"Director of Nursing Services"

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Job Description Summary

The Director of Nursing Services is a newly created position focusing on both the strategic vision and daily provision of nursing services within Wellness at Penn. Reporting to the Executive Director of Student Health and Counseling, the clinical pillar of Wellness at Penn, the Director of Nursing Services provides strategic oversight, decision-making, and overall leadership for the nursing team and plays a crucial role in enhancing the delivery of medical services to the student population, and fostering a professional, collaborative, and supportive environment for all involved in student health and wellbeing.

The Director is responsible and accountable for maintaining excellence in ambulatory nursing practice as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of clinical operations at Student Health and Counseling. This role is pivotal in ensuring that nursing standards are met and continuously improved to provide exceptional care and support for students. The Director must demonstrate collaborative skills, clinical knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for professional nursing and promote the same among all members of the health care team.

Job Responsibilities

• Engage in the development and implementation of a strategic plan for nursing that aligns with the vision, mission, and core values of Wellness at Penn.
• Develop, in collaboration with the Student Health and Counseling leadership team, new models of interdisciplinary team-based care.
• Oversee all clinical nursing activities: primary care, acute care, specialty nursing care (sexual health and gynecology), infection control efforts, emergency preparedness, travel medicine, and laboratory services.
• Oversee and direct the care delivered by Medical Assistants and nursing students.
• Provide direct clinical nursing care to students 1.5 days per week.
• Ensure that patient care needs are met through adequate staffing, efficient workflows, and best practice standards.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of nursing operations.
• Establish and maintain excellence in college health nursing practice by creating standards informed by best practices, peer institutions, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based guidelines.
• Develop and evaluate processes which ensure compliance with all state and federal standards, policies and accreditation requirements.
• Monitor all relevant patient and clinical-related metrics and trends.
• Respond to disease surveillance data collected by the Public Health and Wellbeing team by adjusting clinical workflow as appropriate.
• Assist the Public Health and Wellbeing team in their initiatives as appropriate, e.g., annual flu vaccine clinic.

Quality Improvement, Performance, and Performance Improvement

• Develop and support quality improvement and accreditation processes in consultation with the Executive Director and the Medical Director.
• Develop, evaluate and maintain quality improvement and accreditation standards. Use quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess services and student satisfaction with services and the care they receive.
• Recruit, supervise and retain staff - Perform staff performance reviews, Implement HR-related actions associated with hiring, development, and discipline of staff members according to campus policies and procedures.

Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Professional license as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (or eligible). Certification, in clinical specialty, nursing leadership, or administration, is preferred. BLS certification for healthcare providers required (or eligible).
• Clinical experience in Primary Care, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine or Adolescent Medicine required.
• Five to seven years of progressive leadership and administrative responsibility in a healthcare setting required. College health or ambulatory care administration is strongly preferred.
• Experience in the oversight of programs to improve efficiency and quality of patient care. Demonstrated experience in developing and monitoring quality initiatives.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with various stakeholders. Cultivate an environment that promotes and rewards professional growth, interdisciplinary collaboration, constructive communication, flexibility, teamwork, and student service.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills as well as critical and analytical thinking, superior communication skills, and excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to deal effectively with various data sources. Attention to detail is critical.
• Must have extensive knowledge in operating electronic health records software for clinical documentation and reporting (Epic preferred).
• Knowledge and experience in developing and implementing policies and procedures.
• Must be able to work cooperatively with a variety of individuals, exhibit appropriate sensitivity to others, and interface effectively with students, staff, and administrators. Demonstrated effective conflict resolution skills. Ability to prioritize well and focus on completion of tasks and objectives while under stress of demanding work schedule.
• Experience with accreditation processes and standards (AAAHC accreditation preferred).

Knowledge

• Must have extensive knowledge of primary care services and ambulatory health care best practices (college health preferred).
• Expertise in quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives in healthcare.
• Knowledge of academic issues and institutional health and wellness requirements.
• Familiarity with public health principles and disease prevention strategies.

Collaboration, Advocacy and Leadership

• Must demonstrate collaborative professional relationships across Student Health and Counseling and the Public Health and Wellbeing teams.
• Must promote a supportive and integrated student experience through effective collaboration, identifying care gaps, and opportunities to develop new services.
• Serve as an advocate for nursing practice, shared governance, and a culture of professionalism fostering an environment that supports nurses and medical assistants.

Application Requirement

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

This position is classified as "Essential Personnel." As an essential employee, you may be expected to report to work or remain on duty during university closures, delayed openings, or early dismissals, unless otherwise directed by your supervisor or a member of the senior management team. Additionally, you may also be required to work during university emergencies, including but not limited to natural disasters, extended periods of inclement weather, and other unforeseen events.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Health and Wellness

Pay Range

$109,000.00 - $146,000.00 Annual Rate