RN FT

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.
• Ensure that reference material at nurses’ stations is current.
• Recommend written material to assist the nursing service department.
• Ensure the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects daily nursing procedures.
• Ensure 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.
• Periodically review department’s policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Review resident’s written discharge plan and update as required.
• Plan the nursing services portion of the resident’s discharge plan.
• Meet with nursing staff to plan services, programs, and activities.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Interpret 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.
• 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.
• Monitor nursing assistants to ensure they are supervised by licensed nurses.
• Make daily rounds to ensure nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments.
• Maintain a calm and warm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Review and evaluate department’s work force and make recommendations to the Director.
• Ensure departmental disciplinary actions are fair and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.
• Report occupational exposures and incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure departmental computer workstations are properly logged off or have automatic screen-saver activated.

Committee Functions

• Attend various committee meetings (Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assessment, etc.) as required.
• Prepare written and/or oral reports of nursing service programs and activities for submission to such committee(s).
• Provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee.
• Implement recommendations from established committees as instructed by the Director.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions and prepare rooms accordingly.
• Greet newly admitted residents and escort them to their rooms.
• Consult with residents, families, and physicians in planning care.
• Notify the Director when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Visit residents daily to observe and evaluate their physical and emotional status.
• Ensure 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 resident care.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
• Start IVs, obtain specimens, take vital signs, administer medications, and monitor treatment schedules.
• Ensure nursing service work areas are clean and safe.
• Check on residents who cannot call for help.
• Assist in developing and implementing corrective action.
• Inform family members of resident deaths and arrange transportation.

Staff Development

• Develop, plan, conduct, and schedule 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.

Safety and Sanitation

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