Director of Nursing DON

About the role

Under the supervision of the Administrator, the Director of Nursing (DON) has the authority, responsibility, and accountability for the functions, activities, and training of the nursing services staff, in addition to the supervision of the Therapy Department and its functions within the facility. In the absence of the Administrator, the DON assumes responsibility for the facility. The DON is responsible for the overall management of resident care and is delegated the responsibility for carrying out assigned duties in accordance with current federal and state regulations and established company policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates knowledge of age-specific developmental factors specific to adult and geriatric residents (e.g., physical, cognitive, and socialization factors) in planning delivery of care.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and techniques necessary to care for residents with therapeutic, neuro and dementia, dialysis, IV therapy, infectious disease, and wound care needs, if applicable.
• Attends all mandatory in-services by the employee’s anniversary date.
• Acts appropriately under the direction of the Administrator and as an active member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrates ability to adjust to changes in shift assignments to meet resident and family needs.
• Ensures residents receive skilled nursing and rehabilitation services as needed.
• Successfully completes facility orientation on the care of residents on a specialized dementia unit, as appropriate.
• Communicates and observes the Corporate Compliance Program effectively and complies with the Code of Conduct when performing work functions.
• Develops and periodically updates statements of philosophy and objectives that define the type of nursing care the facility proposes to provide. Ensures these are understood and implemented by nursing personnel.
• Supervises, evaluates, counsels, and disciplines inter-departmental personnel.
• Assists in the recruitment, interviewing, selection, and termination of nursing personnel.
• Ensures a sufficient number of qualified supervisory and supportive nursing personnel are assigned for each unit/shift to meet residents' needs.
• Participates in all screening processes prior to admission. Assesses items needed by the facility to meet resident needs.
• Participates in coordination of resident services through departmental and appropriate staff committee meetings (e.g., Quarterly Quality Assurance and Assessment, Pharmacy Services, Therapy Services, Infection Control, and Resident Care policy and procedure meetings).
• Plans staff development programs that enhance staff knowledge of quality resident care.
• Conducts periodic reviews to ensure all documentation is informative and descriptive of nursing care and of the resident’s response to that care.
• Participates in planning and budgeting for nursing services.
• Conducts periodic reviews to ensure the nursing requirements of each resident admitted to the facility are reviewed and that the physician is consulted in planning resident care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current Health Department Directives and ensures directives are implemented by staff.
• Conducts periodic reviews to ensure the facility and personnel are in compliance with State Code Requirements.

Requirements

• Maintains a current, valid Nursing License as a registered professional nurse (RN) in good standing in Indiana.
• Possesses a minimum of 2 years of experience in nursing service administration management in skilled nursing.
• Possesses strong knowledge of state, federal, and local regulations as they pertain to long-term care.