Restorative Nurse

About the Role

Responsible for the development, implementation, monitoring, and supervision of the restorative nursing program for the facility. Acts as the liaison between formalized therapy and nursing. Promotes a restorative nursing philosophy among all facility departments and works closely with staff to ensure the restorative plan of care is followed, promoting customers to their highest level of function. This position also involves nursing monthly and day-to-day scheduling.

Qualifications

• Current, unencumbered license to practice as an RN or LPN in the state of Illinois.
• Restorative certification by an accredited school or recognized accrediting agency.
• Current CPR certification or ability to become certified within two weeks of employment.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently and understandably.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Ability to cope with mental and emotional stress associated with the position.
• Ability to function independently, demonstrate flexibility, personal integrity, and work effectively with customers, families, personnel, and support agencies.
• Good health and emotional stability.
• Ability to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile individuals.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, and customers in excess of 50 pounds throughout the day.
• Subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, and conditions, including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct restorative care services, programs, and activities in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines governing nursing care facilities.
• Maintain a current list of customers participating in restorative programs on each unit, specifying details such as ambulation, range of motion (ROM), activities of daily living (ADL), assistive feeding devices, splints, hand cones/contracture care, bladder retraining, and other restorative program specifics.
• Set up documentation flow sheets or electronic medical record systems for daily documentation of restorative nursing measures for each customer on the program.
• Make quarterly progress notes, ensuring all restorative care notes are informative and descriptive of the treatment provided and the customer’s response.
• Oversee that all restorative nursing measures are reflected on the care plan as an approach to the problem or need for which they are being implemented.
• Ensure customers receive formalized therapy as indicated and that necessary assistive feeding and/or ADL devices are obtained as recommended.
• Collaborate with Nursing and Dietary departments to ensure assistive devices are consistently available and addressed on the care plan.
• Work closely with the Therapy department to ensure specific recommendations are carried through after discharge from therapy.
• Perform or oversee functional assessments on admission and quarterly as indicated; consult with nurses to make recommendations for the restorative plan of care and assist in its development.
• Oversee customer ADL performance on the units and ensure compliance and accuracy in C.N.A.’s ADL documentation.
• Oversee incontinent management programs.
• Attend care planning conferences and make recommendations.
• Complete sections of the MDS and Care Area Assessment (CAA) Summary as indicated; report on the progress of restorative nursing measures.
• Track accomplishments (e.g., number of customers on bladder retraining per month, number of customers with increased function) in a formalized quarterly report.
• Develop and implement tools for QI audits; participate in restorative nursing QI audits and review monthly/quarterly quality indicator lists to problem-solve.
• Create and implement innovative ways to keep staff focused and enthusiastic about restorative nursing.
• Ensure equipment and supplies are available and in good working order; problem-solve issues related to providing restorative nursing care.
• Promote quality care, customer rights, dignity, abuse prohibition, and customer service daily.
• Actively participate in or oversee physical restraint reduction programs and fall management programs.
• Orient and educate new staff on the roles, responsibilities, principles, and practices of restorative nursing.
• Perform all other assigned duties.

Benefits

• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Time Off
• Retirement / Pension Plan
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Vision Insurance