Description

Welcome to Rise Life Services!

RISE Life Services (an Aid to the Developmentally Disabled Company) provides a residential and supported living environment dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges to RISE to their full potential. Our core values of quality, dignity, and respect serve as our guiding principles in everything we do.

Among our finest assets is our dedicated workforce: a diverse, knowledge-based team of professionals committed to offering the highest quality of services that are compassionately delivered and responsive to the needs of the individuals we serve and their families.

We offer a competitive compensation benefits package, which may include the following:

• $5,000.00 Sign On Bonus
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance – Premier nationally recognized providers
• Vacation/Personal/Sick Time Off
• Life Insurance
• Education Assistance
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Referral Bonus 
• Local company discounts
• Professional Development & Training opportunities

Summary/Objective

Under the supervision of the Director of Nursing, the Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for the overall oversight and supervision of the healthcare needs of the people we support. The RN will work in conjunction with medical providers to ensure the delivery of the highest quality of integrated health and continuity of care to the people supported across the RISE network.

Essential Job Functions

• Review, modify and update the individual’s plan of nursing care in accordance with medical diagnoses and treatment plan. Ensure nursing care plans are updated annually and whenever a new diagnosis is added.
• Ensure staff are trained on individual plan of nursing service.
• Spot check medication count to ensure that the records for narcotics control and needle/syringe supply are accurate.
• Ensure supplies of medication and first aid materials are adequate and not expired, that medication is stored and disposed of according to agency policy. Complete monthly medication storage.
• Ensure individual-specific formulary is present for all medication administered to each individual.
• Validate the Medication Administration Record on a weekly basis for required information: medication given as ordered and started in a timely fashion; no blank signatures, record is initialed on front and signed on back, PRN symptoms are charted and result stated, note reason for any discontinued medications.
• Check that doctor’s orders and prescriptions are current, medication formularies are in place for each medication, and MARs are printed and completed correctly. Grab and Go books have current information.
• Ensure that procedures for new medication orders are accurately completed (are dated, signed, noted in Formulary and copied to all appropriate parties).
• Check that all medication administered has a matching label, order and medication sheet entry.
• Monitor effects of medication; document as needed.
• Track and document all medical appointments; illness or accident; current medication; medication changes; current diet (weight loss and gain) and all charts required by the individual’s nursing care.
• Ensure that all physician appointments and follow ups are scheduled as ordered. Review incoming physician summaries for instructions, medication changes and treatment orders and implement all changes. Ensure that all emergency room/hospital discharge instructions are followed up and documented.
• Maintain a tracking log for all individual’s for all appointments; ensure that recurring and annual appointments (vision; hearing; nutrition; dental exam and cleaning; special needs) are scheduled and attended.
• Complete all necessary nursing assessments per agency policy (quarterly, bi-annually, annually), including, but not limited to, as Fall Risk assessment, Nursing Visuals, Self-Administration of Medication Evaluation, and Tardive Dyskinesia Screening. Braden Scale for predicting pressure under risk semi-annually.
• Perform physical observation of individuals (skin/nails/hair/overall health).
• Review incident reports and occurrences; counsel and/or re-train staff as needed to ensure accurate reports.
• Validate accuracy and timeliness of entries in all required individual’s charts.
• Conduct Nursing In-service training of residential service to include: recognition of illness or dysfunction, disease, infestation and indicators of injury that warrant medical or nursing intervention; taking vital signs; addressing consumer-specific health problems and needs (e.g. diabetic/daily foot care); administering any necessary treatment (e.g. warm soaks); performing first-aid on occasion of accidents (injury); making a diagnosis; following proper emergency procedures; writing incident reports. Add topics as necessary.
• Maintain a record of dates when required in-service sessions for residential program staff were conducted.
• Teach AMAP Certification/Recertification classes as well as the required curriculum for Agency orientation.
• Supervise AMAP staff during certification/recertification for accurate pouring and vital signs.
• Participate in meetings regarding the care and concerns of the individuals, including Life Plans’, Interdisciplinary Team Meetings (ITT), Project Management and House Meetings.
• Maintain communication with physicians and family members regarding the individual’s care.
• Ensure that program nursing staff maintain communication log for each other; inform residential program nursing staff as appropriate.
• Review nursing communication log for summary of doctor’s visit; ensure that information is complete, accurate, and documented in the individual’s records including: results of tests and recommendations for necessary follow up.
• Report possible violations of individual’s rights promptly, and complete and submit incident reports in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency policy.
• Participate in any investigation into incidents occurring within the program as requested and maintain confidentiality in regard to such investigations.
• Maintain the confidentiality of any information relating to the individual’s in the program as per HIPAA guidelines.
• Complete required documentation (paper and/or electronic) in a timely, accurate fashion and as per compliance regulations.
• Ensure all required documentation is maintained in records in the prescribed manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Report ongoing problems and suggest solutions to improve working/environment conditions.
• Receive and communicate effectively on feedback from management, peers, other staff and consumers in a cooperative manner.
• Handle program equipment, consumable materials and resources in a cost-conscious manner.
• Keep updated and review any regulation changes in State or Federal policy and/or Agency procedures.
• Provide your projected weekly schedule to your supervisor.
• If position includes being “on call”, ensure timely response to calls from the residence and family members, etc.
• Obtain/maintain certification in First Aid/CPR and SCIP as needed per Agency policy.
• Maintain copy of your current license with the Human Resources Department.
• Follow the Code of Conduct and Agency Standards as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Accurately and positively communicate Agency philosophy and administrative decisions to other staff in a timely and professional manner.
• Attend and complete training in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency Policy.
• Assist in maintaining Agency property in a neat, orderly and safe manner and report all repair needs in a timely manner as per site-specific needs.
• Observe Agency policy and procedures for building security and identification of authorized personnel.
• Follow HIPAA and OSHA regulations, including universal precautions.
• Check that the following are posted and used correctly: Poison Control number, emergency numbers, pharmacy telephone numbers, medical providers, and nursing on-call information.
• Provide transportation as required.
• Report all violations and/or accidents in Agency or personal vehicle in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency policy.
• Address emergency situations as they occur in the program according to established policies and procedures, and ensure communication of such situations in a timely manner.
• Provide coverage in emergency situations until relieved of the responsibility.
• Ensure the physical safety and security of the individual by taking precautionary and preventative measures against conditions in the environment which might cause physical harm.
• Ensure the appropriate protective and preventive measures for both staff and consumers in the control of communicable and infectious diseases including identification, assessment and reporting of same.
• Ensure that the individual’s needs are met and intercede on the individual’s behalf as necessary.
• Treat each individual with dignity and respect in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency policy.
• Complete and submit occurrence forms and incident reports in a timely, accurate fashion and as per agency policy and State regulations; counsel or re-train staff as needed regarding reporting procedures.
• Utilize information acquired through training, meetings, education and experience to benefit individuals.
• Perform additional responsibilities as requested and/or necessary, including supporting alternate locations when assigned.

Rise Life Services is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

Education, Work Experience, and Competencies

• NYS Licensed Registered Nurse.
• Associates in Nursing or related field.
• Bachelors in Nursing or related field preferred.
• Experience working with the differently-abled population preferred.
• Knowledge of OPWDD, DOH, or OMH state and federal regulations preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and ability to be flexible to meet the needs of a diverse population in a variety of settings.
• Strong verbal and written communication and organizational skills.
• Valid NYS Driver’s License.