RN Full-Time

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 by 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 that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department.
• Ensure reference materials (e.g., PDRs, regulations, professional standards of practice) at nurses' stations are current.
• Recommend written materials to assist the nursing service department in meeting daily resident needs.
• Ensure the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects daily nursing procedures.
• Ensure all nursing service personnel comply with procedures in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director concerning the operation of the nursing service department.
• Periodically review department policies, procedure manuals, and job descriptions; recommend revisions to the Director.
• Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure all nursing service personnel comply with their respective job descriptions.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility’s quality assurance program for the nursing service department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) by authorized government agencies as requested.
• Periodically review and update residents' written discharge plans.
• Assist in planning the nursing services portion of residents' discharge plans.
• Meet with nursing staff and support personnel to plan department services, programs, and activities.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Interpret department policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, and charting.
• Agree not to disclose assigned user ID codes, passwords, or resident protected health information; report violations to the Administrator.
• Report unauthorized attempts to access the facility’s information system.

Committee Functions

• Attend various facility committee meetings (e.g., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assessment) as required.
• Assist in preparing reports of nursing service programs and activities for committees.
• Provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee as requested.
• Participate in developing the agenda for Care Plan Committee meetings.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of 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 tour of duty to maintain quality care.
• Ensure sufficient certified nursing assistants are available to meet daily nursing care needs.
• Develop work assignments and assist in completing tasks.
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to Charge Nurses for their assigned duties.
• Ensure all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved training program.
• Ensure nurse aide trainees are under direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Make daily rounds to ensure nursing service personnel perform work assignments according to standards; report findings to the Director.
• Monitor absenteeism to ensure adequate staffing; report problem areas to the Director.
• Ensure departmental personnel follow established policies, including dress codes.
• Review complaints and grievances from department personnel; report to the Director as necessary.
• Maintain good working rapport with inter-department personnel to ensure nursing services meet resident needs.
• Create and maintain a warm, positive, and calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Meet regularly with your shift to identify and correct problem areas or improve services.
• Review and evaluate department work force; make recommendations to the Director regarding staffing, dismissals, and transfers.
• Participate in employee performance evaluations.
• Ensure disciplinary action is administered fairly 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 according to facility policies.
• Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure unattended computer workstations are logged off or password-protected according to facility policy.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their arrival time, and room assignments.
• Ensure rooms are ready for new admissions; greet and escort newly admitted residents to their rooms.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary; encourage timely recording and signing of progress notes and orders.
• Consult with residents, families, and physicians to plan care, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Notify attending physician and next-of-kin of changes in residents' conditions.
• Visit residents daily to observe and evaluate physical and emotional status.
• Ensure direct nursing care is provided by licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, or qualified nurse aide trainees.
• Review nurses' notes to ensure they are informative, descriptive, and reflect residents' responses to care.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary (e.g., start IVs, obtain specimens, take vitals).
• Monitor seriously ill residents with the Charge Nurse.
• Authorize the use of restraints when necessary, following facility policies.
• Ensure RNs and LPNs comply with procedures for medication administration, storage, and control.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure adherence to orders.
• Review medication cards for completeness, accuracy, and adherence to stop-order policies.
• Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure they are clean and safe.
• Ensure residents unable to call for help are checked frequently.
• 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 when requested.

Staff Development

• 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 (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control).
• Assist the Director in planning clinical supervision for nurse aide trainees.
• Attend and participate in continuing education programs to maintain licensure and stay current with professional changes.

Safety and Sanitation

• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing service department.
• Assist the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions with potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Ensure personnel performing tasks with potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training.
• Ensure an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is available for personnel.
• Ensure personnel follow established procedures for use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
• Monitor personnel to ensure compliance with safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure all nursing service personnel comply with established departmental policies and procedures.
• Ensure nursing service work areas (e.g., nurses' stations, medication rooms, treatment areas) are maintained in a clean, safe, and orderly manner.