Reports to: Administrator

Department: Nursing

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to direct the day-to-day nursing functions of the facility in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern long-term care facilities and in accordance with the policies and procedures specified for the operation of the facility to assure that the highest degree of quality care can be provided to all patients / residents at all times.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the facility's nursing programs and activities.
• Assist nursing managers and charge nurses in the development and implementation of performance evaluations.
• Assist nursing in the development and use of nursing departmental policies and procedures and establish a rapport in and among all departments so that each can realize the importance of team work.
• Review the facility's nursing policies and procedures periodically, at least annually or as necessary, and draft changes to assure continued compliance with current regulations (e.g., ADA, ergonomics, air quality, etc.) or to reflect possible new facility organization or processes.
• Interpret the facility's policies and procedures to employees, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies, etc., as necessary.
• Assume the administrative authority, responsibility and accountability of directing the nursing activities and programs of the facility.
• Represent the facility at and participate in nursing meetings relevant to the long-term care industry and report such activities to the Administrator.
• Assist the Administrator in making written and oral reports/recommendations to the governing board concerning the nursing operation of the facility.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator, and/or Committee, in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Make routine inspections of the facility to assure that established nursing policies and procedures are being implemented and followed and report such activities to the Administrator.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies and report such activities to the Administrator.
• Review and develop a plan of correction for nursing deficiencies noted during survey inspections and provide a written copy of such plan to the Administrator for approval prior to submission to inspecting agency. In general, all correspondence from governmental agencies regulating any aspect of the facility needs to be copied to the Administrator. Whenever responses are required of the facility to regulating agencies, responses need to be reviewed and approved by the Administrator prior to submitting to the regulating agency. When timely response is critical, the Administrator needs to be informed and adequate time needs to be allocated for Administrator review and approval.
• Maintain an adequate liaison with families and residents.
• Delegate a responsible staff member to act in your behalf when you are absent from the facility.
• Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are followed when conducting background checks and when providing information to a Nurse Aide Registry.

Committee Functions

• Oversee the nursing committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Falls, Wounds, Medications, etc.) providing direct attendance and supervision if necessary and provide written/oral reports of such committee meetings to the Administrator.
• Assist the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified nursing quality deficiencies.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from the facility's nursing committees as necessary.

Personnel Functions

• Assist in the recruitment and selection of competent nursing directors, supervisors, line staff, consultants, and other auxiliary personnel.
• Ensure that appropriate identification and license/certification documents are presented prior to the employment of personnel and that appropriate documentation is filed in the employee's personnel record in accordance with current regulations mandating such documentation.
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to other staff personnel as deemed necessary to perform their assigned duties.
• Ensure that an adequate number of appropriately trained professional and auxiliary nursing personnel are on duty at all times to meet the needs of the residents and achieve company PPD goals.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
• Review and check competence of work force and make necessary adjustments/corrections as required or that may become necessary.
• Counsel/discipline personnel as requested or as may become necessary.
• Ensure that disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.
• Terminate employment of personnel when necessary, documenting and coordinating such actions with Human Resources and the Administrator.
• Schedule and participate in nursing departmental meetings.
• Serve as liaison to the medical staff, and other professional and supervisory staff related to nursing.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.

Staff Development

• Assist the DSD and nursing managers in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of in-service training classes, on-the-job training and orientation programs to assure that current material and programs are continuously provided.
• Meet with nursing on a regularly scheduled basis, and conduct/participate in in-service classes and supervisory level training programs.
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, etc., to keep abreast of current changes in the long-term care field, as well as to maintain a professional status.
• Ensure that all nursing personnel attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the facility.

Safety and Sanitation

• Ensure that all nursing personnel follow established safety regulations, to include fire protection/prevention, smoking regulations, infection control, etc.
• Review resident and nursing accident/incident reports and establish an effective accident prevention program.
• Ensure that nursing procedure manuals identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could cause bodily injury.
• Ensure that nursing personnel follow established ergonomics policies and procedures (e.g., a back brace and/or a mechanical lift is used when lifting or moving heavy objects).
• Ensure that all nursing personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or hazardous chemicals participate in an in-service training program prior to performing such tasks.
• Assist the Maintenance Director in developing and implementing waste disposal policies and procedures in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.
• Ensure that personnel follow established policies governing the use/disposal of personal protective equipment and disposal of infectious wastes.
• Ensure that resident and nursing areas are maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary manner.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Ensure that adequate nursing supplies and equipment are on hand to meet the day-to-day operational and emergency needs of the facility and residents.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Participate in the preparation of a nursing annual operating budget for approval by the governing board and allocate the resources to carry out necessary programs and activities.

Resident Rights

• Maintain confidentiality of all resident information.
• Ensure that the resident's rights to fair and equitable treatment, self-determination, individuality, privacy, property and civil rights, including the right to wage complaints, are maintained at all times.

Miscellaneous

• Ensure that all residents receive care in a manner and in an environment that maintains or enhances their quality of life without abridging the safety and rights of other residents.
• Ensure that each resident receives the necessary nursing, medical and psychosocial services to attain and maintain the highest possible mental and physical functional status, as defined by the comprehensive assessment and care plan.
• Develop and maintain the Preadmission Screening and Annual Review of Mentally Ill and Mentally Retarded Individuals (PASARR) program as necessary.
• Other ad hoc duties as assigned by the Administrator.