Lead Registered Nurse Trainer

Position Summary:

The Lead RNT is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the safe administration of medications in accordance with Illinois DHS Rule 116 through the authorization of Direct Support Professionals. This leadership position plays a key role in advancing Sertoma Star’s commitment to progressive community health access and person-centered services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) residing in their community residences. By integrating compliance with a progressive healthcare philosophy, the Lead RNT ensures that every person supported by Sertoma Star receives respectful, high-quality care that enhances their autonomy and overall well-being.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Medication Administration Oversight: Provide direct oversight of all medication administration processes, ensuring strict compliance with Rule 116 and best practices for safe medication management.
• Training & Authorization: Conduct initial and ongoing training and education for Authorized Direct Support Professionals (ADSPs) in medication administration, ensuring competency and compliance with Rule 116. This includes medication pass observations.
• Delegation & Supervision: Authorize, delegate, and supervise medication administration tasks to ADSPs, ensuring safety and adherence to individualized medication plans.
• Staff Supervision & Support: Oversee the on-call contractors, ensuring all nursing staff adhere to medication administration protocols.
• Medication Review & Compliance: Oversee pharmacy check-in, medication refills, and overall medication management and tracking to ensure timely and accurate administration in the electronic MAR, QuickMAR .
• Incident Monitoring & Corrective Actions: Monitor and review medication errors, injury reports, and seizure logs via the Health Services Management System (HSMS) Electronic Health Record (EHR), implementing corrective action plans when necessary.
• Retraining & Deauthorization: Deauthorize and retrain ADSPs when medication administration concerns arise, ensuring continuous compliance and high standards of care.
• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Facilitate nurse-to-nurse communications for discharge planning and transitions back to community living programs, ensuring medication continuity and patient autonomy.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure delivery and coordination of all Health Services under their purview are following Rule 115, Rule 116, CQL, and agency policy and procedures.
• On-Call Support (occasional): Provide on-call assistance during off-hours when needed to ensure uninterrupted medication management and emergency response.
• Special Meetings & Advocacy: Participate in transition planning and interdisciplinary meetings, offering nursing expertise to support person-centered care and medication-related decisions.
• Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN) in Illinois.
• Minimum of 1 year of clinical nursing experience within the last 5 years.
• At least 5 years of experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in any capacity (e.g., residential, clinical, programmatic).
• Successful completion of the DHS Nurse-Trainer Training Program, in compliance with Rule 116.
• Demonstrated experience in medication administration oversight, including delegation, retraining, and corrective action implementation.
• Strong computer skills with demonstrated proficiency in electronic health records (EHRs) and documentation systems (e.g., Quick MAR, HSMS, HRST).
• Must be comfortable working independently and managing multiple clinical priorities without close supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to respectful, person-centered care.
• Ability to work exclusively within digital workflows; paper-based documentation is being phased out and is no longer supported.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and critical thinking abilities.
• Experience in a leadership or supervisory nursing role, especially within IDD services.
• Advanced credentials in nurse education, public health, or healthcare management.
• Familiarity with Illinois DHS Rule 115 and 116, and previous experience supporting compliance in community-based settings.
• Experience with full EHR implementation or systems transition from paper to digital.