The Director of Nursing (DON) will work to assure the delivery of quality patient care and compliance with all applicable standards. The Director of Nursing will be responsible for the technical supervision of all VCH nursing staff as well as all other clinical support staff (Nurse Manager, Registered Nurses, Lead Flow Management Supervisors, and Lab Supervisors). The Director of Nursing will be responsible for the development of nursing policies and procedures and ongoing training and evaluation of the nursing personnel and clinical support staff.

 Utilizing Valley Community Healthcare’s (VCH) Patient Centered Medical Home protocols, the DON will lead all of VCH’s nursing operations, address the current organizational needs for services, and develop strategy for future growth and expansion of the department to meet the changes in the healthcare system.  In addition, the DON is responsible for review of department performance and will execute continuous quality improvement to address needs of the clinic.  Furthermore, the DON will monitor and review the following:  referral processes to ensure that patients receive services in a timely and efficient manner; support investigations regarding patient complaints and grievances.  The DON also serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team which provides health care, health education, care coordination, and counseling to patients.  More specifically the DON duties are as follows:

• Participates and develops strategic plans that further VCH organizational goals of Access, Quality, Leadership Development, and Sustainability.
• Leads and manages the day-to-day operations of the program to achieve and support strategic goals for VCH.
• Participates in the recruitment and interviewing of prospective providers and staff in the Nursing department.
• Participates in introducing new staff to their clinic and onboarding process.
• Participates in evaluation, hiring, coaching, disciplining and termination of direct reports.

Essential Functions:

 Patient Services:

• Leads and facilitates implementation of patient centered medical home clinical protocols.
• Assists in training our medical, dental, and optometry providers in various topics such as infection control and other clinical protocols.
• Assists in preparation and selection of patient education materials.
• Provides preliminary telephone consultation to patients, when needed.  Directs staff in contacting patients for follow-up care as needed depending upon medical necessity or as part of clinic quality improvement projects.
• Identifies specific needs of individual patients and works in concert with other staff to meet those needs.
• Provides effective customer care by maintaining open communication, and addresses problems and issues constructively to find mutually acceptable solutions.
• Oversees care coordination services provided by the care coordinator team.

• Manages all aspects of nursing care and clinical support; supervises coordination of adequate staffing, scheduling of nursing, and clinical support.

2. Compliance: Ensures services provided comply with regulatory agency requirements, contractual obligations, and funding sources.

• Performs/supervises functions, duties and services in compliance with regulatory agencies, contractual obligations and funding sources such as Los Angeles DMH, CHDP, Medi-Cal, HCLA, HRSA, and Medicare.
• Oversees all activities related to scheduled audits, unplanned clinic walkthroughs, and other activities related to corrective actions for findings during these audits.
• Participates in the review, revision, and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure medical practices are in full compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Oversees the maintenance of records/documents in accordance with clinic policies and procedures, contractual obligations, regulations, and funding sources.
• Monitors strict adherence to: universal infection precautions as established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Occupational Safety and Health Administration; DHS/OA; and clinic standards.
• Ensures laboratory operations and internal laboratory testing remain in compliance with CLIA approved tests and that a high quality of testing is performed within the laboratory.

3. Administrative:

• Ensures the implementation of effective systems for triaging patient calls, walk-in patients, and code
• Oversees and ensures maintenance of adequate inventory of necessary medical
• Acts as patient advocate and coordinates as appropriate with others to facilitate the best possible medical
• Prepares, develops, and maintains the Health Center's medical, nursing and clinical support
• Provides direct clinical services as
• Supports regulatory audit activities in collaboration with Executive Leadership Team
• Provides for the competency of staff through developing protocols, teaching, coaching, and training for services including, but not limited to:
• Venipuncture, Immunizations, Injections, Aseptic techniques, Cal OSHA, Infection control, Fire/Safety/Disaster/Terrorism, and appropriate chart documentation.
• Maintains acceptable standards of nursing and clinical support care, based upon community and Health Center
• Develops and manages medical services performance improvement projects in coordination with Executive
• Works with the CMO to monitor key processes and measures in clinical operations.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals and objectives for Medical Services in alliance with the strategic
• Works with Executive Leadership in evaluation of Health Center space for appropriate and maximum
• Oversees the provision of clinical competency training and maintenance of skills for nursing staff and medical assistants.
• Participates in Quality Assurance, peer review, and maintains confidentiality.
• Participates in Quality Improvement, chart reviews, and process improvement programs both system wide and department specific.
• Leads department specific meetings and administrative tasks as assigned by CMO.
• Participates or collaborates with marketing and other health education staff on education and patient recruitment health fairs.
• Maintains current knowledge-base and appropriate licensure.
• Evaluates collaboration opportunities and develops referral relationships with external partners.
• Hires, coaches, evaluates, and disciplines, as appropriate, direct reports.
• Formulates and updates policies and procedures for the provision of clinical services at VCH, and ensures that staff members, volunteers, etc. are adequately trained in the policies and procedures.
• Assists in the development of strategic initiatives for the department and VCH.
• Coordinates with department directors on related nursing needs including support of clinical staff.
• Coordinates with COO on any issues or needs to improve operational flows.
• In partnership with the CMO, designs, implements, and re-evaluates ongoing clinical protocols to be followed in the clinic’s practice areas.
• Writes and delivers Annual Performance Appraisals.
• Develops and delivers in-services and other trainings for clinical staff.
• Prepares/reviews/approves staff schedules. Responsible for approving all time off requests in compliance with VCH Policies and Procedures.
• Ensures compliance with license requirements as stated in Title 22.
• Manages multi-disciplinary care teams related to care coordination.
• Has overall responsibility for management and operations for the care coordinator teams.
• Is responsible for assisting care coordinators in reporting of quality measures.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

4. Communication:

• Creates and maintains effective interpersonal relationships with all employees; keeps employees informed of changes which may affect the work environment.
• Communicates effectively with all levels of staff throughout the clinic by consistently utilizing and facilitating effective strategies to encourage collaborative problem solving and decision making.
• Trouble shoots difficult problems or situations and takes independent action to resolve them.
• Through teamwork and accountability exhibits behaviors and attitudes of courtesy and respect for all staff at the clinic in accordance with its mission and values.
• Establishes and maintains effective and positive working relationships with representative of outside agencies, government entities, vendors, as well as other clinical staff, volunteers, and staff; represents the clinic site when appropriate.
• Ensures patient confidentiality and demonstrates complete discretion when discussing patient information.

 Fiscal Management:

• Collaborates with the fiscal department to ensure fiscally responsible operations of the nursing department.
• Works with VCH financial department leaders to develop recruitment and retention plans based upon department performance data.
• Monitors contract/program expenditures and completes funding reports, as needed.

• Attend and lead meetings, team huddles, and assigned trainings.
• Attend and actively participate in board of director meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

These are general guidelines based on the minimum experience normally considered essential to the satisfactory performance of this job.  Individual abilities may result in some deviation from these guidelines.  To perform effectively in this position, the candidate must have:

• A valid and unrestricted license from the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Current BLS certificate.
• Competency in evaluating and treating general adult and pediatric ambulatory care.
• A minimum of two years post-licensure experience in Nursing Administration is required.
• License must be clear of any disciplinary action.
• A Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing is required. A Master’s Degree in Nursing is preferred.
• Supervisory experience and experience in a Federally Qualified Health Center and/or an NCQA recognized Patient Centered Medical Home is preferred.
• Current California Driver License or Identification Card is required.
• Exhibits a high level of professionalism.
• Working knowledge of current evaluation and treatment methods in area of specialty.
• Understanding of current medical, educational, and psychosocial intervention procedures.
• Ability to perform clinical duties within established guidelines in an organized, efficient manner.
• Ability to relate and communicate well to all cultural and ethnic groups in the community, including fluency in written and spoken English. Bilingual skills in written and spoken Spanish are preferred.
• Ability to complete and maintain records in accordance with procedures utilizing an electronic health record system.
• General computer skills in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, etc.) and electronic medical record systems.

About Valley Community Healthcare

Valley Community Healthcare provides high-quality affordable healthcare to all our neighbors.Our dedicated staff is committed to the well-being of low-income, medically underserved residents in North Hollywood and North Hills and surrounding cities in the San Fernando Valley. Our doctors, nurses and healthcare specialists serve an estimated 26,000 men, women, children, teens, and seniors annually. By offering medical care to every family member in a single location, we make access to care easier to schedule, and so reduce visits to emergency rooms and urgent care facilities.

Connections working at Valley Community Healthcare