Director of Nursing

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing (DON) provides care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent or disabled. The patient/resident population is frail, complex in nature and experiences many illnesses and dysfunctions. The DON identifies and provides the essential mix of nursing clinical skills; management and leadership skills; knowledge of fiscal management, ethical principles, state and federal requirements and standards of professional nursing practice that the DON must possess in order to develop and implement a system of nursing care that meets the needs of the facility’s patient/resident population.

Position Responsibilities

The DON oversees direct and individualized nursing care to older patients based on the application of scientific nursing principles. Responsibilities of the DON include (but are not limited to):

• Promotes and maintains a focus of patient-centered care
• Adheres to laws, rules & regulations and practices ethical integrity and interpersonal skills
• Maintains compliance with long-term care regulations including federal, state and health regulations
• Responsible to the Administrator for the overall coordination and execution of nursing services and monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of nursing care
• Has strong leadership abilities in change leadership, enforcing laws, rules & regulations, ethical integrity and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations and ability to implement and maintain compliance with these regulations governing the facility, resident care, and reimbursement
• Maintains expansion of knowledge base and improvement of nursing skills by continued professional development, including attendance at educational programs, etc.
• Development of professional relationships and representation of the facility and nursing service in professional and community activities
• Oversee all staff who provide nursing care to the facility’s residents/patients
• Ensure there is a successful procedure to collect and review nursing staff’s licensure/certification/credentials 11. Ensure all nursing staff are held accountable for the care they deliver to residents/patients in the facility
• Enforce policies and procedures for the care of residents/patients; resident/patient discharges and transfers; provide adequate ongoing nursing coverage; provide appropriate, timely and pertinent documentation
• Routine participation in ongoing facility efforts to improve the overall quality of the nursing care, including facility efforts to evaluate and address the causes of various care related problems and deficiencies
• Knowledge and skill in resident assessment, critical thinking, and nursing intervention
• Oversight of the interdisciplinary care planning process
• Ability to evaluate whether the nursing care facility can meet each resident/patient needs
• Utilize the expertise of other departments and services to address nursing issues in facilitating delivery of care and services
• Conduct clinical rounds on all nursing units
• Promote, establish, and maintain positive relationships with residents, families, staff, community and other professionals
• Promote and set the example for resident rights and the nursing role in helping protect and enhance those rights
• Strategies to improve the processes and outcomes of managing various levels of illnesses in the nursing facility population, including chronic conditions, emergencies, condition changes and terminal events
• Promotes principles and processes related to institutional life and family involvement in long-term care, and nursing responsibilities in helping optimize that participation
• Leads by example by providing professional support for staff and by assisting staff with direct and indirect patient/resident care through prioritizing patient/resident needs and nursing administration goals
• Consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans
• Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, appropriate format, entering into the applicable computer system(s), and on the appropriate forms. Ensure appropriate reports are complete and submitted accurately and timely.
• Completes required orientation, mentoring and staff training as directed by facility
• Perform position duties in a manner as to assure resident safety and rights are priority
• Float among various clinical services, where qualified and competent
• Adheres to the facility corporate compliance program and promotes the program in a positive and effective manner
• Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment/shift setting

Other Responsibilities

• Follows facility OSHA safety rules and procedures
• Follows facility policies and procedures and adheres to federal and state regulations for long-term care
• Respects cultural and religious practices of patients
• Upholds HIPAA regulations
• Maintains a punctual and dependable attendance record

Position Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited RN program
• Current RN license, in good standing with the State licensing board
• Minimum of (2) years LTC experience, preferred
• Prior nursing supervisory experience preferable in Long Term Care preferred
• Federal, State, and MHI required credentials current and on file
• Cognitive skills as related to the position

Working Conditions

Because the patients need round-the clock care, working hours include days, nights, weekends and holidays. The number of patients assigned per shift will vary with facility and specialty, if applicable. DON’s may spend considerable time walking, bending, stretching and standing; they assist in patient transfers. DON’s must guard against back injury because they may have to assist CNA's with patient repositioning and transfers; they must follow proper company procedures as it relates to the use of mechanical patient lift devices . DON’s may face hazards from exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases. In addition, the population cared for will contain patients that are confused, irrational, agitated, or uncooperative, from diagnosis, such as Alzheimer's.

Physical Demands

• Long periods of sitting at a desk and working on computer. Prolonged periods of standing, bending, and reaching
• Ability to lift twenty (20) pounds. Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to fifty (50) pounds, as well as assist with weights of more than one-hundred (100) pounds
• Fine motor skills
• Visual acuity

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach forward with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift or move 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Physical Demand Ratings are an estimate of the overall strength requirements that are consider to be important for an average, successful work performance of a specific job. The overall physical demand rating for a DON falls within the Medium classification (exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.