Perioperative Quality Lead

Req ID: 184514 
Department/Program: Operating Room Main, Clinical Care & Chief Nursing Executive
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSNU Nursing, Nursing Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $41.7775 - $52.9993 /hour
Closing Date: September 1, 2024 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Perioperative Quality Leader (PQL) position reports to the Managers for the Adult and Birth Unit Perioperative Services within the Women’s and Newborn Health Program (WNHP). The PQL has leadership accountability for the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality initiatives that have an impact on perioperative care and service provision of the WNHP Perioperative Service.  The PQL collaborates with quality roles in other programs to enhance the quality of Perioperative Services across the IWK Health Centre. This role promotes fundamental improvements to quality practices thereby enhancing overall quality performance. This position strives to uphold IWK Health’s Strategic Plan and operational goals. Under the direction of the perioperative leadership, the role will work with the interprofessional teams to guide and implement process changes in support of quality and continuous quality improvement.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

•    Develops, implements, and leads perioperative quality improvement initiatives, including identification of quality performance indicators, benchmarks, auditing, data management, and leads resulting in clinical practice changes.
•    Supports continuous quality improvement specifically targeted to operations and supply chain management to maximize resource utilization, minimize waste, and promote efficiency and quality. 
•    Collaborates with the Surgical Clinical Nurse Reviewer, and the Department of Surgery Associate Chief of Surgical Quality Improvement, to establish a quality improvement process for NSQIP indicators.
•    Supports the collation, analysis and utilization of information to increase service efficacy, efficiency and quality.
•    Works in collaboration with other Perioperative Clinical Leaders and provides leadership to the perioperative team, including but not limited to quality improvement initiatives.
•    Assists in the development, review and implementation of Perioperative policies and procedures
 

7.5h shifts; Monday – Friday 0800 – 1600h

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing. Commensurate experience and education will be considered.
• Eligible for registration with Nova Scotia College of Nurses
• BLS-C (HCP) Certification
• Must successfully complete the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Quality Improvement Course: The Basics within 1 year of hire
• Completion of Rapid Cycle and Process Improvement, LEAN in Healthcare environments and/or risk management training preferred.
• Minimum of five years' recent Perioperative Services experience in one of the following areas: Operating Rooms or PACU environment.
• Recent experience in a Quality Improvement role considered an asset.
• Skilled in adult learning and educational approach to learning.
• Experience managing processes and projects.
• Understands quality, quality systems, and innovations in quality.
• Understands Perioperative procedures, complications, and patient population.
• Demonstrates an ability to apply and coach others in the application of continuous quality improvement.
• Demonstrates a high degree of independent decision making, creativity, self-direction, motivation, change management and team building and leadership skills.
• Excellent project management and coaching skills, and ability to teach/transfer skills to all team members.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Effective presentation skills and group leadership skills.
• Demonstrates abilities as a change agent; will be able to work effectively with all levels of the organization and contribute as a team member.
• High analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in information management and demonstrated computer skills.
• Skills in operational and strategic planning.
• Helps promote a respectful workplace environment.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Nursing  bargaining  unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.