Director of Nursing, Assistant - Pine Forest

JOB SUMMARY: 

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist the Director of Nursing in planning, organizing, developing, and directing the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Department to assure resident safety.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Administrative Functions

• Assist the Director of Nursing and the RN Team Leaders in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, directing, and evaluating the functions of the nursing department, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the facility.
• Participate in reviewing and recommending changes to updating the policies and procedures that govern the needs of residents and functions of the nursing department.
• Ensure that current reference materials (i.e. PDRs, Perry & Potter, Federal and State Regulations, etc.) maintained at the nurses’ stations are current. Recommend to the DON written material that will guide the nursing department in meeting the needs of residents.
• Participate in facility surveys made by authorized regulatory agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing.
• Perform administrative duties such as accurate completion and review of clinical data, medical record audits, etc.

Committee Functions

• Actively participate and attend in various Quality Improvement committee meetings (i.e. Safety Committee, high-risk meetings).
• Serve on the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee.
• Assist the DON in documentation discussion and outcome for the various clinical committee meetings.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to clinical services.

Personnel Functions

• Assist the DON in determining appropriate staffing needs for nursing, based on resident care needs.
• Assist the DON and RN Team Leaders in the recruitment, selection, orientation, training, and supervision of nursing personnel.
• Assist the DON and RN Team Leaders in conducting performance evaluations, as directed.
• Make daily rounds to ensure that all nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards and consistent with VHS policies.
• Monitor the professional nurses’ licensing status to ensure that they remain current.  Inform nurses at least 30days in advance of their license expiration date.
• Review complaints and grievances made by nursing personnel and submit reports to the DON, as necessary.
• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agency personnel as necessary.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.

Nursing Care Functions

• Participate in daily nursing management meetings with assigned staff to review resident care issues, nursing department concerns, etc.
• Participate in the selection of residents for admission to the facility.
• Provide the DON with information relative to the nursing needs of the resident and to the nursing department’s ability to meet those needs.
• Make rounds with physicians as requested.
• Inform the DON when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Make rounds on all residents and ensure the 24-hour report is complete and reflective of resident conditions.
• Periodically monitor medication passes and treatments to ensure that administration is timely, correct and consistent with policy and protocols.
• Report medication errors to the DON.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
• Report issues and concerns to the DON and assist in developing and implementing corrective action and monitor as needed.

Staff Development

• Provide assistance to the Nurse Educator in developing, implementing and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the educational needs of nursing associates.
• Attend continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as maintain your license on a current status.
• Conduct education session as identified and/or assigned.

Safety and Sanitation

• Ensure that nursing service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that all resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc. are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Participate with the DON in the preparation of and planning of the nursing department budget.
• Recommend to the DON the equipment and supply needs of the nursing department.

Resident Rights Responsibilities

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that all personnel knock before entering the resident’s room.
• Ensure that all nursing personnel are knowledgeable of the residents’ responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
• Assist DON with investigation of complaints made by the residents and/or family members indicating what action/s were taken to resolve the complaint.
• Report and assist in the investigation of all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the facility’s policies governing advance directives.
• Review the facility’s advance directive policies and procedures with resident and/or family members as necessary.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the nursing service area.
• Moves intermittently during work hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel and other department managers.
• Works beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary. Works on weekends and holidays when necessary.
• Is subject to callback during emergency conditions.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc. including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, plastics, synthetics, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other potential contaminants.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Maintains a liaison with the resident, their families, support departments, etc. to adequately plan for the residents’ needs.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

Education

• Must possess a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved RN School of Professional Nursing.

Experience            

• Must have a minimum of two (2) years of experience as a supervisor in a hospital, long-term care facility or other related health care facility.
• Training and experience in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices preferred.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• Must display professionalism both in appearance and attitude.
• Must have excellent technical, assessment, documentation and communication skills.
• Must possess the ability to solve problems and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agency personnel and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess computer skills and some understanding of documentation software programs.
• Must possess the ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and to coach and supervise other personnel.
• Must be able to plan, organize, develop, implement and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a positive disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult people.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirement set forth by the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at time hostile people within the facility.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of five (5) pounds to a minimum height of three (3) feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of five (5) feet.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• Sitting:              1 hour per 8-hour shift.  Alternates frequently to standing or walking.
• Standing:         1-2 hours per 8-hour shift.  Alternates frequently to walking and occasionally to sitting.
• Walking:           5-6 hours per 8 hour shift.  Alternates frequently to standing and occasionally to sitting.
• Lifting:              1-10 lbs.           Continuously
  • • • 11-20 lbs.         Continuously
      • 21-75 lbs.         Frequently
      • > 75 lbs.           Frequently
• Carrying:         1-10 lbs.           Continuously
  • • • 11-20 lbs.         Frequently
      • 21-35 lbs.         Occasionally
• Driving:                                    Rarely
• Pushing:                                   Frequently
• Bending:                                  Continuously
• Squatting:                                Frequently
• Kneeling:                                 Occasionally
• Crawling:                                 Rarely
• Climbing:                                 Rarely
• Reaching:                                Continuously
• Grasping:                                Frequently
• Fine Manipulation:                  Frequently

(Frequency:  Never=0%; Rarely=1-10%; Occasionally=11=33%; Frequently = 34-66%; Continuously = 67%+)

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.