POSITION SUMMARY: – Assists with the planning, organization, development, coordination and direction of the Nursing Department in its Programs and activities in accordance with current Federal, State and Local guidelines and regulations, accepted standards of practice and as may be directed by Administration and/or Director of Nursing
REPORTS TO:
JOB FUNCTIONS:
A job description cannot fully identify all examples of work performed by an employee and should be used as a guideline in understanding the nature of the position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the essential functions of the position if work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing as a Registered Nurse.
- Currently licensed in the State of practice as an R.N.
- Knowledge of MDS and care planning a plus.
- IV Certification a plus.
THE FOLLOWING DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB THAT MUST BE SATISFACTORILY MET WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION
DEPARTMENTAL:
- Supports and promotes the philosophy, objectives, policies and procedures of the Department of Nursing.
- Interviews and assesses new admissions.
- Initiates new admissions care plans.
- Performs ongoing physical assessments on all residents and notifies Medical Staff, Nurse Manager/Supervisor.
- Establishes communication links with patient, responsible relative or friend.
- Develops and maintains a written care plan for each resident; both initial and interim care plans as residents’ problems/ needs change.
- Reviews and regularly evaluates resident care plans to meet nursing care goals.
- Communicates with other disciplines to provide continuity of care.
- Gives direct resident care based on sound scientific principles as deemed necessary.
- Initiates and is responsible for the administration and clinical management of intravenous therapy.
- Evaluates resident’s response to medication and treatment.
- Supervises the care given to residents by other members of the team.
- In absence of Nurse Manager, care plans and runs CCP meeting, or as directed.
- Participates in inservice education programs.
- Teaches staff on the unit skills necessary to perform their duties.
- Identifies educational needs and refers to education, supervisor, DNS, RNM, that require specific education on any given topic/skill.
- Participates in pressure ulcer rounds.
- Responsible for all related documentation as indicated.
- Participation in resident teaching and documentation of same.
- Participates in discharge planning.
- Participates in emergencies.
- Participates in investigations.
- Responsible for complete assessment of the resident.
- Responsible for nursing care plan.
- Responsible for administration of medication and treatments.
- Responsible for assessing the nutritional needs of residents.
- Assures weights are obtained per policy and procedure and discrepancies are reported to RNM, Medical Staff, and Dietary.
- Responsible for providing complete physical care.
- Documentation of pressure ulcers are done according to policies and procedures.
- Responsible for providing a safe environment.
- Responsible for accurate documentation in the chart.
- Responsible for supervision of care given by licensed practical nurse and CNAs.
- Makes rounds at least two times per shift to assess resident condition and unit environment.
- Participate in the hiring and transfer of staff.
- Recommends/performs disciplines up to and including suspension/termination.
- Assigns duties to staff.
- Develops resident’s daily assignment sheets and makes changes as indicated based on staffing patterns and resident acuity.
- Maintains the confidentiality of all resident information as per HIPAA guidelines.
- Serves as a role model in professionalism, conduct, appearance and continuous improvement.
- Keeps Administration/Nursing Administration advised of potential/actual safety hazards.
- Makes independent decisions as necessary.
- Identifies educational needs of Nursing staff and provides individual, group and unit education/inservice.
- Other related duties that may become necessary.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work on nursing unit as well as throughout the facility.
- Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.
- Is subject to frequent interruptions.
- Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, , under all conditions and circumstances.
- Is subject to agitated and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
- Must be able to use stairs.
- Communicates with the other department supervisors.
- May be asked to work beyond normal working hours occasionally.
- Attends and participates in inservice educational programs.
- Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc. throughout the work day.
- May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc. including the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
- Maintains a liaison with other department supervisors to adequately plan for resident activities.
FACILITY-WIDE:
- Must possess the ability to consistently come to work as assigned, including coming to work regularly and on time.
- Must possess the ability to adhere to the time recording policy, including adhering to meal/break policy/schedules, as assigned.
- Must comply with departmental dress code requirements including prominently wearing one’s ID card, and maintaining normal levels of personal hygiene and professional appearance.
- Must have the ability to satisfactorily meet work performance and productivity standards as they relate to the position.
- Must participate in and adhere to facility programs and activities such as but not limited to, employee health, safety, security and corporate compliance.
- Must participate in facility mandatory in-service and job training programs and activities, as assigned.
- Must perform all duties and all interactions in accordance with current Federal, State, Local guidelines and regulations, Facility policies and procedures, and accepted standards of practice.
- Must have the ability to uphold the highest standards of ethics, integrity and honesty in matters of conduct and behavior as it pertains to work performance, position and profession.
- Must have the ability to effectively and professionally cope with and manage interactions with patients/residents and their family members and/or visitors, as well as, co-workers, to ensure the best possible care, customer service and satisfaction.
- Must have the ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters concerning Facility resident/patients as well as assigned computer/software and work product.
- In an emergency, may be asked to perform other functions as deemed necessary.
JOB COMPETENCY:
- Must maintain and timely provide facility with current license/certification as required by the position.
- Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language with sufficient proficiency to meet the essential functions of the position.
- Must possess the ability to utilize critical thinking skills and make good independent decisions when circumstances warrant such actions.
- Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel.
- Must function independently, demonstrate flexibility and have the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing Nursing Department practices.
- Must demonstrate ability to maintain satisfactory competency levels and professional standards of practice.
- Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the essential functions of this position can be fully met.
- Must have the ability to operate a computer or use prosthetics or devices that will enable such use.
- Must be physically able to operate facility specific equipment in relation to the position or use prosthetics or devices that will enable such use.
SETTING:
- Must be able to perform duties throughout the facility.
- Must be able to sit, stand, walk, climb, stretch, and bend with sufficiency ability to meet the essential functions of the position.
- Must be able to stand, lift, push and pull at least 50 lbs
- Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability with sufficient proficiency to meet the essential functions of the position.
- May be subject to frequent interruptions
- May be subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
- Must be able to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
- May be subject to stay or call back during an emergency (such as but not limited to severe weather, utilities failure, evacuation, disasters etc)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I have read this job description and fully understand the requirements set forth therein. I hereby accept the position of Registered Nurse, and agree to abide by the requirements set forth and will perform all duties and responsibilities to the best of my ability.
