Director of Nursing - Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the nursing-service objectives, standards of nursing practice, nursing policy and procedure manuals, written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel; make daily rounds, coordinate nursing services with other resident services; staff the recommended number and levels of nursing personnel to be employed; and staff development.
• Exercise the ability to delegate responsibility and exercise authority as needed.
• Participate in planning, budgeting, and the development and implementation of resident-care policies; plan orientation programs for personnel; plan scheduled in-service training for all direct resident-care personnel; participate in medical reviews as dictated by the resident’s levels of care.

Functions

• Clinical Oversight & Care Management
• Ensure that nursing personnel provide treatments, medications, rehabilitative nursing care, and activities of daily living as stated in care plans to make certain optimum comfort and care is provided.
• Attend, as needed, regularly scheduled conferences with resident Activities Manager, Social Service staff, Dietary Service Manager, and other professionals to review and update resident assessment, MDS, and comprehensive care plan and other services needed by residents.
• Assure that visiting physicians are accompanied by licensed personnel and physician’s orders are carried out properly.
• Attend, as needed, conferences with resident and/or family member as necessary and inform them as significant resident changes occur.
• Refer residents and family members to social services and/or proper community agencies if necessary.
• Conduct daily rounds of residents in order to update knowledge of resident’s physical and emotional conditions, and assure that staff is providing proper and adequate care.
• Conduct regular conferences with nursing staff to explain resident behavior and significant changes.
• Oversee and review controlled substances to assure proper count and documentation.
• Oversee chart audits to assure proper charting and documentation of care.
• Assure facility is receiving correct payment for level of care administered and for services and supplies including Medicare oversight.
• Attend Risk & Quality Management Committee meetings and assist in maintaining quality assurance data and preparing reports.
• Supervise nursing activities and promote improvement in nursing care, in collaboration with other departments.
• Career Development
• Manages the nursing staff through appropriate hiring, orientation, in-service training, evaluation, assignment, delegation of duties and dismissal if warranted.
• Affirm that personnel are familiar with fire drill regulations, procedures, and the disaster plan. Responsible for direct handling of emergency situations.
• Assist interpreting the goals and objectives of the facility to nursing service personnel.
• Verify time worked as reported on personnel time cards.
• Promote effective working relationships with the administrator, medical staff, personnel, volunteers and agencies affiliated with the facility.
• Develop and implement resident care plans in coordination with physician, medical director, consultants, staff, and therapist.
• Oversees Nursing-related Committees.
• Evaluate, plan and organize nursing care according to established policies.
• Career Development
• Coordinate admissions, room assignments, and discharges of residents.
• Review all potential clinical admission for appropriate placement and facility capacity.
• In collaboration with Social Services communicate admission details to all clinical departments.
• Monitor transition of care documentation for new admissions.
• Personally, follow-up on each new admission within 24 hours and review care delivery.
• Be accountable for nursing compliance, excellence, and delivery of resident-care services in adherence with federal, state, and local regulations. Including investigating incidents, completing root cause analyses, and guiding corrective action.
• Maintain survey readiness through proactive rounding, chart review, and staff tools in conjunction with QA Coordinator.
• Insure that adequate and proper equipment and supplies are available to staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned or as the situation dictates.
• Review, approve, and monitor nursing supply orders; maintain cost-effective par levels.
• Identify and address overuse or mismanagement of high-cost items.
• Audit supply storage for waste, shortage, or product misuse.
• Collaborate with Administrator to ensure financial targets related to labor and supplies.

Education

• Must be a graduate of an accredited educational institution (school of nursing).

Experience

• At least two full years of nursing experience, preferably in long-term care with proven leadership and management skills.

Job Knowledge

• Working knowledge of nursing services, rehabilitation, therapy, administration, supervision, resident care, etc.
• Comprehensive knowledge of general nursing theory and practice with knowledge of principles and methods involved in instruction of nursing and auxiliary personnel.
• Familiarity with nursing facility policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Knowledge of application of techniques and methods of resident care.
• Awareness of special diets and their observations.
• Use of medical and nursing equipment.
• Knowledge of medications and their effects.

Standards

• Professional standards and code of ethics must be adhered to at all times.

Professional Memberships

• Very much desired and encouraged.

Other

• A sincere interest in geriatric nursing.
• Maintain a good working relationship with staff, residents, families, and others.
• Identify problems and make decisions.
• Process leadership skills, compassion, understanding, competence, and be a visionary.