Director of Nursing

General Description

Responsible for the overall management of resident care 24 hours a day, seven days per

week. Functions include: performing a variety of duties to provide quality nursing care to

residents and to coordinate total nursing care for residents; implementing specific

procedures and programs; participating with the Assistant Director of Nursing Services

and providing guidance to the Nurse Manager in establishing specific goals; determining

work procedures and expediting work flow; complying with operating policies and

procedures, state requirements, Department of Health regulations, and Federal Health

Care Administration regulations; communicating with and supervising appropriate

personnel; providing daily reports and other periodic reports; performing all the duties of

an RN, LPN, and certified nursing assistant when required. In the absence of the

Executive Director, assumes responsibility for the Facility.

Essential Duties

1. Perform various duties to provide quality nursing care to residents to maintain or

attain the highest practical level of functioning and to coordinate total nursing care for

the residents as illustrated by the following:

a. Ensures that a sufficient number of qualified supervisory and supportive

nursing personnel are assigned for each unit/shift to meet the resident

needs.

b. Assists the ADNS in the planning of staff development programs that will

enhance staff knowledge of quality resident care.

c. Makes focused rounds daily with supervisors and charge nurses as

appropriate.

d. Participates in coordination of resident services through departmental and

appropriate staff committee meetings, according to the Resident Care

Policies and Procedures Manual.

e. Conducts periodic review to verify that the nursing requirements of each

resident admitted to the Facility are reviewed and that the physician is

consulted in planning resident care.

f. Maintains and evaluates statistics for: pressure sores, resident Accident

and Incidents, number N/G tubes, number of justified Foley catheters,

resident census, and resident and employee infections.

g. Reviews closed charts of expired residents for the presence of appropriate

documentation and discharge orders.

h. Conducts periodic reviews of Care Plans to verify they are

interdisciplinary and updated by the Charge Nurse as changes occur.

i. Checks periodically for documentation for residents on 24-Hour Report.

j. Checks periodically for skilled documentation for Medicare services.

k. Checks on each unit for completed MARS, TARS, and flow forms

periodically.

l. Reviews Accidents and Incidents (A/I) and develops an appropriate plan

to prevent future accidents and incidents. Conducts periodic reviews of

documentation for inconsistencies on each unit.

m. Reviews medical record documentation on referrals and advises Executive

Director on whether nursing requirements can be met.

n. Reviews change of condition/24-Hour Report daily and deletes residents

from the report as needed.

2. Establishes and maintains resident care systems per standardized procedure that are

consistent throughout the Facility. These include:

a. Unit Management System for group assignments and nursing assistant

responsibilities.

b. Restraint Reduction System to verify restraints are at a minimum, and that

restraints are released at least every two hours, or per Care Plan. Restraint

releases are to occur on the unit at the same time or per Care Plan, and be

observed by a licensed staff member.

c. Turning and Positioning System to verify schedules are followed every

two hours or per Care Plan.

d. Resident Ambulation System to verify effectiveness and adherence to

resident ambulation program.

e. Scheduling System to verify scheduling for nurses and cna’s is completed

in a fair and consistent manner.

f. Nourishment/Supplements System to verify nourishments/supplements are

passed according to developed schedule.

g. Cleanliness System to verify that environment is clean, orderly and

organized. Reviews written cleaning schedules.

h. Infection Control System to verify residents are not at risk for infection.

i. Pharmacy System to verify correct meds are received timely, meds are

discarded timely and properly and costs are appropriate for resident payer

sources; and med room and med carts are monitored for policy

compliance.

j. Lab System to verify labs are drawn timely, and in accordance with

doctors orders.

3. Conducts periodic review of appropriate staff to ensure nursing personnel have valid

and current licenses.

4. Audits specific resident care issues on a daily basis. Devises a Monthly Planning

Calendar as a minimum guideline for reviewing care issues. The calendar will reflect

weekend and night shift reviews as well as day shift reviews.

5. Observes Stage III and IV pressure sores and significant skin issues on a weekly basis,

evaluating documentation and treatments.

Standard Requirements

1. Supports the Mission, Values and Vision of the Facility.

2. Is knowledgeable of resident rights and supports an atmosphere which allows for

the privacy, dignity and well-being of all residents in a safe, secure environment.

3. Supports, cooperates with, and implements specific procedures and programs for:

OSHA and safety, including standard precautions and safe work practices,

established fire/safety/disaster plans, risk management, and security, report and/or

correct unsafe working conditions, equipment repair and maintenance needs.

4. Adheres to:

a. Confidentiality of all data, including resident, employee and operations

data.

b. HIPAA regulations

c. Quality Assurance requirements and compliance with regulatory

requirements.

d. Compliance with current law and policy to provide a work environment

free from sexual harassment and illegal and discriminatory behavior.

e. Code of Conduct and Compliance Programs when performing job

functions.

5. Supports and participates in common teamwork:

a. Cooperates and works together with all co-workers; plans and completes

job duties with minimal supervisory direction, including appropriate

judgment.

b. Uses tactful, appropriate communications in sensitive and emotional

situations.

c. Follows up as appropriate with supervisor, co-workers or residents

regarding reported complaints, problems and concerns.

d. Promotes positive public relations with residents, family members and

guests.

e. Completes requirements for in-service training, acceptable attendance,

uniform and dress codes including personal hygiene, and other work

duties as assigned.

f. Participates as assigned in the orientation of new staff and demonstrates a

positive, helpful, and enthusiastic attitude.

6. Immediately reports incidents of alleged resident abuse or neglect or alleged

violations of residents’ rights to Executive Director.

7. Knowledgeable of age specific developmental factors specific to adult and

geriatric residents (i.e. physical, cognitive and socialization factors) in planning

delivery of care.

8. Maintains current practice standards or changes by participating in educational

opportunities provided by the Facility and outside resources.

Other Duties

Provides hands on nursing care to residents as needed as a registered professional nurse,

consistent with the state’s Nurse Practice Act.

Perform tasks which are supportive in nature to the essential functions of the job, but

which may be altered or redesigned depending upon individual circumstances. Performs

other work duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education/Training: Maintains a current, valid license as a registered professional

nurse in good standing (RN). Must have current CPR certification.

A.D.A ((Americans with Disabilities Act)(as amended)) REQUIREMENTS: Must be

able to bend, stoop, push, pull, and walk and stand for most of the working day. Requires

manual dexterity sufficient to provide hands-on care to residents as well as to operate

standard office machines such as fax, telephone, etc. Requires normal range of hearing

and vision. Must be free from communicable diseases that pose a "direct threat" to the

health or safety of others and which cannot be eliminated by a reasonable

accommodation. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds, and transfer and transport

residents. Must be able to carry and transport supplies. Must be able to pass a post-offer,

pre-employment physical health examination as a condition of employment. Must be

capable of performing the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable

accommodation(s).

Skill(s): Proficient reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics skills; proficient

interpersonal relations and communicative skills; knowledge of drug interactions, side

effects, and incompatibilities; decision-making skill; proficient assessment skills; basic

computer skills; able to operate various medical and office equipment; auditory and

visual skills. Must be able to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing, and

possess sufficient communication skills to perform the tasks required.

Experience: A minimum of five year's experience in nursing service administration

preferred. Additional education or experience in such areas as rehabilitative or geriatric

nursing is preferred.