• Initiate physician orders, and administer medications, complete procedures and provide treatments in accordance with care/medical needs, physician orders, policy/procedures, scope of practice and nursing standards of practice.
• Assess patients and plan, coordinate, and supervise nursing care, including restorative nursing, to ensure compliance with standards of care, policy/procedures.
• Direct and monitor Medication Aides including responsibility for observing and taking appropriate action regarding any desired effects, side effects, interactions, and contraindications associated with the medication(s) administered by a Medication Aide.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, county policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Establish effective working relationships with clients, residents, management, employees, outside agencies, vendors, and the public.
• Perform direct hands-on care in accordance with the plan of care, physician's orders and nursing standards of practice while utilizing independent judgment, critical thinking skills, the principles of nursing care and basic physical assessment skills.
• Provide patient/resident teaching in accordance with patient/resident needs and standards of care.
• Develop, document, and implement individualized, interdisciplinary care plans to ensure care/medical needs are being met; complete sections of the MDS (Minimum Data Set) assessment, as requested.
• Accurately document assessments, care, teaching and observations in the medical record; make informative entries that reflect the medical needs of the individual, the care provided and the response to that care; and ensure that progress notes reflect that the care plan is being followed and updated as needed.
• Assist with orienting, directing, training, and evaluating the work of subordinate team members.
• Work cooperatively and respectfully with team members, families, visitors, and volunteers to create a positive and pleasant health care environment.
• Complete nursing rounds, provide follow-up supervision, and assist/consult with nursing/medical staff ensuring quality nursing care is provided; consult with attending physician as needed for treatments, medications, rehabilitation, etc.
• Ensure team members are informed of the care needs of each individual; conduct change-of-shift reports utilizing professional expertise in assigning team members based upon their level of training/scope of practice.
• Serve as a resource person to others, promote a positive work environment, and assist in resolving complaints/conflicts; orient new patients/residents and their families to the facility.
• Maintain confidentiality of departmental, patient/resident, and employee information; and ensure that communication and documentation are in compliance with all privacy laws including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.
• Promptly inform the Director of Nursing/Nurse Manager/ House Supervisor, patient's/resident's Guardian, and patient's/resident's physician of any change in condition; initiate follow-up to promote safety/care; and immediately report any suspicion/allegations of abuse/neglect/misappropriation of property to the Director of Nursing/Nurse Manager/House Supervisor.
• Review documented plans of care anddischarge plans; participate in updating these plans as needed.
• Assist in the admission, transfer, and dismissal of patients/residents; complete all related documentation.
• Serve as a mentor/preceptor to co-workers, students, and agency/outside personnel; follow-up to ensure that they function within their scope of practice; and help others learn by teaching and being a positive role model.
• Encourage, empower, and support patient's/resident's, whenever possible, in maintaining or regaining their independence; accommodating their individual choices; assisting them in directing their own daily life; and in helping them maintain their personal belongings according to their wishes.
• Investigate complaints and/or suggestions from patients/residents, co-workers or the public; and take steps to remedy problems.
• Respond to and assist with medical and psychiatric emergencies and codes at a level of competence.
• Observe, adhere to, and promote emergency/safety protocols and measures related to hazardous waste, chemical use, fire, weather, internal disasters, elopement, community disasters, and other safety matters.
• Attend and participate in education programs aimed at increasing personal knowledge and abilities, and those necessary to maintain licensure.
• Participate in Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities.
• Provide and promote a positive image of DCHC and serve as a Health Center representative for community agencies, nursing schools, and the general public.
• Cultivate, promote, and actively engage in an environment that provides companionship and upholds the self-worth of those entrusted to our care.
• Treat patients/residents, co-workers and the public with dignity and respect at all times.
• Drive to other hospitals to complete resident/patient pre-admission assessment, when requested.
• Complete pre-admission nursing assessments within the community, as needed, to include the review of medical records making sure they meet all admission criteria and that they are an appropriate admission for DCHC.
• If assigned, gather relevant referral information in a systematic manner giving consideration to a broad range of factors. Coordinate communications between the Departments, Medical Directors, Physicians, Discharge Planners, Nursing, Social Workers, Finance, Pharmacy and caregivers to ensure a smooth admission process.
• If assigned, monitor and evaluate the admission/referral process and take action to improve this process.
• Take steps to promote and maintain a clean and safe work environment and ensure that malfunctioning equipment is immediately removed from service and sent for repairs.
• Report to work at assigned location with regular, predictable, and consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Associate's degree or Diploma from an accredited college or university in nursing required.
• Must be a Registered Nurse with current nursing license from Nebraska or a compact state recognized by the Nebraska Board of Nursing at the time of hire, and maintain the license in good standing throughout the course of employment.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing preferred.
• Experience with Electronic Health Care Records preferred.
• Experience in a health care environment that includes acute care, skilled rehabilitation, skilled nursing or long-term care preferred.
• Must be certified in basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or complete certification within required time frames after employment; and once certification is achieved, it must be maintained throughout the course of employment.
• Will need a valid driver's license if doing a community referral assessment.
• Completion of pre-employment drug screen, criminal records check, and health review including physical abilities assessment.

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed indoors in a healthcare facility with skilled rehabilitation, skilled nursing and long-term care patients/residents. Incumbents will be assigned to specific shifts; however, schedules may include varied days, hours, weekends, overtime, holidays, and emergency call-in. Noise level is usually moderate but could at times be extreme. Work may be fast-paced when dealing with multiple priorities and/or emergency situations.
• Incumbents in this position may be exposed to infectious/communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, and potential risk of injury from distraught patients/residents. Incumbents must occasionally be able to independently lift up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 50 pounds of force with grip strength of 65 pounds.
• Work requires physical activity including extended periods of standing, walking, and bending with occasional periods of sitting, kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, and balancing. Work also requires constant reaching between knee and shoulder level as well as frequent reaching below knee level. Frequent fine motor movement of fingers and wrists as well as gross motor movement of elbows and arms is also required.
• Vision abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision as well as depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbents must possess eye hand coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate standard office equipment, medical devices, and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans