DON - Director of Nursing

Overview

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Nursing is responsible for the leadership and management of the nursing department. This individual will lead, guide, and manage a team of licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants to ensure that nursing services are provided to patients in a competent, professional and compassionate manner. The Director of Nursing will work with the Administrator to determine budget needs for the nursing department.

Essential Functions

• Develops and maintains nursing service goals and standards of practice.
• Ensures nursing employees follow policies and procedures.
• Ensures nursing employees understand and follow responsibilities defined in their job description.
• Recommends to the administrator resources needed to carry out nursing activities, including but not limited to clinical equipment and supplies and the number and level of nursing personnel to be employed.
• Participates in the employment of nursing personnel, including recruitment, retention, hiring, orientation, in-service education, supervision, evaluation, and termination of nursing employees.
• Participates with the Medical Director in developing and implementing policies and procedures for patient care.
• Ensures a comprehensive plan of care is developed and implemented in tandem with the interdisciplinary team. Ensures patients are assessed and plan of care revised timely.
• Coordinates nursing services with other services such as medical, rehabilitative, social services and activities.
• Makes daily rounds on patient care units.
• Ensures the function of the person identified as the center’s Education Coordinator are carried out when the DON does not assume the role of Education Coordinator. The DON may assign the responsibilities to the Assistant Director of Nursing, who will be responsible for conducting nursing department training programs, required in-services and meetings.
• Conducts nursing employee meetings with nursing employees on all shifts on a quarterly basis.
• Maintains compliance with state and federal regulation and company policies and procedures.
• Works with the Administrator to develop a Plan of Correction for any identified survey deficiencies related to the nursing department and will ensure that the Plan of Correction is fully implemented.
• Administers and evaluates nursing service programs to maintain standards of patient care.
• Develops effective relationships with other departments to ensure that the nursing programs are properly planned and maintained to meet the needs of the patient.
• Protects patients’ rights to ensure fair and equitable treatment, self-determination, individuality, privacy, dignity, civil rights, and safety.
• Works with the HR department to ensure the primary source of verification of all licensed and certified nursing employees is current and meets state and federal regulations.
• Ensures an adequate number of trained, competent nursing employees are scheduled twenty-four hours a day.
• Ensures nursing hours are posted daily according to federal regulations.
• Counsels and disciplines nursing employees when indicated and ensures necessary documentation is completed and maintained.
• Evaluates job performance of nursing employees with input from Unit Managers and Assistant Director of Nursing.
• Demonstrates and ensures customer service standards are being met when interacting with employees, patients, visitors, and the general public.
• In collaboration with the Infection Preventionist or designee ensures infection prevention and control program, and employee health policies are implemented.
• Promotes and maintains a positive working relationship with physicians/physician extenders and providers of lab, pharmacy, and therapy services to ensure safe care of patients.
• Completes accident/incident reports, investigates, and does appropriate follow through for allegations of abuse/neglect, family/patient concerns, and associated incidents.
• Reports allegations/incidents to Administrator,
• Ensures notification is made to all local, state, and federal agencies as required,
• Ensures notification is made to physician/physician extender and family.
• Ensures nursing representation on all quality assurance committees:
• Care Planning
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Risk,
• Utilization Review,
• Pharmacy, and Safety.
• Effectively manages budget for the nursing department, medical supplies, and equipment.
• Works to resolve problems that arise, such as errors in judgment, inappropriate or wasteful use of supplies.
• Practices and ensures compliance with the center’s Safety Program, including back safety and fire safety.
• Ensures administration of medication according to current standards of nursing practice.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Current Alabama RN license in good standing
• Five years of experience in nursing leadership role.
• Long-term care experience preferred.
• Strong commitment to patients, employees, and innovative care delivery.
• Ability to build strong teams.
• Ability to motivate, develop caring relationships, and communicate effectively.
• Current CPR Healthcare Provider certification.
  
  

Physical Requirements

 Prolonged periods standing, walking, working and frequently pulling, pushing, and bending

 Must be able to lift 25 pounds at a time

 Must be able to move 150 pounds with assistance