for changes and be able to complete assignment on time
• Role model caring in all encounters with patient/family as evidenced by feedback from parents and increase in patient satisfaction scores

New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements

• Initiate ways to improve operations through quality improvement and implement related solutions.
• Serve as a resource for current, new information or changes in specialty area
• Care incorporates best practices based on benchmarks and evidence within the literature
• Mentor and precept new nurses in clinical specialties.
• Demonstrate proficience in three or more preferred surgical specialties

Transformational Leadership

• Contribute to Magnet re-designation as evidenced by independent involvement or leadership in: committees, task forces and/or community outreach
• Role model critical thinking skills by problem-solving patient care and unit/system issues
• Communication reflects development of plan of care and ability to advocate to meet patients' needs; makes suggestions for resolution of system issues.
• Role model procedures for escalation of issues; utilize chain of command
• Demonstrate a collegial and respectful relationship with peers, physicians and other departments
• Demonstrate proper use of identified hand off processes; follow up on inconsistent practice related to handoff
• Take the lead in implementing change and support management decision
• Role model behavior that reflects empathy, concern, and a desire to help others

Structural Empowerment

• Independently maintain regulator requirements e.g. license, BLS
• Initiate professional activities to enhance nursing practice
• Engage in active review or peers giving constructive feedback through timely participation in evaluations
• Role model adherence to national safety standards and service excellence standards; champion advancement of education and certification
• Orchestrate involvement of the healthcare team and role model professional behavior and teamwork with co-workers
• Serve as a resource as needed and know when to escalate to the next level

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
• Partner with all team members to achieve goals
• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently
• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance