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Assistant Chief Nursing Officer - Patient Care

AT The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Assistant Chief Nursing Officer - Patient Care

Boston, MA

Job Description

The Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, part of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), is seeking a dynamic nursing professional for the role of Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), Ancillary Services.

Reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), you will collaborate with multiple state agencies and hospital leadership to ensure nursing services meet high standards of care, safety, and efficiency in inpatient and outpatient services. Overseeing a wide range of ancillary and clinical services, including Social Services, Respiratory Therapy, and more, this role plays a key part in patient-centered care. You will also work closely with various state agencies, including the Department of Mental Health (DMH), Department of Developmental Services (DDS), and Department of Corrections (DOC), to enhance service coordination and patient outcomes. With a focus on operational excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration, you will guide managers in clinical functions while fostering professional growth through delegation, performance appraisals, and leadership development.

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The position requires a strategic leader who can manage budgets, staffing, and compliance initiatives, while actively participating in performance improvement and patient safety initiatives. You will be an advocate for staff and patient well-being, ensuring union relations, staff education, and operational goals are met. As a visible and accessible leader, your efforts will directly contribute to enhancing patient outcomes and maintaining a culture of high-quality, compassionate care.

Please Note: Selected candidate must have a current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM, with Weekends Off

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

  • Ensure nursing care meets established standards and comply with current regulations by regularly reviewing and updating policies and procedures.
  • Collaborate with Medical Staff to evaluate and enhance patient care services, acting as a liaison for seamless communication and coordination.
  • Stay current on nursing trends, technologies, and regulations, and assess the impact of legislative and regulatory decisions on nursing practice.
  • Establish and implement best practices in patient safety to achieve optimal quality and cost-effective services.
  • Monitor and adjust staffing levels based on patient acuity, census, and available resources, ensuring evidence-based staffing practices.
  • Provide advisory support to nurse managers and staff to resolve patient care issues, offering guidance on clinical and operational functions.
  • Lead and participate in performance improvement initiatives, patient care assessments, and joint commission compliance to ensure positive outcomes.
  • Provide guidance and direction to managers in clinical and operation functions, facilitating positive outcomes and growth.
  • Promote leadership development among managers by delegating tasks, setting realistic goals, and ensuring timely completion of projects.
  • Conduct performance evaluations, oversee agency personnel usage, and monitor overtime within budget constraints, ensuring labor relations are maintained.
  • Collaborate on budget development for nursing units, tracking hours per patient day (HPPD), controlling costs, and investigating variances to ensure financial efficiency.
  • Foster interdisciplinary communication, promote a positive image of the nursing division, and address patient and staff concerns to ensure optimal public relations.
  • Represent the Nursing Department and the organization in professional and community groups, ensuring staff demonstrate professionalism, courtesy, and cooperation.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proven experience in an acute healthcare setting including knowledge of the principals and practices of management, especially planning, organizing, directing, motivating, controlling and decision-making.
  • Knowledge of the principals, practices and techniques of supervision and employee relations, and proven ability to lead a successful team.
  • Ability to effect positive change through expertise and collaboration.
  • Strong emphasis on communication, improvement initiatives, and excellence in patient care.
  • Knowledge of the principals and practices of healthcare program budgeting.
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships, both internally and externally.

DPH Mission Statement:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high-quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth. We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. According to comparative analyses, Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states, but we still face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious diseases, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities.

More information can be found at: www.mass.gov/DPH

About the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital:

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital is a fully Joint Commission accredited teaching facility that provides acute, subacute, and ambulatory care to patients referred by public agencies and private sector providers. Shattuck Hospital's services help economically and socially disadvantaged patients to get high quality, cost-effective care from a staff that respects their dignity.

Located in the heart of Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, the Shattuck Hospital includes 248 inpatient beds including 95 Psychiatric beds and 29 Correctional Health beds. In addition, the Shattuck has a full outpatient clinic with many specialties that offers treatment to patients of the Department of Mental Health as well as Department of Correction and House of Correction inmates and community patients.

The Shattuck hospital is on the forefront of substance use disorder treatment including a Suboxone clinic serving 200 patients. In addition to direct medical services LSH hosts and supports an array of services located on the campus, serving patients struggling with addictions and homelessness.

Learn more about: what it's like to work as a DPH nurse

Learn more about Shattuck Hospital: https://www.mass.gov/locations/lemuel-shattuck-hospital

Relocation information: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/dph-renovation-for-shattuck-hospital-replacement-building

Pre-Hire Process:

A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the (A) required experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the (A) required experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 ("Regulation") requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Client-provided location(s): Boston, MA, USA
Job ID: Commonwealth_of_Massachusetts-240009NI
Employment Type: Full Time

Perks and Benefits

  • Health and Wellness

    • Health Insurance
    • Health Reimbursement Account
    • Dental Insurance
    • Vision Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Short-Term Disability
    • Long-Term Disability
    • FSA
    • HSA
    • Mental Health Benefits
  • Parental Benefits

    • Adoption Assistance Program
    • Family Support Resources
  • Work Flexibility

    • Flexible Work Hours
    • Hybrid Work Opportunities
  • Office Life and Perks

    • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Vacation and Time Off

    • Paid Vacation
    • Paid Holidays
    • Personal/Sick Days
    • Volunteer Time Off
  • Financial and Retirement

    • Pension
    • Financial Counseling
  • Professional Development

    • Promote From Within
    • Mentor Program
    • Access to Online Courses
    • Lunch and Learns
    • Internship Program
    • Leadership Training Program
    • Associate or Rotational Training Program
  • Diversity and Inclusion

    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program