Summary:

Manage administrative and functional areas or programs within the Nursing Department. Assist the Director of Nursing (DON) in overall operation of the department in accordance with Company policies, and standards of nursing practices and government regulations, to maintain quality care.

Environment:

Work will be performed primarily indoors at one of our long-term healthcare facilities, throughout all areas, including in resident rooms, and on carpeted and/or tiled floors. Work will be performed there routinely around other co-workers, healthcare staff, residents, and guests. Due to the nature of facility’s business, worker may be exposed to occasional slippery floors, object on floors, chemicals, sharp objects, hazardous materials and waste (including human), blood­ borne pathogens, and communicable diseases, as well as high-stress medical and/or life-threatening situations.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Meet physical and sensory requirements stated below and be able to work in the described environment.
• Identify and participate in process improvement initiatives that improve the customer experience, enhance work flow, and/or improve the work environment.
• Assist in management duties including, but not limited to, hiring, training and developing, coaching and counseling, and terminating department staff, as deemed necessary.
• Ensure that all employment practices are administered fairly and without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

• Assist the DON in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating and directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing department in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the DON as necessary/required, concerning the operation of the nursing department.
• Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to verify the continuity of the residents’ total regimen of care.
• Assist DON to monitor day-to-day operation of the nursing department and establish priorities and manage records, budgets, or supplies.
• Confirm that all nursing personnel are following their respective job descriptions.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility’s quality assurance program for the nursing service department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing.
• Participate in developing, implementing, and periodically updating the resident’s written discharge plan.
• In the absence of the DON, serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e. Infection Control, Quality Assurance, etc.)
• Assist the DON in determining the staffing needs of the nursing department.
• Delegate to the Charge Nurses and Nurse Supervisors the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.
• Make daily rounds of the nursing department to verify that all nursing personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards and report findings to the DON.
• Monitor absenteeism to verify that an adequate number of nursing personnel are always on duty. Report problem areas to the DON.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel and make appropriate reports to the Director, as required or as may be necessary.
• Confirm that all nursing personnel participate in the facility’s TB testing program.
• Provide the DON with information relative to the nursing needs of the resident and to the nursing department’s ability to meet those needs.
• Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.
• Make rounds with physicians, as necessary.
• Inform the DON when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Review nurses’ notes to verify that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided, that they reflect the resident’s response to the care, and that such care is provided in accordance with the resident’s wishes.
• Schedule daily rounds to observe residents and to determine if nursing needs are being met.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to verify that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.
• Report problem areas to DON and assist in developing and implementing corrective action.
• Comply with, support and enforce Company policies involving all safety and infection control procedures to include the proper use of mechanical lifts and gait belts.
• Monitor nursing personnel to verify that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Verify that all resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing equipment; verify that all equipment is operated in a safe manner.
• Monitor nursing procedures to verify that nursing supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident.
• Assist the MDS/Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling and revising the MDS, including the implementation of the care plans.
• Participate in the development of a written care plan (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident, indicates the care to be given, goals to be accomplished, and which professional service is responsible.
• Verify that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the resident’s care plan. Verify that nursing personnel refer to the resident’s care plan prior to administering daily care to the resident.
• Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.
• Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to verify that a team effort is achieved in developing their resident’s comprehensive care plan.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the DON indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow facility’s established procedures.
• Maintain a written record of the resident’s complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.

• Regularly inspect the facility and nursing practices for compliance with company, federal, state, and local standards and regulations.

• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Verify that nursing personnel honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Confirm that such requests are in accordance with the facility’s policies governing advance directives.
• Develop positive relationships on behalf of the company with governmental regulators, families, health care community and the community at large.
• Fill in as acting DON, Charge Nurse or other nursing position, as needed.

• Other special projects and duties, as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Registered Nurse in good standing with required current state license.
• Minimum of three (3) years nursing experience.
• One (1) to two (2) years management/supervisory experience preferred.
• Must have a current/active CPR certification.
• Effective verbal and written English communication skills.
• Demonstrated intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook, Internet and Intranet navigation.
• Highest level of professionalism with the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate at all levels of organization and work well within a team environment in support of company objectives.
• Customer service oriented with the ability to work well under pressure.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, excellent organizational skills with ability to prioritize, coordinate and simultaneously maintain multiple projects with high level of quality and productivity.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, take initiative and make independent decisions.
• Ability to deal with new tasks without the benefit of written procedures.
• Approachable, flexible and adaptable to change.
• Function independently, and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with stakeholders and vendors.

Physical and Sensory Requirements:

• Moderate physical activity:
• Push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of fifty (50) pounds to a minimum height of three (3) feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of fifty (50) feet.
• Standing and/or walking for more than four (4) hours per day.
• Bending and/or stooping for more than one (1) hour at a time.
• Sitting for more than two (2) hours at a time.
• Requires writing and/or computer work with repetitive typing and concentrating on computer screen and/or documents for more than two (2) hours at a time.