RN

About the Role

The primary responsibility of this position is to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of the facility during your tour of duty. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the facility. You may also be required to assist the Director of Nursing (DON) and/or Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) to ensure the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Assist the Director of Nursing Services in directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing activities in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating written policies and procedures for the nursing service department.
• Ensure reference materials (e.g., PDRs, regulations, professional standards) at nurses’ stations are current.
• Recommend materials to assist the nursing service department in meeting daily resident needs.
• Ensure the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects day-to-day procedures.
• Ensure compliance with procedures outlined in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.
• Provide written and oral reports to the Director concerning nursing service operations.
• Periodically review department policies, procedure manuals, and job descriptions; recommend revisions to the Director.
• Assist in coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure nursing service personnel comply with their job descriptions.
• Participate in the facility’s quality assurance program for the nursing service department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) by authorized government agencies.
• Review and update residents’ written discharge plans as required.
• Plan the nursing services portion of residents’ discharge plans as necessary.
• Meet with nursing staff and support personnel to plan department services and activities.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Interpret department policies to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, and charting.
• Do not disclose assigned user ID, password, or resident protected health information; report violations immediately.
• Report unauthorized attempts to access the facility’s information system.

Committee Functions

• Attend facility committee meetings (e.g., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assessment) as required.
• Prepare reports on nursing service programs and activities for committees as directed.
• Provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee as requested.
• Participate in developing agendas for Care Plan Committee meetings.
• Review discharge plans and make them available to the Care Plan Committee.
• Implement recommendations from established committees as instructed by the Director.

Personnel Functions

• Ensure sufficient licensed practical and/or registered nurses are available for your shift to maintain quality care.
• Ensure sufficient certified nursing assistants are available to meet daily resident care needs.
• Develop work assignments and assist in completing tasks.
• Delegate administrative authority to Charge Nurses for their assigned duties.
• Ensure nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved training program.
• Supervise nurse aide trainees under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Make daily rounds to ensure nursing personnel perform duties according to standards; report findings to the Director.
• Monitor absenteeism to ensure adequate staffing; report issues to the Director.
• Ensure departmental personnel comply with policies, including dress codes.
• Review complaints and grievances from department personnel; report to the Director as needed.
• Maintain good working relationships with inter-department personnel.
• Create a warm, positive, and calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Meet regularly with your shift to address and correct problem areas.
• Review and evaluate department work force; make recommendations to the Director.
• Participate in employee performance evaluations and staffing requirement determinations.
• Recommend employee dismissals or transfers to the Director.
• Administer disciplinary action fairly and without bias.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, or hazardous chemicals per facility policies.
• Report suspected fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure unattended workstations are logged off or password-protected per facility guidelines.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing personnel of new admissions, arrival times, and room assignments.
• Ensure rooms are ready for new admissions; greet and escort residents to their rooms.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
• Encourage physicians to record and sign progress notes and orders in a timely manner.
• Inform the Director if physician visits are not made on time.
• Consult with residents, families, and physicians to plan care, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Notify the resident’s physician and next-of-kin of changes in the resident’s condition.
• Visit residents daily to observe and evaluate their physical and emotional status.
• Ensure direct nursing care is provided by licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, or qualified trainees.
• Review nurses’ notes for informativeness, resident response, and alignment with resident wishes.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary (e.g., start IVs, obtain specimens, take vitals).
• Authorize restraint use when necessary, following facility policies.
• Ensure RNs and LPNs comply with procedures for medication and supply administration, storage, and control.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules for accuracy.
• Review medication cards for completeness, transcription accuracy, and adherence to stop orders.
• Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure they are clean and safe.
• Frequently check on residents unable to call for help.
• Meet with residents and/or family members as necessary; report problems to the Director.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents.
• Inform family members of resident deaths and call funeral homes upon request.

Staff Development

• Participate in developing, planning, and scheduling in-service training classes.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual training programs (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control).
• Assist the Director in planning clinical supervision for nurse aide trainees.
• Attend continuing education programs to stay current in your profession and maintain licensure.

Safety and Sanitation

• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing service department.
• Assist in identifying, evaluating, and classifying job-related functions with potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Ensure personnel with potential exposure participate in appropriate in-service training.
• Ensure adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are available.
• Ensure personnel follow procedures for using and disposing of personal protective equipment.
• Monitor personnel to ensure compliance with safety regulations for equipment and supplies.
• Ensure nursing service work areas (e.g., nurses’ stations, medication rooms) are maintained in a clean, safe, and orderly manner.