Registered Nurse

Essential Duties

• Aid the Director of Nursing Services in directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing activities.
• Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating written policies and procedures that govern the nursing service department.
• Ensure that reference material at nurses' stations is current.
• Recommend written material to assist the nursing service department in meeting its needs.
• Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day-to-day nursing procedures.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director as necessary/required.
• Periodically review the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Review the resident's written discharge plan and update it as required.
• Assist in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan.
• Meet with the nursing staff to plan the department's services, programs, and activities.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Interpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc.
• Attend various committee meetings of the facility and assist in preparing written and/or oral reports.
• Implement recommendations from established committees.
• Ensure a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses and certified nursing assistants are available.
• Develop work assignments and delegate responsibilities to Charge Nurses.
• Enroll nursing assistant trainees in or have them graduate from approved programs.
• Maintain a daily round schedule to ensure nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments.
• Monitor absenteeism and report problem areas to the Director.
• Ensure that established policies and procedures, including dress codes, are followed by all departmental personnel.
• Review complaints and grievances and make appropriate reports to the Director.
• Ensure a good working rapport with inter-department personnel and other departments within the facility.
• Provide a warm, personal, and positive environment for residents.
• Review and evaluate the department's work force and make recommendations to the Director.
• Participate in employee performance evaluations and make recommendations for dismissals, transfers, etc.
• Ensure that departmental disciplinary actions are fair and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• Ensure that departmental computer workstations are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates.
• Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions and their expected arrival.
• Greet newly admitted residents and escort them to their rooms.
• Consult with the resident, family, and physician in planning the resident's care.
• Notify the Director when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Ensure that direct nursing care is provided by a licensed nurse, certified nursing assistant, or nurse aide trainee.
• Review nurses' notes to ensure they are informative and reflective of the resident's care.
• Start IVs, obtain specimens, take vital signs, and administer medications as necessary.
• Report problem areas to the Director and assist in developing corrective action.
• Keep the Director informed of the status of residents and other related matters.
• Assist the Charge Nurse in monitoring seriously ill residents.
• Authorize the use of restraints when necessary.
• Ensure that all RNs and LPNs on your shift comply with procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules.
• Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily.
• Check on residents who are unable to call for help.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents.
• Inform family members of the death of the resident and call funeral homes as needed.
• Participate in developing, planning, conducting, and scheduling in-service training classes.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual facility in-service training programs.
• Assist the Director in planning clinical supervision for nurse aide trainees.
• Attend and participate in continuing education programs.
• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing service department.
• Identify, evaluate, and classify routine and job-related functions to ensure proper identification of tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Ensure that personnel participating in such tasks receive appropriate in-service training.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is available and that personnel follow established procedures for its use and disposal.
• Monitor personnel to ensure they are following established safety regulations.
• Ensure that nursing service personnel comply with established departmental policies and procedures.
• Ensure that nursing service work areas are maintained in a clean and safe manner.

Committee Functions

• Attend various committee meetings of the facility (e.g., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assessment, etc.) as required.
• Prepare written and/or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities to submit to such committee(s) as directed.
• Provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee as requested.
• Develop the agenda for the Care Plan Committee meetings as necessary.
• Review and evaluate the discharge plans and make them available to the Care Plan Committee as required.
• Implement recommendations from established committees.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions and their expected arrival.
• Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.
• Greet newly admitted residents and escort them to their rooms.
• Escort physicians during rounds.
• Encourage physicians to record and sign progress notes, orders, etc., in a timely manner.
• Notify the Director when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Consult with the resident, family, and physician in planning the resident's care.
• Notify the attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident's condition.
• Visit residents on a daily basis to observe and evaluate their physical and emotional status.
• Ensure that direct nursing care is provided by a licensed nurse, certified nursing assistant, or nurse aide trainee.
• Review nurses' notes to ensure they are informative and reflective of the resident's care.
• Start IVs, obtain specimens, take vital signs, and administer medications as necessary.
• Report problem areas to the Director and assist in developing corrective action.
• Keep the Director informed of the status of residents and other related matters.
• Assist the Charge Nurse in monitoring seriously ill residents.
• Authorize the use of restraints when necessary.
• Ensure that all RNs and LPNs on your shift comply with procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules.
• Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily.
• Check on residents who are unable to call for help.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents.
• Inform family members of the death of the resident and call funeral homes as needed.

Staff Development

• Develop and conduct in-service training classes to provide instructions on "how to do the job."
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual facility in-service training programs.
• Assist the Director in planning clinical supervision for nurse aide trainees.
• Attend and participate in continuing education programs.

Safety and Sanitation

• Develop safety standards for the nursing service department as necessary.
• Evaluate and classify routine and job-related functions to ensure proper identification of tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Ensure that personnel participating in such tasks receive appropriate in-service training.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is available and that personnel follow established procedures for its use and disposal.
• Monitor personnel to ensure they are following established safety regulations.