Director of Nursing

About the role

The Director of Nursing is responsible for the administration and management of the nursing department to residents in accordance with orders of the physicians and total needs of the residents. They also assume responsibility for the facility in the absence of the Administrator.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates plans for the total care of each resident which comply with physician’s orders, governmental regulations and facility resident care policies;
• Maintains nursing department objectives, standards for nursing practice, nursing procedure manuals and written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel;
• Recruits, selects, hires, trains and dismisses nursing personnel;
• Ensures a sufficient number of qualified supervisory and supportive nursing personnel are assigned for each unit/shift to meet the residents' needs;
• Controls nursing service hours and supply costs, recommends the number and type of nursing personnel to be employed and nursing service equipment and supply needs;
• Ensures residents receive skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, as needed;
• Maintains resident confidentiality;
• Interacts with residents, family members, co-workers, clinical and ancillary staff in a respectful, non-judgmental, supportive and calm manner;
• Assists in coordination of resident services through departmental and appropriate staff committee meetings;
• Participates in admission and discharge planning for residents;
• Conducts periodic audits to ensure all documentation is informative and descriptive of nursing care and of the resident's response to that care, as outlined in the MDS and Care Plan;
• Ensures the facility and personnel are in compliance with State Code Requirements;
• Completes/updates electronic documentation, as required;
• Oversees the weekly Medicare meeting process;
• Audits specific resident care issues on a daily basis such as skin, ambulation, etc.;
• Observes all pressure sores on a weekly basis, evaluating documentation and treatments;
• Participates in admission and discharge planning for residents;
• Ensures medical supply sheets and requisitions are checked and faxed for processing on a timely basis;
• Establishes and maintains an environment that empowers and supports nurse managers in problem solving and in decision-making to address identified issues;
• Designs systems of share governance in clinical practice and accountability;
• Ensures availability of nursing leadership team members to accommodate staff education; to address resident care issues; to meet with family members unavailable during routine shift hours;
• Attends quality and operation reviews for the center with Administrator and Corporate Staff;
• Participates in meetings and conducts rounds with the Administrator and Corporate Staff;
• Provides leadership to the facility in the absence of the Administrator;
• Ensures professional staff hold current licenses in the state of practice; that non-licensed nursing personnel providing care delivery hold current certifications after the fourth month of hire; and all nursing personnel including purchased services or contracted services providing care have criminal background checks and appropriate TB screening;
• Plans staff development programs that will enhance staff knowledge of quality resident care;
• Ensures effective departmental orientation and on-the-job training for new nursing employees;
• Ensures personnel are adequately educated to care for acute events, chronic illnesses of the frail elderly, cognitive impairment, end of life, and hospice care;
• Completes performance appraisals for all direct reports in accordance with the Company protocols; oversees completion and reviews performance appraisals of all nursing department personnel;
• Ensures mandatory in-service are provided annually, including but not limited to abuse prevention, documentation guidelines, corporate compliance and safe business practices, blood borne pathogens, and exposure control plan;
• Ensures staff is educated on the survey process and regulatory requirements;
• Utilizes corporate, community and vendor resources to provide educational opportunities for nursing personnel;
• Conducts staff meetings on all shifts at least monthly;
• Demonstrates developmental action to encourage and prepare nursing staff for advanced practice responsibilities or nurse management roles;
• Provides 24-hour "on call" service to the nursing center in case of emergency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing preferred or the equivalent in related work experience;
• Current, valid Texas State Nursing License as a registered professional nurse, in good standing;
• 3+ years of experience in nursing service administration;
• Additional education or experience in such areas as rehabilitative or geriatric nursing is preferred;
• Strong knowledge of state, federal and local regulations as they pertain to long term care;
• Available to be on call 24 hours a day;
• Able to adjust to changes in unit/shift assignments;
• Meet health assessment requirements;
• Able to communicate verbally and in writing in English.

Qualifications

• Physical Demands – Office: Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds without assistance and 51-100 pounds with assistance. Must be able to sit, stand, walk, bend/stoop, squat/crouch/kneel, reach and pull/push. Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds without assistance and 51-100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work Environment – Office: This job operates in a professional office environment with minimal exposure to dust, chemicals or noise. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.