PRIMARY DUTY
The primary purpose of the Director of Nursing (DON) is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the Nursing Department in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations. The position is charged with responsibility to ensure that the highest quality of care is delivered consistently to the resident population.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Defines and maintains the standards of nursing practice within the facility
Evaluates the quality and cost-effectiveness of staffing and services in the nursing department
Initiates the development of policies and procedures that govern the nursing services within the facilityMonitors all aspects of patient careUnderstands and reviews the facility's Healthcare Clinical Policies and ProceduresEnsures compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations
Ensures that all health, fire, safety, and sanitation codes are carried out in accordance with the facility's disaster and OSHA plansOversees, directs, and coordinates nursing staff to provide proper resident care consistent with standard nursing practicesOversees the recruitment, selection, and hiring of nursing personnel
Conducts frequent rounds on a daily basis to ensure that all nursing service personnel are performing their essential functions in accordance with facility clinical policy and state / federal guidelines and regulationsEnsures annual evaluations are performed on all nursing staff, counsels and / or disciplines personnel according to established personnel policiesDevelops and / or oversees in-service education programs for the nursing department in compliance with required in-service regulationsDevelops staff schedules in accordance with clinical needs of resident populationsOversees the provision of appropriate medications, treatments, and general nursing services according to the resident's care plan and physician directed ordersMonitors and controls inventories of drugs and supplies
Directs the development of coordination of the residents' plan of careParticipates in the assessment of residents to be admitted by evaluating the level and amount of care required by prospective resident in relation to existing nursing capabilitiesAssures that each resident's attending physician and family or responsible party is promptly notified of any significant change in the residents' health conditionMaintain accurate, detailed reports and recordsAssesses residents conditions and vitals to determine and / or modify resident treatment plansPeriodically updates written policies and procedures that govern the Nursing DepartmentDevelops, implements and maintains on going Quality Assurance Program for the Nursing DepartmentAssists the Quality Assurance Committee in the development and implementation of action plans to correct any identified deficienciesMay be required to be "on-call" periodically or as specifically needed by facilityServes as a member of various committees as needed or appointed by the AdministratorParticipates as a member of the facility's management team in planning, policy formation and administrative decision-making, with particular emphasis on the facility's nursing servicesAssumes responsibilities of the Director of Nursing in his / her absenceReports any issues or problems that may arise to the Dietary ManagerComplies with state, federal, and all other applicable health care and safety standardsAssists families and other visitors as neededAttends in-services and other required meetingsPerforms other duties and tasks as assignedEDUCATION and EXPERIENCE an equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent; minimum of 5 years of previous long-term care experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experienceMust be licensed in the applicable state as a Registered Nurse (RN)Prior experience managing staff and working in a long-term care and / or assisted living setting preferredExperience with the applicable state Survey Rules & Regulations, Medicare and MedicaidSUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS of this position are generally as follows :
Oversees the activities of the nursing department to ensure facility and departmental goals and standards are met; directly manages all nursing employeesCarries out supervisory responsibilities, including, but not limited to, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems; and terminating employeesKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES which may be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position.
Language Ability - Reads and interprets documents. Ability to write complex reports and correspondenceWritten Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; able to read and interpret written information
Verbal Communication - Talks to others to convey information effectivelyEnglish Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammarMath Ability : Knowledge of mathematics, statistics and their applicationsReasoning Ability : Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving complex variablesAdministration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in resource allocation, leadership technique, and coordination of people and resourcesManagement of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the jobCustomer and Personal Service : Knowledge of principles for providing customer and personal services. This includes needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfactionMedicine - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to assess and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measuresActive Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate timesCritical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problemsJudgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate oneProblem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problemDelegation - Sets expectations and monitors delegated activitiesQuality Management - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughnessOrganizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; completes tasks correctly and on timeAdaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected eventsPlanning / Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; advises for additional resourcesAttendance / Punctuality - Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on timeDependability - Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate planProfessionalism - Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actionsCOMPUTER SKILLS / EQUIPMENT USED TO PERFORM THE JOB which may be representative but not all inclusive of those commonly associated with this position.
Desktop / Notebook computersMS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)Various medical equipmentWORK ENVIRONMENT environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.
The employee is occasionally required to wear protective clothingThe employee may be exposed to blood, bodily fluids, odors, airborne particles, dust or fumes, and toxic or caustic chemicalsThe noise level in the work environment is usually moderatePHYSICAL ABILITIES commonly associated with the performance of the 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 frequently required to talk or hear, stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel or crouch, use hands to use hands to grasp, manipulate or feel objects and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smellThe employee must regularly lift and / or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and / or move up to 50 pounds unassistedSpecific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust and focus
