Assistant Director of Nursing/Nurse Educator

Acadia Healthcare; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in the Pittsburgh area is seeking an Assistant Director of Nursing/Nurse Educator to join the leadership team. The role directs, plans, coordinates, and monitors nursing operations and the delivery of behavioral health services, emphasizing patient safety, staff development, and quality care.

The Educator will develop in-service training, collaborate with the DON/CNO, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with all regulations while supporting staff and improving

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or higher preferred.
• Current RN license in the state of the facility.
• 5+ years as a registered nurse; 2+ years in behavioral health preferred.
• 1+ year of progressive leadership or management experience required.
• Prior nursing management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist DON with directing, planning, and coordinating nursing operations.
• Collaborate with CNO/DON to integrate nursing processes into care plans.
• Ensure patient safety and high-quality behavioral health services.
• Develop and coordinate nursing in-service education programs.
• Provide staff development, performance management, and communications.
• Assist in budget management and daily operations oversight.
• Act as infection prevention liaison when required.
• Serve on committees and participate in policy development.

Skills

Staff leadership

Nursing management

Budget management

Education & training

Crisis intervention

Infection prevention

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing

RN license

Job description

Southwood Psychiatric Hospital offers comprehensive mental health treatment programs for children and adolescents ages 3-21 whose lives have been disrupted by mental illness. Our facility located in the South Hills near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, provides many levels of care. We are looking to fill the open role of Assistant Director of Nursing/Nurse Educator to join hte leadership team.

Purpose Statement

Assists the DON with directing, planning, coordinating, monitoring and supervising the effective and efficient use of the operations of nursing and the delivery of behavioral health/nursing services in a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers. Recognizes that patient safety is a top priority. As an educator, plan, develop and coordinate continuing nursing in-service education programs within the facility for all clinical and non-clinical nursing staff in a positive, empathetic, and professional manner at all times.

Essential Functions

• Work closely with the DON to improve the quality of patient care and services provided by the nursing team.
• Collaborate with medical practitioners and CNO/DON to incorporate nursing processes into the plan of care for patients.
• Collaborate with others to ensure that all patients’ physical, biopsychosocial, age, developmental and cultural needs are met and when they are not met, acknowledges and works to resolve customer complaints.
• In the absence of the DON, oversee the nursing team to ensure quality patient care, customer service and compliance with all federal, state and local rules and regulations, as well as the policies and procedures of the facility.
• Assist DON/CNO to provide effective and efficient budget management that ensures the best utilization of resources.
• Assist in the management of the daily operations of nursing services.
• Evaluate service needs and staffing requirements to ensure needs of patients are met as assigned.
• Role models expectations related to customer service and demonstrates a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety.
• Evaluate service needs and staffing requirements to ensure needs of patients are met as assigned.
• Ensure nursing services are provided in compliance with the laws and regulations of federal, state and local governmental agencies.
• Provide staff management to include hiring, development, training, performance management and communication to ensure effective and efficient department operation.
• Identify the educational needs of staff and develop educational or training programs.
• Assist with the development and implementation of organizational policies and procedures for the facility.
• Help to develop and maintain documentation systems for continuity of care and record storage that assures compliance with local, state and federal regulations, as well as facility policies and procedures.
• Intervene in crisis situations and investigate incidents.
• Prepare reports to inform management of the status and implementation of programs, services and quality initiatives of the unit.
• Help oversee nursing services documentation to ensure it meets all standards.
• Provide direct care as needed.
• Serve on committees as required.

Nurse Educator Essential Functions

• Provide educational leadership to patients and care providers to enhance specialized patient care within established clinical protocol.
• Promotes safe, quality, and compassionate patient care
• Assist patient and caregivers with education needs, problem solution and health management across the continuum of care.
• Educate direct patient care staff in the use of equipment, supplies, and coordinates in-service training for appropriate staff.
• Supports new ideas and innovation in educational design
• Provides staff with resources and “just-in-time” education to implement immediate changes
• May serve in the role of infection preventionist for the facility with training.

Other Functions

• Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skill Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree nursing or higher strongly preferred.
• Current registered nursing license in State of facility required
• 5+ Years of experience as a registered nurse preferred.
• Two years of registered nursing experience required.
• Two years experience in behavioral health as an Registered Nurse preferred.
• One year experience in behavioral health/psychiatric/addiction recovery environment (inpatient or outpatient) or relatable experience required
• Prior experience as a nursing manager strongly preferred
• One year of progressive leadership or management experience required

Licenses/Designations/Certifications

• Current RN license as required by state.
• CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
• First aid may be required based on state or facility.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment regardless of an individual’s characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and local laws.