RN Per Diem

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 for 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 the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflective of daily nursing procedures.
• Ensure all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures outlined in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.
• Make written and oral reports to the Director as necessary.
• Periodically review department policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc., and recommend revisions to the Director.
• Coordinate nursing services with other resident services to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure nursing service personnel are in compliance with their 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 conducted by authorized government agencies.
• Review resident discharge plans periodically and make them available to the Care Plan Committee as needed.
• Aid in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan.
• Meet with nursing staff and support personnel to plan 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 as required.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
• Ensure a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses are available for your tour of duty.
• Ensure a sufficient number of certified nursing assistants are available for your tour of duty.
• Develop work assignments and assist in completing tasks.
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to Charge Nurses.
• Ensure nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from approved nursing assistant training programs.
• Ensure nurse aide trainees are under direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Make daily rounds to ensure nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments according to acceptable nursing standards.
• Maintain a good working rapport with inter-department personnel and other departments within the facility.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis throughout the unit and shift.
• Review and evaluate the department's workforce and make recommendations to the Director.
• Participate in employee performance evaluations and make recommendations to the Director concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.
• Administer disciplinary action fairly 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 in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures.
• Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password-protected automatic screen-saver activates within established facility policy guidelines.

  Nursing Care Functions

  • Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.
  • Ensure rooms are ready for new admissions.
  • Greet newly admitted residents upon admission.
  • Escort them to their rooms as necessary.
  • Consult with the resident, their family, and the resident's physician in planning their care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary.
  • Notify the Director when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
  • Inform the Director 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 direct nursing care is provided by a licensed nurse, certified nursing assistant, or nurse aide trainee qualified to perform the procedure.
  • Review nurses' notes to ensure they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided, reflecting the resident's response to the care, and provided in accordance with the resident's wishes.
  • Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
  • Start IVs, obtain sputum, urine, and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.
  • Take TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.
  • Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as necessary.
  • Report problem areas to the Director.
  • Avoid unauthorized use of restraints when necessary.
  • Ensure RNs and LPNs on your shift comply with written procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.
  • Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure medications are being administered as ordered and treatments are provided as scheduled.
  • Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.
  • Ensure residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
  • Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary.
  • Inform family members of the death of the resident and call funeral homes when requested.

    Staff Development

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

      Safety and Sanitation

      • Aid the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing service department.
      • Afford appropriate in-service training programs to personnel involved in tasks involving potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
      • Afford an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to personnel who perform procedures involving exposure to blood or body fluids.
      • Afford personnel proper training and guidance in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
      • Monitor your shift's personnel to ensure they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
      • Afford nursing service personnel compliance with established departmental policies and procedures.
      • Afford nursing service work areas (i.e., nurse stations) cleanliness and safety.
      • Ensure residents are checked frequently to prevent neglect.