Job Description

The Assessment Nurse works with the Director of Nursing to coordinate and monitor the comprehensive assessments and care planning of all residents of the facility. He/she works with the Director of Nursing to ensure the highest quality of care is provided in a cost-effective manner with the residents in the facility. This is done in an efficient and timely manner with consideration for both health care and legal responsibilities of the residents, facility and the employees, working within the policies and procedures of this facility.

Education

He/she must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing currently registered with the State agency for nursing licensure and hold a valid nursing license in the state he/she is employed.

Qualifications

1. Geriatric nursing experience is preferred.

2. Demonstrates leadership and management ability.

3. Has the ability to plan and organize the overall plan of care for each resident.

4. Has comprehensive knowledge of general nursing theory and practice.

5. Thorough knowledge of principles and methods involved in demonstrating techniques and methods of resident care services and assessing resident needs.

6. Maintain effective interpersonal relationships.

7. Is capable of implementing changes as mandated by Federal, State and management suggestions.

8. Is of good emotional, mental and physical health, having sound judgment and high professional standards.

9. Is courteous in working with residents, families and employees.

10. Maintains a neat, well-groomed and professional appearance at all times.

11. Has a desire to work with geriatric residents and their current and prospective needs.

12. Must be willing to be in the facility working with the staff of each shift at varying times.

13. Must demonstrate ability to follow recommendations as designated by the Nurse Consultant.

14. Must demonstrate ability to evaluate the geriatric resident's needs and implement systems to meet these needs.

15. Must demonstrate the ability to function as a cooperative team member with all disciplines in the facility.

16. Must have a pre-employment TB screening test according to management policy and procedure.

Job Responsibility

1. Evaluates, plans and organizes resident care according to established policies.

2. Responsible for overall RAI process (MDS, triggers and RAPs, care plans).

3. Meet with therapist to establish care plans according to resident needs.

4. Hold interdisciplinary meetings to establish accurate, meaningful care plans according to assessment protocol.

5. Audits charts according to facility policy for documentation to support assessments

and care plans. (Audits are done for case mix documentation purposes only).

6. Trains staff in documentation procedures per request of D.O.N.

7. Interviews residents and family members for residents’ needs and limitations to provide an accurate assessment and care plan.

8. Perform any other responsibilities discussed and designated by the D.O.N.

9. Communicating with residents, families, other staff, physicians, pharmacies and other facilities and support organizations in person and by telephone as residents' conditions warrant it.

10. Accounting for medications, ordering medications by telephone or fax machine, administering oral and I.M. Medications as ordered by physician, administering treatments as ordered by physicians using generally accepted techniques, pouring liquids, pushing cart, opening doors and drawers on the cart and storage area for medications/cart, reading medication administration records, and initialing records after medication is administered, making changes to records as necessary.

11. Making sure that appropriate notices were received by the resident before his/her roommate is changed.

12. Authorizing the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with established policy and regulations.

13. Accurately charging in the medical record residents' conditions relating to mental status, ambulating, continence status, skin condition, eating patterns, visits by attending physician, use of restraints, vital signs, calls to physician or family, tube feeding, oxygen administration, therapy, and rehabilitation nursing performed, condition on transfer or discharge, situations surrounding deaths, transfers or accidents.

14. In case of an emergency, taking charge until the administrator, person acting on behalf of the administrator, R.N., D.O.N., or member of facility's governing body arrive to handle the situation.

15. Providing reality orientation for residents.

16. Assisting new nurses in becoming familiar with job duties.

17. Supervising and assigning nursing assistants'/orderlies' duties.

18. Inserting Foley catheters and doing Foley care.

19. Inserting naso-gastric and gastric tubes and doing their care.

20. Suctioning Residents.

21. Taking vital signs and recording them.

22. Monitoring blood glucose levels for diabetics.

23. Obtaining urine, stool and sputum samples and wound cultures.

24. Reading results of laboratory work and reporting results to physicians; charting results.

25. Attending in-service training meetings.

26. Following universal precautions for blood borne pathogens such as HIV or HBV.

27. Being aware of OSHA guidelines and Material Safety Data sheets so as to be best prepared in case of a chemical accident.

28. Alerting appropriate staff members of any safety hazards such as malfunctioning equipment.

29. Reacting appropriately in case of fire or disaster.

30. Providing care to dying residents; providing post mortem care.

31. Being aware of and carrying out state and federal guidelines relation to resident care.

32. Using professional judgment in making decisions relating to resident care.

33. Assisting in admitting, transferring, discharging, and moving a resident.

34. Reporting any violations of residents' rights.

Physical and psychological requirements

· Must assure resident safety at all times.

· Tasks assigned to this position may involve exposure to blood/body fluids.

· Demonstrates competence in use of proper body mechanics in both upper body and lower body and personal protective equipment such as gloves, gown, face shield, back support belt, gait belt, mechanical equipment for lifting, turning, or transferring residents who may range in weight from less than eighty pounds to more than 300 pounds each.

· Demonstrates competency to provide intimate personal care to frail, elderly or otherwise vulnerable adults whose ability to do for themselves, think and communicate effectively will vary from resident to resident and even from day to day. Ability to effectively supervise and communicate with a variety of fellow health care workers, ability to deal with death and dying.

Physical Demands

Use the percentages range as follows:

0%

Never

1-33%

Occasional

34-66%

Frequent

67-100%

Continuous

Requires full range of body motion including:

1. Standing/Walking - Continuously - Worker will be walking or standing during entire tour of duty.

2. Bending/Stooping - Frequently - Worker will be bending and stooping as he/she supervises, assists staff, assesses residents/care, etc.

3. Lifting/Handling -Frequently - Worker will be lifting and handling residents as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided. Range of weight: 1-50 pounds.

4. Carrying - Frequently - Worker will be carrying equipment and supplies as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided. Range of weight: 1-50 pounds

5. Push/Pull - Frequently - worker will be pushing or pulling equipment and supplies as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided. Range of weight: 1-50 pounds.

6. Balancing -Frequently -Worker will be balancing as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided, etc.

7. Twisting/Turning - Frequently - Worker will be twisting and turning as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided, etc.

8. Crouching/Stooping - Frequently - Worker will be crouching or stooping as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided, etc.

9. Kneeling -Occasionally - Worker will be kneeling as supervises, assists, assesses residents/care being provided, etc.

10. Handling/Manual Dexterity -Continuously -Both fine and gross motor skills are needed for all tasks throughout the working day

11. Speaking/Hearing/Seeing -Continuously -Must be able to communicate with co workers, residents, visitors, families and physicians.

Must work throughout all areas of the facility. Must assure resident safety at all times.

May require working irregular hours and may be exposed to communicable diseases and/or body fluids, medical preparations, toxic substances and occasionally ionizing radiation.

Performs other various duties as deemed necessary by the Administrator/DON.

Every effort has been made to make this job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties that are required. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment of the position.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Health insurance

Shift:

• 8 hour shift

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• Nursing: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• BLS Certification (Preferred)
• RN (Preferred)

Work Location: In person