Description

Job Description: Treatment Nurse

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Treatment Nurse is responsible for providing residents with the highest quality of direct routine care, under the supervision of the RN and in accordance with the BON standards, the Residents’ Bill of Rights and the facility Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program. The Treatment Nurse participates in the development and modification of the resident Plan of Care, implementing interventions that are delegated, ordered, or prescribed by the RN or physician. The Treatment Nurse collects resident health data and compares to normal findings and the established current health status, reporting changes and/or responses to interventions in an ongoing manner to the RN. The Treatment Nurse assigns and monitors nursing tasks or activities of unlicensed nursing staff through assessment of their knowledge, skill and capabilities, clarifying expectations, addressing behaviors or escalating. All nursing activities are performed to support residents in achieving and maintaining the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF POSITION:

PLANS OF CARE

• Assessing and monitoring wounds, cleaning and bandaging wounds
• Working collaboratively with other members of the patient care team to determine if additional treatments or changes in care are required
• Educating patients and caretakers on wound care, infection and injury prevention, and pressure ulcer (bed sore) care
• Applying topical creams and lotions.
• Monitoring wounds
• Conducts focused assessments of residents through collection and comparison of data sourced from resident and family interviews, observation, review of medical records.
• Uses data to participate in drafting of the integrated, resident-centered Plan of Care
• Facilitates Plan of Care through completion of nursing responsibilities, clearly communicating resident needs to primary caregivers and reporting changes and responses to interventions to the RN.
• Maximizes quality of living through continual monitoring and reporting of resident care and correlated recommendations, ensuring all outcomes are thoroughly and accurately documented.

ENSURING ADEQUATE AND PROPER NURSING CARE

• Ensures integration and effectiveness of resident’s Plan of Care by implementing and assisting in evaluation of responses to nursing interventions while collaborating with the interdisciplinary care team.
• Provides the highest quality care to all residents, without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or differences in culture.
• Provides information to residents regarding health promotion and disease prevention.
• Provides ongoing resident care under the scope of Residents’ Bill of Rights, immediately reporting any suspicions, reports or witnessed events of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property.
• Maintains awareness of facility QAPI goals and abides by and promotes the QAPI program.
• Displays and promotes a strong culture of customer service, ensuring a resident-centered experience.
• Provides and ensures nursing activities are practiced in accordance with the BON standards while protecting residents’ dignity, privacy and autonomous decision-making whenever possible.
• Interacts regularly with resident’s family or support network, reporting any changes in health, treatment, care, or living situation.
• Recognizes limits of knowledge, skill and experience; facilitates situations beyond the LPNs competency COMPLIANCE – SAFETY, DOCUMENTATION, HIPAA
• Ensures all call lights are promptly and courteously answered or immediately facilitates.
• Uses and guides other nursing staff on always using proper body mechanics.
• Uses, observes, and instructs nursing staff in safe lifting and care techniques including proper use of equipment.
• Maintains knowledge of, promotes and follows site safety policies, OSHA guidelines regarding bloodborne pathogens and Standard Precaution infection control policies to provide safe nursing care.
• Maintains a safe, clean environment in resident rooms and facility following procedure to bag infectious linens and equipment or proper disposal of them; proper handwashing, disinfection/cleaning schedules.
• Ensures physician orders are strictly followed, and that provisions are in place to assure compliance.
• Ensure resident records are complete through systematic collection, reporting and documentation of data that is secure from unauthorized access and follows state and federal regulations, including HIPAA.
• Gathers and documents data on admissions and discharges.
• Documents all nursing orders that have been initiated.
• Accurately complies with site pharmaceutical policies including sign out and administration of medications; reporting and documenting medication errors; obtaining and transcribing physician orders; proper procedure for label changes and expirations; following controlled substance policies and end of shift count; documenting PRNs.
• Promptly reports and documents incidents and errors involving residents, staff, visitors, or self.

SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT

• Evaluates supportive nursing staff practices, articulates expectations, and provides corrective guidance.
• Prioritizes work assignments consistent with number and level of staff available and resident care acuity.
• Ensures proper staffing level, working as staff nurse if needed.
• Ensures duties are complete, following up with delegated tasks and reviews departing staff reports.
• Provides nursing reports to staff regarding daily resident care needs and significant changes in condition.
• Maintains knowledge of disaster procedures and implements if needed.
• Promptly reports and documents incidents and errors involving residents, staff, visitors, or self.

Qualifications

Education/requirements:

• Completion of a professional nursing education program approved by the Board of Nursing for the state in which the facility is located
• Current License as a Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse for the state in which the facility is located
• Current Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and emergency care
• Preferred: Experience in skilled nursing and/or assisted living community

Required Skills and Abilities

• Leadership; achieves established goals through inspiration and loyalty of staff
• Resilience: ability to welcome constructive feedback, course correct and not take it personally
• Personability; ability to get along with all personality types and inspire trust with residents, staff, family. High emotional intelligence (EQ)
• Ability to actively listen, with the goal of understanding
• Ability to clearly speak and proficiently read, write and understand English

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods during shifts.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to engage with patients or manage medical equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs when needed (e.g., assisting with patient transfers or moving equipment).
• Strong hearing and speaking ability to communicate effectively with staff, residents, and families.
• Ability to perform detailed work requiring precision, such as reviewing patient records and ensuring documentation accuracy.
• Emotional stamina to handle high-stress situations, especially in emergency or crisis management scenarios.
• Good vision (with or without corrective lenses) to read medical records, monitor patient care, and ensure safety.
• Ability to handle the physical and emotional demands of working with residents in a healthcare environment.