HealthCareMatch Careers

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for the planning, organization, direction, supervision and evaluation of all the nursing services provided in the facility. Ensures nursing department compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and implementation of faciltiy nursing core programs. Ensures maintenance of records and reports concerning resident care. Ensures the orientation and training of nursing services personnel. Manages the Nursing Service department within budget. Follows all faciltiy policies and procedures and JACHO standards where applicable. Manages the nursing department to maintain quality standards of care, and advise medical staff, department heads, and Administrator in matters related to nursing service. In the absence of the Administrator, assumes responsibility for the entire facility.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reviews daily work assignments to ensure they meet regulatory compliance and provide consistent staffing whenever possible.

• Directs the work of employees.

• Schedules lunch and rest breaks per facility protocol.

• Authorizes early departure from work.

• Authorizes overtime.

• Reassigns employees from one area to another area as facility needs dictate.

• Prepares written evaluations of assigned employees.

• Enforces facility policies with authority to issue Disciplinary Action Reports as needed.

• Authority to suspend employees for rule(s) violation.

• Initials time records to authorize variances.

• Participates in the interview process of applicants that will be assigned to his/her area of responsibility

• Receives and handles employee complaints.

• Participates in training programs and assists in orientation of new staff.

• Plans, organizes, directs, supervises, and evaluates all nursing services provided in the facility to achieve desired clinical, Risk management and financial outcomes.

• Ensures that facility is in compliance with all regulatory requirements and faciltiy Healthcare standards.

• Develop and periodically update statements of philosophy and objectives that define the type of nursing care the facility proposes to provide.

• Participates with the Medical Consultants and the Administrator in the selection of all potential new admissions to the facility and assess items needed in the facility to meet the new resident's needs, admission, retention, and discharge of residents.

• Ensures physicians make visits as required.

• Ensures necessary equipment, supplies, and staffing are available for the delivery of the prescribed resident/patient care.

• Manages the nursing department budget.

• Provides Administrator with budgetary planning information:

• Capital equipment needs

• Staffing needs or position changes based upon services planned.

• Completes rounds of the facility at least daily to ensure compliance with all policies, procedures, and regulations.

• Collaborates with the Administrator in the planning of staff development programs that will enhance staff knowledge in providing quality resident care.

• Ensures each resident's/patient's RAI/IPOC process is carried out on a timely basis.

• Responsible for recruitment, training, supervision, scheduling, and personnel issues in the nursing department.

• Ensures the maintenance of licensure status for all nursing employees.

• Works with regional personnel to continuously improve the quality of resident/patient care.

• Coordinates Infection Control, Performance Improvement, and other concurrent review functions of the facility.

• Represents the facility in various professional and community activities.

• Participates in marketing planning, activities, and evaluation.

• Treats all residents, visitors, and staff with courtesy. Ensures customer service standards for the nursing department are upheld. Verifies that follow through on patient/family complaints related to nursing care has been resolved to their satisfaction.

• Ensures nurses administer discipline fairly and according to the employee handbook.

• Ensures nurses prepare the written evaluations as required.

• Complies with laws and regulations applicable to position and act in accordance with faciltiy Healthcare Corporate Compliance Program.

• Attends and participates in in-service training, performance improvement ("PI") committees and other meetings as scheduled and directed.

• On call 24 hours a day for nursing emergencies. If out of town/not available, will designates a qualified registered nurse to assume such duties. The designee must be approved by the Administrator and appropriate facility personnel notified.

• Responsible for providing oversight in maintaining, monitoring and evaluation of records and designation of nursing programs essential in the care of the residents, to include but not limited to:

• Risk management and medical records requests.

• Records of nursing supplies, maintaining budgets and ensure there is adequate supply as determined by need.

• Maintenance of and investigation and follow through on accidents/incident reports.

• Maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation of infection control program.

• Restraint program and rehab services.

• Psychotropic drug program.

• Skin care Program.

• Nutritional Program.

• Pain Management Program

• Evaluation of all admissions and discharge records.

• Staffing

• Controlled drugs.

• In-service program

• Dietary recommendations, pharmacy recommendations, laboratory services, podiatrist, and ophthalmology visits.

• Oversee MDS and Care plans.

• Employee and resident health program.

• Meeting the Medicare needs and requirements through attendance at Medicare meetings.

• Strategic plans or program development for improved outcomes to reduce unnecessary returns to acute care.

• Increases professional growth by attending seminars and identifies training needs to keep self-informed of new guidelines involving Medicare/Medicaid, IDPH

• Mentors nursing leaders and prepares for succession planning of role.

• Ensures that all elements of the facility's Abuse & Neglect policies are maintained and enforced.

• Safety

• Knows and follows facility rules.

• Follows facility dress and hygiene policies.

• Demonstrates proper use of equipment. Reports equipment needs or repairs.

• Follows facility smoking policies.

• Reports and documents any incidents or accidents of residents, staff, or visitors to the appropriate facility personnel.

• Reports all hazardous conditions/equipment to Supervisor.

• Performs duties, which may include transportation of residents, as assigned in Facility Disaster Plan.

• Uses required protective equipment.

• Follows infection control standards, policies, and procedures.

• Resident Rights

• Knows Resident Rights. Helps the residents/patients exercise and/or protect their rights.

• Reports resident/patient or family complaints to management.

• Maintains confidentiality of resident/patient information.

• HIPAA

• Follows and adheres to faciltiy's policies and procedures implementing HIPAA requirements for the privacy and security of protected health information.

• Uses and/or discloses only minimum amount of Protected Health Information necessary to complete assigned tasks. (Applies only if position requires access to PHI under Role Based Access Grid.)

• Reports all suspected violation of company's HIPAA policies or procedures to Facility Privacy Designee.

• Strictly follows policy and safeguards computer passwords and computer use authorities. Understands the importance of logging on and off the computer clinical record system and will consistently maintain all computer protocols.

• Ensure that all elements of the facility's Abuse & Neglect policies are maintained and enforced.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Must have good financial and management skills.

• Must be able to adapt to a flexible work schedule and occasional overnight travel.

• Ability to relate positively, effectively, and appropriately with residents, families, community members, volunteers and other facility staff.

• Possess special interest in, and a positive attitude about, working with short and long-term care residents and the elderly.

• Be able to effectively communicate with a diverse range of audiences and settings: properly handle emotional situations, manage resources to accomplish resident care objectives, assess operational, staffing, and fiscal needs, analyze complex written documents, and work long and irregular hours.

• Possess excellent management skills including the delegation of responsibility to subordinates.

• Ability to read, writes, speak, and understand English.

• Meets all health requirements, as required by law.

• Demonstrates basic computer knowledge and ability with an aptitude to learn company applications as well as proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Work, Outlook, PowerPoint).

• Travel: Up to 10%.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited School of Nursing; BSN preferred.

• Current RN license with the state required.

• Prefer previous DON experience of at least three years.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Walking, reaching, bending, lifting, extended sitting, grasping, fine hand coordination, pushing and pulling, ability to distinguish smells and temperatures, all with or without the aid of mechanical devices is required.

• Limited potential for exposure to environmental hazards. Understanding and adherence to company safety standards and protocols required.

• Meet all health requirements as needed.

• Dialogue concerning ADA reasonable accommodations are always available upon request - i.e. the interactive process.

This description has been prepared to assist individual Facilities in evaluating various classes of responsibilities, skills, and working conditions. Facilities are independent Limited Liability Companies and are free to amend or promulgate other guidelines. This job description indicates the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of positions given this classification. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities. Nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under supervision. Nothing contained herein is intended or shall be construed to create or constitute a contract of employment or establish employment at will between any employee or group of employees and the facility. The facility retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any section of this document as it deems, in its judgment, to be proper.

Facilities are Equal Opportunity Employers and do not discriminate based on any protected right such as race, color, nationality, gender, age, disability or any protected applicable right under the National Labor Relations Act.

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