Director of Nursing

SUMMARY
The Director of Nursing assumes authority, responsibility, and accountability for the delivery of nursing services in the facility. In collaboration with facility Administration, allocates department resources in an efficient and economic manner to enable each resident to attain or maintain the highest practical physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. Collaborates with other departments, medical professionals, consultants, and organizations, including government agencies and advocacy groups, to develop, and support and coordinate resident are, related administrative functions, and to represent the interest of the facility. To plan, organize, direct, and control the medical and rehabilitation services of the nursing home within the applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
*Note: Other duties may be assigned

The Director must be able to perform each essential function effectively to be successful in this position.

• Develops, maintains, and implements nursing policies and procedures that conform to current standards of nursing practice, facility philosophy, and operational policies while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
• Participates in admission decisions, and may assess prospective residents at BRC, in their home, or in the hospital.
• Participates in weekly meetings with supervisor and/or nursing staff to discuss resident status, census changes, personnel, or resident/family complaints or concerns.
• Participates in the recruitment, hiring, and firing of nursing staff. Assures that sufficient staff are hired. Oversees the nursing staff schedules to assure that staff are trained and available to care for residents. Evaluates the work performance of all nursing personnel either directly or indirectly.
• Becomes an Eden Alternative Associate and maintains support for the Eden philosophy as evidenced by use of language and adoption of Eden culture.
• Ensures delivery of compassionate quality care and nursing supervision as evidenced by adequate services and staff coverage in neighborhoods, absence of odors, general cleanliness, prevention of pressure wounds, and apparent maintenance of optimal resident functions.
• Demonstrates knowledge of application of key clinical quality indicators, and proactively monitors and implements systems to achieve and/or surpass company thresholds.
• Exercises overall supervision of resident assessments and care plans.
• Oversees and is responsible for the licensed nurses and state-tested nursing assistants competency testing, licenses, and assures that in-service records are up to date.
• Reviews the shift reports from every neighborhood daily to monitor and ensure timely, effective responses to significant changes in condition, transfers, and discharges, use of restraints, unexplained injuries, falls, behavioral episodes, and medication errors.
• Collaborates with physicians, consultants, community agencies and institutions to improve the quality of services and to resolve identified problems.
• Coordinates nursing services with all other departments, including Therapy. Proactively develops positive employee relations, incentives, and recognition programs. Promotes teamwork, mutual respect, and effective communication.
• Monitors staff for compliance with safety issues, OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control. Develops and maintains an infection control program for the organization. Submits an infection control report to the Quality Assurance and Process Improvement (QAPI) Committee.
• Participates in the QAPI Committee by identifying processes for improvement and leading the nursing department in all quality assurance activities. Reports to the committee nursing compliance with standards and regulatory requirements from information gathered in making rounds, interviews, and record reviews.
• Assists the Administrator in preparing staff for surveys, instructing staff on matters of conduct and disclosure, being interviewed by inspectors, and immediately correcting problems. Assists in the writing of plans of correction and enforcing past citations.
• Communicates directly with residents, family members, medical staff, nursing staff, and other staff members to coordinate care and services, promote participation in care plans, and maintain a high quality of life and care for residents.
• Promotes customer service and responds to complaints or concerns promptly. Monitors facility incidents and identifies those that require immediate action and reporting to the Administrator. As needed, makes reports to the Ohio Department of Health for suspected abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property.
• Plans and oversees the Clinic and supervises the Medical Office Manager. Serves on various committees as needed, such as, but not limited to: QAPI and Compliance.
• Directs and controls assigned operations and information to maintain sound privacy and security practices and prevent privacy or security breaches. If a breach occurs, take corrective action.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manages four to six subordinate supervisors who supervise a total of approximately 130-150 employees in the Nursing Department. Also directly supervises one to three non-supervisory employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge,skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Fifth year college or university program certificate; or six to seven years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Registered Nurse by the State of Ohio.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Occasionally may be exposed to blood borne pathogens

PRIVACY UNDERSTANDING
It is the position of Brethren Retirement Community that all of its employees have the potential to encounter both written and oral information of a private nature. It is understood that as an employee the highest standards of discretion must be observed. Under no circumstances will resident information be shared with any other person except for an authorized person providing for the care of the individual(s).

Employee completes annual compliance training & exhibits behavior as set forth by the code of conduct in the performance of their duties.