Position Specification

Nurse Manager, Miriam F. Acheson Family Birth Place

The Organization

Port Huron Hospital, established in 1882, is a 186-bed, not-for-profit hospital that provides a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services to residents in St. Clair and Sanilac Counties. In addition to the main campus in Port Huron, Michigan, Port Huron Hospital operates four community health centers that provide convenient access to physicians.  Located in Capac, Lexington, Marysville and Yale, the health centers have a Community Health Team composed of area residents who give advice and guidance regarding the development of programs and services that best address the health needs of their communities.

Port Huron Hospital is a full service hospital noted for its quality health care and outstanding customer service.  The hospital family is a dynamic community of dedicated employees with expertise covering a wide range of professional, technical & medical specialties.  Services include; Cardiovascular care, including open heart surgery, EP & PTCA, Cancer care,  Orthopedics, Women's and Children's Services, Mental Health, Diabetes Education, Emergency Services, Complementary Therapies, Sleep Disorders, Laboratory,  Surgery, and X-ray. 

Port Huron Hospital senior leadership management & employees recently examined the organization’s values and decided to restate them in three simple words: Compassion, Excellence and Integrity.  The words may be simple, but their meanings are not. These three words encompass all of their past values and suggest others. They are the foundation of behaviors that we expect from everyone associated with Port Huron Hospital. By living these values, Port Huron Hospital is able to meet their mission and purpose:  To be a leader in healing and the area’s partner in health.

Port Huron Hospitalmaintains a 50%-plus market share and has an exceptionally strong financial profile.  The hospital invests in state-of-the-art technology, facilities and the finest available medical talent to assure area residents access to world-class medicine and hometown commitment.

Awards

• HealthGrades

• Nationally ranked in the top five percent of hospitals for clinical quality in 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008.

• Nationally ranked in the top five percent of hospitals for patient safety in 2008 and 2009.

• Superior Clinical Performance in Pulmonary Care for 2009 and 2010.

• 2006 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks for Success Award.

• Only medium sized hospital in southeast Michigan.

• One of five medium sized hospitals in the state in the Top 100.

• One of 9 hospitals (in all three community hospital categories) in Michigan in the Top 100 (2006).

• Michigan Governor's Award for Excellence in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 (2007 was received in late 2008).

• 1998 Michigan Quality Leadership Award.

• American College of Radiologists Breast Imaging Center of Excellence American College of Bariatric Surgery Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

• American Cancer Society Five Star Community Investor Award for hospitals active in fighting cancer on multiple fronts in the community.

• American Cancer Society Five Star Investor Award for worksites active in fighting cancer on multiple fronts.

• American Society for Bariatric Surgery Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

Port Huron Hospital’s Emergency Center is 20,000 square feet – double the size of the previous department and features 21 private treatment rooms, including the addition of six beds, bedside registration and a serene, calming, natural-light environment. 

In August 2004, Port Huron Hospital announced the development of a Master Facility Plan for its 16.5-acre health care campus. This effort resulted in a planning tool to evaluate the condition of all existing buildings and infrastructure, identify short and long-term uses of facilities, and assess potential expansion and renovation needs.  The Master Facility Plan assisted in establishing schedules and budgets for future capital improvement programs at the hospital to best meet the current and future needs of a growing community. 

Port Huron Hospital is part of a larger system, Blue Water Health Services, which also includes the System Partners:  Port Huron Hospital Foundation, Marwood Nursing and Rehab, Port Huron Hospital Industrial Health, Port Huron Hospital Medical Equipment, Port Huron Hospital Pharmacy Place and Port Huron Physical Therapy.    

Additional information about Port Huron Hospital can be accessed by visiting the following web site: http://www.porthuronhospital.org.

The Position

Location

Port Huron Hospital is located in Port Huron, which is situated on the east coast of Michigan. With over 70,000 residents, the Greater Port Huron area, Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes, clings to the shore of the St. Clair River at the base of Lake Huron.  It is an international border crossing marked by the twin spans of the Blue Water Bridge. 

Port Huron's stunning waterway and diverse annual events make it a year-round tourist destination.  With its abundant attractions, high standard of living, and convenient location, Port Huron is a great place to live and work.

Michigan governor Jennifer M. Granholm has designated Port Huron one of the 20 Cool Cities in Michigan.  The Cool Cities initiative is designed to help foster the development of vibrant, attractive cities and urban centers. 

Additional information about Port Huron and Michigan can be accessed by visiting the following web sites: http://www.porthuron.org/, http://www.porthuron-chamber.org/index.html, and http://www.michigan.gov/.

Acheson Family Birth Place
The Miriam F. Acheson Family Birth Place features 18 private LDRP suites.  The suites are designed to be state of the art labor and delivery rooms, while at the same time offering pleasant, comfortable and convenient surroundings for the mother, baby and family after the birth. The suites are very attractive and extremely functional, giving the family peace of mind.

Port Huron Hospital’s vision for our birthing services is to embrace each contact as an opportunity to promote healthy families through shared knowledge, compassionate interactions, and excellence in care.

 Port Huron Hospital continues to be the only hospital in the area that provides a special care nursery, located in the Family Birth Place, for babies who have special needs.

Overview: 

• Eighteen LDRP’s

• Four triage bays

• OR Suite

• Newborn Nursery

• Four bed Level II Special Care Nursery.

Facts:

• 1500 births per year

• 140 Special Care Nursery admissions per year

• 38.6 FTE’s (62 employees)

• $2.7 million dollar operating budget

• Comprehensive CBE Program

• Lactation Consultation Program

• Multidisciplinary OB Excellence Team

• 24/7 Anesthesia, Lab, Medical Imaging, Pharmacy, & Cardiopulmonary Services

• C-Section rate 34%

• Epidural rate 80%

• VBAC rate less than 1%, vaginal birth after cesarean

Reporting Relationships

The successful candidate will report to the Director of Inpatient Services and will provide day to day management and leadership of all patient care activities and personnel in the Acheson Family Birth Place.  Current staff includes 38 FTEs with a total of 62 employees.   

Responsibilities

The Nurse Manager, will plan for, manage and ensure the quality of clinical, professional and service outcomes for the Acheson Family Birth Place.   Unit objectives/strategic plan include:

• Achieve targets in Service Excellence

•  90th Percentile in Patient Satisfaction.

•  Improve Employee Satisfaction.

•  Improve Physician Satisfaction

• Achieve targets in Clinical Excellence and OB Best Practice

• AWHONN FHR training, education, & guideline implementation

• Inductions & ACOG guidelines

• Newborn Pain Management

• Patient falls

• Medication error reporting

• Breastfeeding rate

• Achieve targets in Financial Viability and Growth

• Expenses/UOS

• Sustain/increase volume

• Achieve targets in Organizational Development

• RN Vacancy rate: stabilize staffing/skill mix

• IT/IS system implementations 

• Staff meeting attendance & education

• Unit -based Nurse Practice Coun

Specific immediate priorities include:

• Revitalize the unit, develop positive energy.

• Build trust.

• Develop staffing models. 

• Integrate & improve information systems.

In addition, the following comprise the major expectations of the person who accepts the Nurse Manager, Miriam F. Acheson Family Birth Place:

• Support the mission and vision of Port Huron Hospital through behaviors that reflect and integrate the organization’s values, as evidenced by observation, peer and customer opinion. 

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, continuously improving clinical outcomes based on evidence-based processes.

• Collaborate with Director of Inpatient Services for the development, implementation and annual review of a departmental plan, including standards, goals and objectives that contribute to and are integrated with Port Huron Hospital’s annual objectives.

• Establish collaborative relationships throughout the organization, community and professional organizations.

• Ensure compliance with accrediting, licensing and regulatory agencies.

• Identify opportunities to enhance quality of services and/or efficiencies through evolving clinical knowledge, technology and new products & services.

• Inspire superior customer friendly services.

• Ensure the professional practice of nursing is consistent with ANA standards

• Support the successful achievement of financial objectives, strategies and business plans.

• Develop and coordinate human resources management; selection, recruitment and retention.

• Coordinate with Nursing Education department to provide appropriate orientation and ongoing training for staff.

• Maintain professional development; attend classes, conferences, hospital & community functions.

Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity to lead the family birth place of a unique and caring community hospital.  The person who accepts this position will be able to contribute toward the growth and ultimate success of a highly regarded organization, while becoming an integral part of the community it serves.

Compensation

An attractive, competitive compensation program will be tailored to the specific needs of the successful candidate.  The final candidate will receive relocation assistance and benefits, which are usual and customary for this level position in the organization. 

Education/Certifications

An individual licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, BSN, is required.  A Master of Science in Nursing degree, MSN or equivalent is preferred. 

Professional Qualifications

• Five plus year’s perinatal nursing experience in progressive leadership & supervisory roles, including three to five years experience as a department leader.

• Knowledge and understanding of Family Centered Care, FCC and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) standards.   

• A track record of operational excellence.   

• Strong people, communication and listening skills with the ability to motivate others toward common objectives.  A consensus builder.

• A track record of active involvement in the industry and related professional organizations.

• Strong team building skills.  Ability to groom and develop managers and future leaders.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent collaboration and negotiation skills to ensure quality patient care working with: eight OB/Gyn Physicians, a Pediatric Hospitalist, Family Practice Newborn Providers, a Maternal-Child Educator, and a Case Manager/Medical Social Worker.

Personal Characteristics

• Leader with a high degree of integrity and honesty.

• Ability to relate to and work with peers, staff, senior management, medical staff and the public.

• Passion for Family Central Care and Culture of Service Excellence.

• Committed to Evidenced-based Nursing Practice.  Knows and utilizes AWHONN standards. Participating in Keystone pilot (MHA best practice and patient safety initiative). 

• Dynamic individual with superb leadership and communication skills.

• Creative, self-directed, visionary who can develop and implement the department’s agenda.

• Understands and can focus on customer satisfaction.

• A strong work ethic with the ability to roll-up-the-sleeves and get the job done.

• An approachable, confident person who is poised and secure with his or her self.  Someone who freely acknowledges and gives credit to others.

• Someone with a relaxed, open management style, yet a person who holds others accountable. 

• An inspired leader who has a genuine concern for people and exudes an aura of warmth and friendliness.

• Positive, optimistic and upbeat attitude and demeanor.  Focuses on solutions rather than problems.

• Balanced lifestyle as well as a good sense of humor.

• An even-keeled individual who can effectively deal with change.  A good listener and transformational leader.

A person who is politically astute and who can represent Port Huron Hospital with poise and political savvy.