JOB DESCRIPTION
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager
Clinical Services
Whangarei Hospital
Position Title:
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager
Organisation Unit:
Clinical Services
Location:
Intensive Care Unit
Responsible to:
Clinical Nurse Manager, Intensive Care Unit
Primary Functions of
the Position:
Provide clinical leadership by demonstrating best practice
Ensure high quality nursing care is provided to patients
Ensure day to day clinical coordination and management of
patient care (including direct patient care as required) under the
direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM)
Provide a supportive role to the Clinical Nurse Manager and
accept delegated responsibility as required
Develop managerial and leadership skill base for career
enhancement
Functional Relationships
The Associate Clinical Nurse Manager will develop and maintain excellent relationships with:
Internal
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Clinical Nurse Manager
Patients/Family/Whanau
Bureau Coordinator
Safety & Quality Facilitator
Duty Managers
Nursing Staff
Allied Health Professionals
Medical Staff
Maori Health Directorate
Director of Midwifery and Nursing
Nursing Leadership Groups
Regional hospitals
External
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Health & Support Agencies
NorthTec
Maori Health providers
Northland Emergency Services Trust
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services
Key Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes
Northland District Health Board has established a set of values by which the organisation will
respond, in part, to achieving its goals and objectives through their workforce. The following
Values and supporting statements are expected behaviours of each individual employed with
NDHB:
Values
People First
Tangata I te tuatahi
Respect
Whakaute (tuku mana)
Caring
Manaaki
Communication
Whakawhitiwhiti korero
Excellence
Taumata teitei (hirangi)
Supporting Statement
People are central to all we do
We treat others as we would like to be treated
We nurture those around us, and treat all with dignity and
compassion
We communicate safely, openly and with respect to promote clear
understanding
Our attitude of excellence inspires success, competence,
confidence and innovation
The position of Associate Clinical Nurse Manager encompasses the following major functions
or key result areas:
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Provide clinical expertise and direction to the Nursing Team to enable patient focused
care within a multi-disciplinary setting
Coordinate effectively and efficiently the provision of quality care which is professional
and patient focused to ensure quality patient outcomes
Effectively coordinate the day to day activities of the Intensive Care Unit
Provide clinical leadership and supervision of the nursing team
Demonstrates a commitment to quality of Service Delivery
Treaty of Waitangi
Health and Safety
The outcome requirements of the above key responsibility areas are outlined below:
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Provide clinical
expertise and direction
to the nursing team to
enable patient focused
care within a multidisciplinary setting
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Provides clinical and professional support to the Clinical
Nurse Manager (CNM)
Maintains a current Designated Senior Nurse professional
development portfolio
Acts as an effective role model by demonstrating expert
clinical competence
Contribute to and foster the use of evidenced based nursing
practice
Liaise with the Clinical Nurse Manager and Nurse Educator
to ensure clear policies and protocols for standards of
practice and procedures exist and are regularly reviewed
and updated in accordance with NDHB policy
Use advanced nursing knowledge and skills to ensure that
all nursing practice is safe, legal, effective and responsive to
the needs of the patients and their significant others
Provide clinical expertise to the nursing team, including
coaching and mentoring to develop supervisory and staff
management skills
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Effectively and
efficiently coordinate
the provision of quality
care which is
professional and
patient focused to
ensure quality patient
outcomes
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Effectively co-ordinate
the day to day activities
of the Intensive Care
Unit
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Promote effective teamwork; maintain collaborative
relationships within the multi-disciplinary team.
Coordinate the assessment, planning, implementation and
evaluation of nursing care and best practice within the
Intensive Care Unit
Implement new or changes to clinical policies, practice,
procedures and guidelines
Ensure that documentation including multi-disciplinary care
plans and processes are clear and meet the standard in
accordance with Northland District Health Board Nursing
and documentation policies
Actively role models a quality patient focused approach to
nursing care
Act as a liaison with families / caregivers / whanau as
necessary
Ensures staff are well informed and comply with infection
control, hazard management and occupational health and
safety requirements and practises
Implement and promote initiatives which improve patient
outcomes
Coordinate daily staff and bed management in liaison with
the Clinical Nurse Manager and Duty Manager
Manage daily staff allocation, including management of short
notice roster changes due to annual, bereavement and sick
leave in consultation with the Clinical Nurse Manager and
Duty Manager as appropriate
Ensure patient/staff allocation is safe and appropriate to staff
skill, training needs and available clinical support
Co-ordinate and use resources, time, equipment and staff
efficiently
Acts as Trendcare/Information Management Link Nurse for
the Intensive Care Unit
Ensure staff enter shift handover information into Trendcare
that clearly identifies patient clinical risk and appropriate
plans to mitigate those
Ensure that Trendcare use is in line with Trendcare business
rules
In consultation with the Clinical Nurse Manager and Nurse
Educator, facilitate orientation and preceptorship for all new
team members
Liaise with after hour’s Duty Managers to provide twentyfour hour overview of patient care delivery
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Provide clinical
leadership and
supervision to the
Nursing and Health
Care Assistant team
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Demonstrate a
commitment to quality
of service delivery
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Accept delegated authority from the Clinical Nurse Manager
Demonstrate leadership skills, acting as a resource for team
members within the Intensive Care Unit
Delegate appropriately to staff to provide supervision and
leadership when necessary
Comply with Nursing Council NZ and organisational policies
when making decisions regarding delegation and direction of
care/activities to Enrolled Nurses & Health Care Assistants
Role model positive and professional behaviour in all
relationships
Identify issues of ethical concern and assist staff in
addressing these
Provide constructive feedback to staff to ensure professional
nursing practice is of a consistently high standard
Promote and actively participate in team development to
ensure a cohesive, positive and professional working
environment
Participate in recruitment processes and performance
management, including performance appraisals as allocated
by the Clinical Nurse Manager
Liaise with the Clinical Nurse Manager regarding
performance concerns of individual staff members to ensure
appropriate performance management plans are
implemented
Develop and foster an environment of continuous quality
improvement by demonstrating commitment to quality
improvement, risk management and resource utilisation
Demonstrate commitment to the Accreditation and
Certification process
Coordinate clinical practice audits and implement
recommended outcomes in consultation with the senior ICU
team
Participate and lead quality initiatives in liaison with the
senior ICU team
Ensure that all concerns, complaints and issues are referred
to the Clinical Nurse Manager and where appropriate to
support agencies i.e. Health advocate, Maori Directorate
Demonstrate a working knowledge of evidence based
nursing practice
Identify training and on-going development opportunities for
staff in liaison with the Nurse Educator and Clinical Nurse
Manager.
Actively lead and/or participate in policy
development/special projects/committees as directed by
Clinical Nurse Manager
Demonstrate knowledge of legislation and actively source
data when needed, i.e. Privacy Act, Nurses Act, and New
Zealand Nursing Council
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Treaty of Waitangi
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Health & Safety
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Contribute to the promotion of the principles of Treaty of
Waitangi and the involvement of Maori within the decision
making process for their health and independence, within
District Health Board management processes and
procedures
Include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi within all
aspects of the role and its outcomes
Ensure that consultation and engagement processes include
appropriate mechanisms to meet the need of Maori in a
culturally appropriate and safe manner
Attend the NDHB Maori Health Cultural Quality Programme.
Ensure compliance with designated responsibilities detailed
in Northland District Health Board’s Health and Safety Policy
and annual objectives
Promote an environment of physical, occupational, cultural,
ethical and legal safety
Participate in the organisation’s Health and Safety
Management training programme
Observe and promote safe work practices, rules and
instructions relating to work, and be pro-active in hazard
management
Willingly co-operate in the achievement of all health and
safety goals and initiatives by:
 Practicing and observing safe work methods;
 The use of safety equipment;
 Reporting unsafe conditions or equipment; and
 Reporting and documenting all accidents or incidents
Variation of Duties
Duties and responsibilities described above should not be construed as a complete and
exhaustive list as it is not the intention to limit in any way the scope or functions of the
position. Duties and responsibilities may be amended from time to time, in consultation with
the employee, to meet any changing conditions and service requirements.
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
 New Zealand Registered Nurse
 Current annual practicing certificate
 Recognised Intensive Care course
 Post Graduate diploma or currently
working towards
Experience
Essential
 Minimum 5 years current experience in
Intensive Care nursing
 The ability to work independently and
also be a member of a team
 Experience in problem solving, priority
setting and planning
 Ability to self-evaluate and reflect on
practice
 Proven leadership ability
Awareness and Understanding of
Essential
 The Treaty of Waitangi and its application
to the health setting
 Privacy Act (1993) and Health
Information Privacy Code (1994)
 Health and Safety in Employment Act
(1992)
 Knowledge of quality improvement
processes
 Knowledge of current issues within
nursing and in the area of specialty
Desirable
 Leadership/Management course(s)
Desirable
 Has Expert/Level 4 PDRP portfolio or
equivalent
Desirable
 Health and Disability Commissioner
(Code of Health and Disability Services
Consumers’ Rights) Regulations (1996)
 New Zealand Council of Healthcare
Standards
Skills & Personal Attributes
Skills
 High standard of written and verbal communication
 Ability to develop productive and positive relationships
 Proven ability to lead and facilitate change
 Communicates expectations & agreed goals, provides on-going feedback & objectively
evaluates performance
 Applies sound reasoning in problem solving / decision making
 Excellent time management skills
 Knowledge of current issues within nursing and the Intensive Care specialty in New
Zealand
 Knowledge and understanding of medico/legal and ethical responsibilities
Personal Attributes
 Proven positive work ethic
 Excellent communication skills
 Strong patient focus
 Proven ability to work in an environment which is unpredictable and ever changing
 Positive, flexible, collaborative approach
 Role models professionalism
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services
Performance Development Review
An initial review of performance will be conducted after three months, with an annual review
thereafter.
An individual Development Plan will be developed to reflect the contribution this position is
expected to make towards achieving the team’s objectives and measures. Key result areas
will be developed and agreed at this time.
Authorised by:
Clinical Nurse Manager, Intensive Care Unit
Signature:
Date:
Acceptance
Acceptance of the position implies acceptance of this position description.
Position Title:
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager
Signature of employee:
Date:
Associate Clinical Nurse Manager – Intensive Care Unit
Clinical Services