Director of Nursing

Fair Haven Community Health Care 

FHCHC is a forward-thinking, dynamic, and exciting community health center that provides care for multiple generations at over 143,000 office visits in 21 locations. Overseen by a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are patients themselves, we are proud to offer a wide range of primary and specialty care services, as well as evidence-based patient programs to educate patients in healthy lifestyle choices. As we grow and are able to bring high-quality health care to more areas that need access, we continue to put our patients first in everything we do. The mission of FHCHC is “To improve the health and social well-being of the communities we serve through equitable, high quality, patient-centered care that is culturally responsive.”

For 53 years, we have been a health care leader in our community focused on providing excellent, affordable primary care to all patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Fair Haven is proud to have a diverse and motivated team of professionals who are constantly seeking ways to enhance and improve the health and well-being of all patients. We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality medical and dental care, regardless of ability to pay.

Job purpose

Our mission at Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) is to improve the health and social well-being of the communities we serve through equitable, high quality, patient-centered care that is culturally responsive. The Director of Nursing is a key leader responsible for the overall direction, management, and clinical excellence of the nursing department. The DON will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered nursing care that aligns with the organization's mission. The Director oversees the nursing staff (nurses and medical assistants) across all sites and is a key liaison with Yale-New Haven Hospital’s Nursing Department and Yale School of Nursing, which staff and support the clinical care and education at some FHCHC sites. The Director recruits, retains, organizes, and leads the Nurse Managers at all sites. This role requires a strong clinical background, exceptional leadership skills, and a deep commitment to improving the health outcomes of underserved communities.

Duties and responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the Director of Nursing manages all the services provided by the nursing personnel (nurses and MAs) of FHCHC. Typical duties include but are not limited to:

Clinical Leadership:

Oversee all aspects of nursing practice within the health center, ensuring adherence to established clinical protocols, best practices, and regulatory standards.

• Function as a member of FHCHC’s clinical leadership team including participating in meetings specified by the CMO
• Develop and implements workflows, policies, practices and/or guidelines to meet and/or exceed quality, access, patient/staff safety and efficiency targets
• Develop and implement innovative nursing models of care that support the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care
• Manage nurse-led Health Education and Promotion
• Oversee order protocols for health maintenance, vaccines, and prescription refill requests
• Foster a culture of continuous quality improvement within the nursing department, utilizing data and feedback to identify areas for improvement and implement effective solutions
• Collaborate with medical providers and other clinical staff to ensure seamless and coordinated patient care
• Promote a culture of evidence-based practice and ensure that nursing staff have access to the resources and training needed to stay current with the latest clinical guidelines and best practices
• Ensure care of patients through health promotion, maintenance, restoration and prevention of infection, accident and injury; monitors quality and appropriateness of patient care
• Serve as an agent for change by constantly seeking opportunities to shape the environment
• Provide nursing care services as needed, including but not limited to administering medications; assesses patient’s response to treatment and generalized nursing care
• Oversee workflow and training for point-of-care laboratory testing and ensures the overall technical operation to ensure quality services
• Organize and facilitate regular meetings of nursing department

Team Leadership & Management:

Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a high-performing team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other nursing support staff.

• Assist in the recruitment, development and orientation of nurse managers and nursing staff Identifies educational and clinical needs of the nursing staff and schedules in-services to address needs
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with clinical leaders of other clinician organizations (e.g. Yale-New Haven Hospital)
• Foster a positive and supportive work environment that values teamwork, collaboration, and professional development
• Mentor and coach nursing staff to develop their clinical skills and advance their careers
• Address performance issues promptly and effectively
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels to meet the needs of the patient population

Operational Excellence:

Develop and manage the nursing department budget, ensuring efficient and cost-effective utilization of resources.

• Oversee the ordering, inventory management, and proper utilization of medical supplies and equipment
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, including licensure, accreditation, and infection control standards
• Collaborate with other departments, such as finance, human resources, and information technology, to ensure smooth and efficient operations
• Develop and maintain written objectives, organizational plans, and deliverables for nursing services; assists in the development of patient care policies
• Facilitate integration of nursing services with other patient care services in the facility, and ensures nursing staff patterns are implemented

Community Engagement:

Represents FHCHC in discussions with community stakeholders that pertain to the front-lines of care.

• Participate in community outreach activities and build strong relationships with community partners
• Advocate for the health and well-being of the community and work to address social determinants of health

Quality Improvement:

Actively participate in quality improvement initiatives and utilize data to identify and address areas for improvement in patient care.

• Develop and implement systems for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on key performance indicators related to nursing care quality
• Ensure the timely and accurate documentation of patient care in the electronic health record.
• Participate in oversight of immunization tracking and lab diagnostic tracking
• Promote the role of the patient and practice within a Patient Centered Medical Home

Qualifications

RN and BLS Certification required; BSN or MSN highly preferred. A minimum of three years of ambulatory care experience, preferably in a federally qualified health center setting, and prior nurse manager experience and leadership skills including the ability to motivate & supervise others is also required.  Knowledge and experience with primary care setting, including program development and quality improvement methodology; familiarity with clinical audits and the Lean methodology are highly preferred.

The selected candidate will have:

• Proven leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in electronic health records (EHR) systems.
• Commitment to serving a diverse and underserved population.

Direct Reports

• Nurse Managers

American with Disabilities Requirements:

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job specific responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case by case basis.

Fair Haven Community Health Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer. FHCHC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.