HOUSE ADMINISTRATOR

LOCATION: John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital 

DEPARMENT: Nursing Administration

SHIFT: Rotating 7:00pm - 7:00 am and 11:00pm - 7:00am

Salary is commensurate with years of experience indicated at time of application submittal.  Experience not disclosed or documented at the time of application will not be considered for initial step placement.

JOB SUMMARY                                                                          NON-UNION                  

The House Administrator functions in the absence of the Chief Nursing Executive in providing direction and administrative leadership to nursing staff. This position functions in collaboration with the Administrator on Duty (AOD) and Administrator On-Call (AOC) for making operational decisions, resolving problems, and responding to hospital wide emergencies. The position functions autonomously for nursing and patient care related issues. All decisions and actions are within the established Cook County Health and Hospitals System guidelines and standards for patient care. 

TYPICAL DUTIES

• The House Administrator conducts rounds in patient care areas related to nursing staff supervision and family care as needed, investigates problems, complaints and policy violations, documenting incidents and taking appropriate action to ensure the effective and efficient operation of patient care services at Stroger Hospital.
• Follow up as necessary with patient complaints, quality or process problems, and make recommendations for future preventative measures.
• The House Administrator saves as the first line of authority in settling employee disputes during off hours.
•  Reviews patient census information to facilitate timely discharges and admissions, to approve or authorizes patient transport or transfers to other medical facilities, and to make appropriate changes to staffing. These decisions have a direct impact on hospital revenue.
• Provides guidance and assistance to hospital staff on all sentinel events. 
• In collaboration with the Administrator on Duty (AOD), functions as a facilitator, coordinates repairs, and secures equipment from outside vendors in the event of life support equipment malfunctions.
• Intervenes and seeks corrections if patients sign out against medical advice or abscond.
• Intervenes in incidents involving the management of potentially violent patients.
• Assist the ADO to evaluate and approve the release of patient valuables and sign off on all checks issued by the hospital cashier when needed.
• Address patient and family concerns regarding patient care issues

EMERGENCY RESPONSE DISASTER, FIRE AND SAFETY

• Collaborates with the AOD for initiating Emergency Response Procedures and activates the Emergency Management System for External Emergencies, including all drills for Homeland Security response plans, Hazardous Materials Response Plans, Fire, and Post Operative Recovery Power. During an emergency may authorize the use of equipment that would otherwise be unauthorized.
• Collaborates with Public Affairs and ADO on all newsworthy events if requested.
• Ensures the infant security system is operable and makes arrangements for repairs, when necessary.
• Intervenes when an immediate threat to life or health, damage to equipment or buildings is posed that could result in the injury of patients, visitors or staff.
•  Assumes leadership responsibilities in collaboration with the AOD for patient care incidents related to the hospital being placed on full or partial by-pass or diversion.
• Performs other related duties as required / assigned.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS AND KEY CONTRACTS

• Scope of Supervision (directly or through subordinates) 100-500
• Position titles reporting directly to this position: All hospital staff indirectly report to this position during off shifts
• Internal contacts: C Level staff, all hospital department heads, and Nursing Divisional Directors, hospital facilities personnel, on duty physicians
• External Contacts: Chicago Fire Department, Cook County Morgue, Chicago Police Department, News Media

This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university, is required. is required (must provide official transcripts at time of interview)
•  Licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in the State of Illinois, is required (Must provide proof at time of interview if already obtained)
• Minimum five (5) years of nursing experience, is required
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in nursing supervision/management or hospital administration with experience in dealing with staffing shortages, nursing personnel issues, resolving patient flow problems, and responding to facilities emergencies, is required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•  Master’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

• Experience in dealing with staffing shortages
• Nursing personnel issues
• Resolving patient flow problems
• Responding to facilities emergencies 
• Knowledge of hospital and departmental policies, contractual agreements, and regulatory standards
• Knowledge of physical layout of all building on the complex including their floor plans, fire and utility systems is required
• Knowledge of hospital chain of command and appropriate channels authority
• Strong interpersonal skills for communicating with all levels of hospital personnel
• Written and verbal communication for communicating with personnel and preparing reports
• Analytical skills, problem solving skills for all decisions involving patient care, staffing and emergency response

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment.  The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

PLEASE READ

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, please submit the one with the latest date.  Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status.  Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

• A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

MUST MEET ALL REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT TIME OF APPLICATION FILING.  

Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE).  Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

*Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.

*CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS SYSTEM IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER