Director of Nursing

Healthcare Nursing Center -

Purpose :

To plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of the Nursing Services

Department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards governing

the facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, to ensure that the highest

degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Qualifications :

• Must be a Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing and meet all applicable federal
• and state licensure requirements;
• Must be at least l8 years of age;
• Must show ability to read and write in a legible and understandable manner;
• Must speak and understand English;
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills;
• Previous experience in a hospital, long term care facility or other healthcare
• related facility;
• Must be knowledgeable of general, rehabilitative and restorative nursing and

medical practices, procedures and laws, regulations and guidelines governing

• long-term care;
• Minimum 3-5 years as RN;
• Must maintain current CPR Certification;
• Must have at least 5 years' experience in a supervisory capacity;
• Ability to remain calm under stress;
• Positive attitude toward the elderly.

Essential Job Functions : Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following :

A. Administrative Functions :

Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct the Nursing Services

Department its programs and activities and directly supervise nursemanagers

• and Assistant Director of Nursing, fulfill the role of Nurse Administrator;
• Telephone availability 24 / 7 unless delegated to Assistant Director of Nursing
• ADON);
• Develop, maintain and periodically update written nursing policies,
• procedures, manuals, objectives and philosophies;
• Assist in developing and implementing methods for coordinating nursing

services with other resident services (dietary, social services, activities,

• physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy);
• Implement plans of action to correct deficiencies, unless none received;
• Complete medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charts, etc.;
• Ensure that all indicator log are completed and updated at least monthly and
• the information is accurate and complete;
• Assist in planning, developing, implementing and maintaining resident
• discharge procedures and plans;
• Implement a nursing services organization structure;
• Participate in surveys and inspections by government agencies and ensure
• facility compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations;
• Make reports and recommendations to the Administrator concerning
• operations of the department;
• Serve as family liaison (nurse managers advise DON when a family member
• is concerned); maintain outside contract resources (laboratory, pharmacy, xray, dental, podiatry) per home office / corporate policy and procedure;
• The Director of Nursing is responsible for monitoring the Pressure Sore Log

and the Infective-Control Tracking system

Monitors all facility incidental accident reports providing assurance that there

are complete and followed through accordingly. Implement corrective or

• remedial action when indicated;
• Monitor labor hours for budgetary compliance;
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner at all times.

B. Nursing Care Functions :

Participate in assessing and screening residents for admission to the facility

according to the admission criteria outlined for the facility.

• Monitor compliance of personnel informed of new admission, resident greeted
• and escorted to room upon admission, ensure rooms are ready;
• Monitor residents' treatment and medications to ensure residents are receiving
• proper care;
• Review nurses' notes to ensure proper documentation is maintained relating to
• residents' treatment, medication and conditions;
• Make rounds with physician upon request and ensure proper recordkeeping;
• Round on all facility residents, units, utility rooms, dining room rounds and
• all resident common areas at least once per shift;
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary;
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner at all times.

C. Personnel Functions :

• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, counseling, evaluating, disciplining
• and terminating nursing services personnel;
• Document and coordinate personnel actions with the Personnel Manager or
• Administrator;
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility and accountability to nursing

Services supervisory personnel as deemed necessary to perform assigned

• duties;
• Ensure that all nursing services personnel have valid and current licenses and

are performing duties in accordance with acceptable nursing standards and

ensure facility compliance with standards of professional practice; and,

Review personnel complaints and concerns and ensure that all personnel are

treated consistent with policies and applicable laws.

D. Staff Development Functions :

Develop and participate in planning, implementing, conducting and

scheduling orientation, training and in-service educational activities for

nursing services personnel.

Maintain professional competence, as well as current licenses, through

participation in continuing education programs, seminars and training

programs.

Encourage nursing services supervisory personnel to attend and

participate in leadership and outside training programs; and,

Ensure that all nursing services personnel attend and participate in

Hazardous Communication, Infection Control and Universal Precautions

training programs prior to reporting for work assignments.

E. Residents' Rights Functions :

• Maintain resident confidentiality and privacy;
• Treat residents with kindness, dignity and respect;
• Know, comply with and ensure that all nursing services personnel know and
• comply with Residents' Rights rules;
• Monitor nursing services to ensure that residents' rights and needs are met;
• Review, promptly report to the Administrator and monitor written reports of
• resident complaints and grievances which are maintained by Social Services;
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner at all times.

F. Patient Education and Community Relations :

• Serve as member of daily admissions meeting in order to presentresident's
• care prospective related to proposed or subsequent admission;
• Provide community education via in-services, 1 to 1 contacts and written
• materials;
• Further knowledge of admission criteria within the community in particular
• with the professional community;
• Conduct tours of the facility, may serve as back-up for the Admissions
• Director;
• Knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid requirements, insurance per diem

contracts.

Other Functions (Working in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner

at all times) :

A. Care Plan and Assessment Functions

Assist in developing for each resident in compliance with federal / state

guidelines a preliminary and comprehensive assessment and written care

plan that identified the nursing and medical problems and / or needs of the

residents and the goals to be accomplished for each problem and / or need

identified; encourage residents and their families to participate in the

development and review of care plans; ensure that all nursing services

personnel are aware of the care plan and the care plans are used in providing

daily nursing services to the resident; review nurses' notes and monitor

residents to determine if the care plans are being followed and if each

resident's needs are being met; participate in assessing, reviewing and

revising care plans as required; develop and maintain rapport with all

services to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing

comprehensive care plans for all residents.

B. Planning and Inventory Functions

Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the

Nursing Services Department; assist in developing and monitoring adequate

and cost effective inventory control procedures; make periodic inspections

of supplies and equipment to ensure that adequate levels are maintained and

that equipment is available and working properly; develop and implement

procedures to ensure that trained and authorized personnel operate nursing

services equipment in a safe manner; assist in preparing, planning and

adherence to the Nursing Services Department budget and submit to the

Administrator.

C. Committee Functions

• Attend and participate in various committees and meetings of the facility;
• provide written and / or oral reports of the Nursing Services Department;

evaluate and implement recommendations pertaining to Nursing Services.

D. Safety and Sanitation Functions

Assist in developing implementing and maintaining safety standards,

written aseptic and isolation techniques, programs for monitoring

communicable and / or infectious diseases among residents and personnel,

and procedures for repotting hazardous conditions or equipment; ensure that

nursing services personnel follow established infection control procedures

when isolation precautions become necessary; ensure that nursing services

personnel understand and follow departmental policies and procedures, the

Infection Control Plan, Universal Precautions, established safety rules, and

fire and disaster procedures; ensure cleanliness of nursing services work

areas, stations, preparation rooms, treatment areas and resident care rooms.

Physical Job Requirements :

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit;

use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and

arms; climb stairs; balance; lift and / or move equipment (generally up to 25 pounds)

• or residents; grasp; stoop, bend, kneel or crawl; talk or hear; respond to pages;
• distinguish smells, tastes and temperatures; remain calm under stress;
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials;
• Ability to understand instructions and training; ability to read and write English;
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color
• vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus;
• Always being able to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner;
• Works beyond normal working hours as necessary.

Education and Experience :

• Must have at least five (5) years' experience in a supervisory capacity.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Minimum 3-5 years' experience as RN.
12 days ago