Team Lead Nurse: PICU

Clinical Practice/Quality and Patient Safety

• Frequently takes patient assignment. When caring for patients, demonstrates clinical expertise and uses the nursing process to provide safe, appropriate patient care to a defined patient population according to Connecticut Children’s and unit policies and standards.
• Exemplifies leadership skills and is recognized as an expert by peers and others.
• Applies expertise in helping peers with complex patient issues, and develops strategies to support staff in caring for a new patient type.
• Demonstrates commitment to continuous quality improvement. Leads change processes by coordinating quality improvement activities in the PICU.
• Identifies clinical issues and promotes quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrates effective communication and collaboration skills with all members of the health care team.
• Holds self and team accountable for quality outcomes and continuous quality improvement.
• Understands and takes into consideration both departmental and organizational staffing resource needs and appropriately allocates/assigns staffing resources based upon those needs.

• Demonstrates commitment to customer service. Works with Nurse Manager and Patient Advocates with patient/family issues requiring service recovery.
• Mentors staff to handle conflicts and resolve issues independently.
• Supports the organizational efforts toward patient/family education.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the differences and needs of patients in appropriate, specific populations from neonate to young adult and applies them to practice.
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity in all interactions with patients/families.

• Functions as role model, demonstrating core behaviors with all interactions and provides feedback to clinical staff.
• Facilitates teamwork and cooperation among staff.
• Participates in hiring and onboarding of new staff.
• In conjunction with the Nurse Manager, participates in all phases of the performance management process (check ins, on‑going feedback/coaching, appraisals and orientation) for assigned staff.
• Partners with Nurse Manager to facilitate monthly staff meetings.
• Ensures necessary information is effectively communicated to all members of the team.
• Effectively follows up and resolves routine employee relations issues, seeking support from Nurse Manager and Human Resources for more complex issues.
• Promotes development of innovative approaches to improve patient care.

• Bachelor's of Science in Nursing, minimum of two years of pediatric experience.

• PICU experience required.

• Current State of Connecticut Registered Licensure is required and maintained thereafter.
• Current Basic life support (BLS)/CPR in adult, child and infant required upon hire.
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) within one year of hire and maintained thereafter.

• Nursing and Institutional Strategic Plan.
• Day to day needs of patients on PICU, including ECMO, CRRT and Cardiac patients.
• Accreditation and certification requirements and standards.
• Medical equipment as it relates to patient care on the units.

• Advocate on behalf of CT Children’s.
• Actively listen to ideas of others.
• Present complex information in a clear and compelling way (verbally and written).
• Ensure staff are provided with appropriate information about issue that may impact them.
• Effectively gain commitment from others.

• Work assigned off-shifts, including weekends, evenings, nights, and holidays as needed.
• Provide expert nursing care and consultation to patient/families; to demonstrate clinical competencies with specialty areas; and assess the competencies of others.
• Demonstrate all CT Children’s Leadership Competencies.
• Supervise and train employees, foster employee development and performance management.
• Act in a professional capacity and serve as a professional role model.
• Lead change, including encouraging innovation, and employing strategies to overcome resistance to change.
• Build a high performing team by coaching team members and holding others accountable.
• Foster teamwork and collaboration. Partners with colleagues to accomplish common goals, constructively raise concerns, use problem solving approaches to identify solutions.
• Demonstrate personal Leadership by treating others with respect, admitting mistakes, taking responsibility for actions and decisions, and modeling integrity in an ethical manner.