Lab Operations Manager

• Standard hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Most Thursdays, the schedule is 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required with appropriate notice, though this is rare.

The Education-Innovation-Simulation Learning Environment (EISLE) exists as a support unit to the undergraduate and graduate programs at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing. The EISLE, designed to be a safe learning environment, simulates the clinical setting. A Director (Faculty), Assistant Director (EHRA Non-Faculty), Lab Operations Manager (Staff), and part-time Teaching Associates (Graduate Students) staff the EISLE.

Mastery of fundamental skills is prerequisite to professional competency. In the EISLE setting, performance of selected skills provides visible evidence of students' psychomotor skill development. A designated level of performance, determined by faculty, constitutes skill competence. Professional performance of psychomotor skills is not simply a mechanical implementation of steps, but requires clinical reasoning, careful planning, and critical thinking and decision-making to ensure safe and appropriate patient care. Knowledge of the critical cognitive components relative to skills is essential to skill acquisition and integral to the successful implementation of psychomotor skills.

The process of learning psychomotor skills is collaborative. Achievement of skill competence and attainment of related knowledge is the responsibility of students, faculty, staff, and teaching associates. Students are responsible for participating in designated learning activities to obtain related knowledge and to ensure skill acquisition. Faculty, staff, and teaching associates are responsible for implementing the EISLE philosophy and for providing the tools with which students can attain related knowledge and achieve skill competence.

The EISLE is where students can learn, practice, and gain confidence in psychomotor skills that are foundational to nursing practice. Students learn assessments and interventions within the framework of the nursing process, which is the decision-making approach used in nursing They develop communication and collaboration skills to provide patient advocacy within healthcare teams.

The EISLE Lab Operations Manager supports EISLE labs by overseeing lab setup, breakdown, and inventory management for pre-licensure and graduate labs. This position collaborates with the EISLE team to ensure laboratory operations run safely and efficiently.

Responsibilities:

Operational Lab Support

*Lab Environment:

oAdhere to a semester calendar to ensure accurate lab preparation in a timely manner and independently anticipate preparation requirements for each upcoming lab for designated content in multiple courses each week.

oMaintain the lab environment: set up and break down labs, including stocking and restocking supplies; cleaning and repackaging reusable supplies.

oMaintain equipment and supplies, including inventory lists and tracking.

oMaintain an orderly and tidy environment in labs, staging/storage areas, and all workspaces.

*Maintaining Inventory (consumables and equipment):

oMonitor equipment: troubleshoot equipment for functionality, perform routine equipment maintenance, and notify Assistant Director of equipment problems.

oMonitor the inventory of supplies and equipment, forecasting quantity and types of supplies and equipment needed for upcoming semesters.

oPlan and order supplies for upcoming labs and upcoming semesters in consultation with Assistant Director and other leadership.

oAssist with ordering, preparing, and assembling student supply bags each year.

oUsing the SON database (NurSys), check equipment out and in and send email notices to borrowers.

oAssist with an annual inventory of supplies and equipment.

oAssist with set up and break down, and transportation of equipment for simulations.

*Support Teaching and Student Evaluation

oReview modules and other teaching materials to assist with lab setup.

oUse EISLE-approved teaching-learning principles and training materials to inform the setup for teaching and evaluation of nursing students.

*Data Mining:

oHandle security documents in compliance with Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

oAttend regularly scheduled EISLE training sessions.

*Other duties as assigned.

Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Experience working in a laboratory environment.

Manage laboratory inventory.

Ability to oversee lab operations, read and apply literature related to procedures, coordinate multiple projects, train others, document procedures, monitor resources, and initiate ordering to maintain inventory within a designated budget.

Degree from appropriately accredited institutions.

This position requires the ability to read English and to follow verbal and written instructions. This position requires the ability to support lab setup for teaching complex nursing skills. Management of operational activities requires the ability to read and apply literature related to procedures, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, document procedures, monitor resources, and initiate ordering to maintain inventory within a designated budget.

This position is responsible for setting up and breaking down skills labs according to the EISLE protocol. This position requires standing, bending, cleaning, and restocking. Moderate to heavy lifting (up to 35 pounds by self, up to 70 pounds with assistance) is required for approximately 10% of the job, including tasks such as moving manikins, equipment, and boxes of supplies, as well as stocking shelves with supplies. Lifting supply boxes overhead requires the use of step stools. Knowledge of lifting techniques, use of lifting equipment, and body mechanics is important. All duties to be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

With appropriate notice, work at night and/or weekends only when necessary.

Hazards include potential exposure to blood and body fluids as students learn to perform finger sticks, injections, and phlebotomy procedures. Proper techniques are taught, and the proper disposal of sharps and used supplies is emphasized to prevent needlestick injuries or blood exposure. Disposal of contaminated sharps is part of the employee's job, and precautions are taken to prevent inadvertent exposure. Exposure to latex and cleaning materials is frequent.

Not Applicable.