The Team Leader functions as the unit-based clinical supervisor with responsibility for staff direction, patient flow, patient safety, resource utilization, shift assignments and overall quality of care delivered. The Team Leader, under the supervision of the unit manager, provides and coordinates in-services, continuing education programs, and mentoring of the clinical staff, especially recent hires. Actively coordinates and participates in PI activities; collects data to assess employee performance and participates in staff evaluation process. The Team Leader must be available to work weekend and holiday shifts based on unit needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Coordinates unit activities and provides leadership for unit staffing and patient assignments and responds to and provides leadership during crisis and emergency situations.
2. Responsible for supervision and evaluation of nursing care furnished to each patient in their assigned clinical department.
3. At a minimum, evaluate the care for each LPN assigned patient upon admission and when appropriate, on an ongoing basis in accordance with accepted standards of nursing practice and hospital policy.
4. Promotes efficient patient flow including timely discharges and admissions.
5. Encourages a safe environment by promoting adherence to established protocols, policies and procedures.
6. Serves as clinical resource and subject matter expert for staff.
7. Provides just in time feedback with appropriate accountability as needed.
8. Implements evidence - based practices.
9. Rounds on patients, physicians, and employees.
10. Leads unit based daily huddle and represents unit at house wide daily huddle.
11. Maintains records related to orientation in-service and unit competency assessments.
12. Adheres to productivity, revenue and expense goals.
13. Displays sound judgment and critical thinking skills in areas of decision-making and problem-solving.
14. Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships by working with other unit leaders and departments to define and work toward common goals.
15. Ensures compliance with various quality standards and regulatory agency requirements.
16. May take management call as directed.
17. Facilitates bidirectional communication to ensure timely exchange of information to all stakeholders.
18. Treats all people (customers and employees) fairly and with respect.
19. Creates an environment that supports employee recruitment and retention.

***Relief Team Leaders do not hold the following key responsibilities/essential functions: #5, #9, #13, & #14

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.

• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.

• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Current Alabama RN license required. Anyone hired as of April 2016 or later, must have a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Healthcare Related Field or must be actively working on a Bachelor’s degree with completion within 4 years of hire. 2 years’ experience as a registered nurse required. Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required. AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training required.  Current Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) required. Professional Nursing Certification preferred. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English. Customer service abilities including effective listening skills, critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with the minimal supervision in a fast paced environment. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

WORK CONTEXT

• Demonstrate leadership skills
• Requires decision making that will affect others
• Responsible to achieve outcomes
• Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately
• Ability to delegate to team members and students
• Address conflict and stressful situation
• Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion
• Dealing with unpleasant or physically aggressive personalities
• Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting
• Must be able to work in groups
• Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work
• Must be meet time pressure and time lines
• Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions
• Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.
  

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit and stoop
• Must be able to run in an emergency
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull and carry objects
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and must be ablet o feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must possess stamina to work prolonged shifts
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.