This senior leadership position is responsible for ensuring that nursing care is delivered in alignment with current policies, standards of care, regulatory requirements, and budgetary guidelines. The role is accountable for achieving high-quality patient care through effective leadership and optimal utilization of human and fiscal resources. Additionally, this position oversees the development, efficient operations, and evaluation of nursing units. These objectives are accomplished through visionary leadership, awareness of current and future trends, strategic benchmarking, and innovative interventions.

The Director of Nursing Operations will also contribute to the development and implementation of clinical design initiatives and other strategies aimed at improving processes and care outcomes. In the absence of the Vice President of Patient Care Services, the incumbent will represent nursing matters on his/her behalf.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Communication

  • Effectively communicate and model the mission, vision, and philosophy of Patient Care Services, Nursing, and UPMC.
  • Drive accountability for UPMC Experience initiatives, outcomes, and action planning.
  • Demonstrate responsiveness to evolving healthcare demands and services.

   

• Strategic Analysis & Planning

  • Conduct comprehensive analyses of nursing division areas, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and provide insights to the Vice President of Patient Care Services for strategic planning.
  • Define nursing operational and financial goals aligned with UPMC’s short- and long-term objectives.
  • Oversee capacity management and develop tactics to influence budgeted outcomes, including average length of stay.

   

• Collaboration & Change Management

  • Collaborate with stakeholders across departments to ensure the environment of care meets patient safety and regulatory standards.
  • Lead change management initiatives through shared leadership.
  • Create structures and supports that encourage director and staff input.

   

• Performance & Quality

  • Evaluate nursing care outcomes relative to UPMC’s goals to drive continuous growth and development.
  • Establish professional nursing standards for quality, legal, and ethical practice.
  • Achieve patient, caregiver, and physician satisfaction.
  • Promote patient safety initiatives and maintain NDNQI and other nursing-related quality data.

   

• Financial & Resource Management

  • Oversee preparation of the nursing division’s annual man-hours, expense, and capital budgets based on patient, program, staff, and physician needs.
  • Monitor expenses and man-hour utilization to ensure budgetary compliance.
  • Manage nursing resources, including supplemental staff and scheduling processes, to ensure appropriate staffing for patient care.

   

• Education & Professional Development

  • Collaborate with peer nursing leaders to identify and support joint educational opportunities.
  • Develop and evaluate educational interventions to address nursing issues impacting patient care.
  • Participate in professional organizations to foster growth and collaborative relationships at regional, national, and international levels.
  • Coach and advise directors on professional development planning.

   

• Process Improvement & Innovation

  • Implement nursing care process improvements to achieve optimal quality outcomes.
  • Develop and evaluate systems that facilitate comprehensive patient/family care across the continuum.
  • Investigate and implement creative methods to reduce costs while improving nursing performance and productivity.
  • Seek opportunities to adopt best practices, eliminate duplication, and maximize efficiency.

   

• Governance & Team Development

  • Ensure nursing unit councils are effective and demonstrate shared governance through consistent visibility and engagement.
  • Act as a coach or mentor to other leaders within the hospital.
  • Develop peer-to-peer accountability and foster multidisciplinary collaboration, including physician integration.

   

• Research & Reporting

  • Identify and participate in research activities as appropriate.
  • Report program findings, results, and changes at various meetings.
  • Analyze clinical variance trends and implement evidence-based practice changes to promote cost and quality outcomes.

   

• Additional Duties
  • Perform in accordance with system-wide competencies and behaviors.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.