Assistant Nurse Manager - Surgical & Trauma Care Unit; RC

University of Iowa Health Care—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is:
Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®

Believes it is our responsibility to provide patient-centered care that enables patients and their families to cope with the physiological and psychological aspects of their illness or injury. Exceptional care on our unit combines excellent clinical skills with compassionate care to achieve the highest possible quality of life for our patients.

• Traumatic injuries sustained from events such as motor vehicle accidents and falls
• Multi-system traumatic injuries
• Acute abdominal emergencies (bowel obstruction, perforation, infection)
• Complex wound management and surgical drains
• Ostomy creation and management
• Fistula treatment
• Hernia repair

• Post-operative urological procedures
• Urologic oncology and reconstructive surgeries
• Complex catheter and urinary diversion management

• Reconstructive joint surgery (hip, knee, shoulder)
• Spine surgery

• Participates in the assessment and evaluation of nursing care requirements for the patient population
• Assists in the development, implementation and evaluation of standards of care for a patient population, which are consistent with current nursing practice and the condition and age of the patients
• Assesses patient care to ensure that patient assignment system reflects patient care needs and staff capabilities
• Monitors and contributes to individual patient care and discharge planning activities carried out by unit staff nurses
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members and implements care planning activities for specific group of patients
• Serves as a role model for staff by demonstrating clinical expertise when providing direct patient care
• Serves as a resource for patient care problems
• Practices according to department/division/unit policies, procedures, protocols and practice guidelines to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff
• Collaborates with the Nurse Manager to assist with implementation of division and unit(s) strategic plans
• Implements planned change to optimize unit functioning
• Participates in monitoring staff competency
• Provides constructive feedback and support to staff nurses, nursing assistants and nursing unit clerks to assist them to improve their performance
• Collaborates with Nurse Manager in the development, implementation and evaluation of division/unit Quality Management program
• Coordinates unit(s)-based QM/RU committees
• Uses relevant nursing research to improve clinical practice
• Participates in the development of research-based standards and other research utilization activities
• Participates in research activities
• Analyzes and uses data to guide operational and patient care decisions and evaluate outcomes
• Monitors and evaluates nursing personnel as delegated in accordance with established evaluation criteria, personnel policies and union contract(s)
• Participates in the ongoing implementation of current regulatory standards in order to meet state and national agency accreditation
• Assists Nurse Manager in developing effective communication and problem-solving skills within staff
• Develops, implements and evaluates patient/family health education activities for the patient population with regard to the condition and age of the patients
• Facilitates opportunities for nursing staff to improve and/or expand clinical knowledge and skills
• Provides consultation upon request within area of clinical expertise to nursing staff/other health professionals throughout the hospital
• Facilitates the educational experiences for health care students and monitors the care delivered
• Participates in meeting the educational needs of service institutions and agencies to maintain continuity of care related to specific patient care requirements
• Adheres to professional and legal standards of nursing practice
• Analyzes own performance in accordance with position expectations, develops goals and implements a plan to meet those goals
• Maintains and expands own knowledge and skills
• Mediates problems involving patient/families, hospital personnel and public
• Coordinates implementation of specific action plans at the unit(s) level and aimed at meeting priority goals and objectives
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with the health care team
• Provides input into financial management activities including operational budgetary decisions and cost containment
• Coordinates and/or participates in the implementation of specific cost control strategies identified by the Nurse Manager
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining clinical expertise consistent with patient population…