RN

Description

* Additional wage based on years of experience!

* Full-time, Part-time, PRN

 

GENERAL CHARGE:

 

            Goodwill Retirement Community is committed to provide for each resident the assistance and support which will help that resident to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of well-being and functioning.  So that we may fulfill our commitment to each resident every employee is required to abide by specified Work Principles and Performance Expectations.  Every employee is also expected to be fully aware of the information presented in Disclosure of Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions and to make every effort to act accordingly while working at Goodwill.

            This job description is not a contract, express or implied, guaranteeing employment for any specific duration.  Although we hope that your employment relationship with us will be long-term, either you or the company may terminate this relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice.  This job description in no way limits the authority of the Board of Directors to make amendments, corrections, additions, or deletions from these policies.

 

 

 

 

Work Principles

 

            Every employee is expected to abide by all the specified work principles at all times.  Violation of these principles will result in disciplinary action applied in accordance with the policies of Goodwill Retirement Community ranging from verbal reprimand to immediate termination.  The employee must:

 

1. Exhibit a strong commitment to excellence in every aspect of providing excellent care to the residents of Goodwill Retirement Community by work and deed and by participating fully in such mandatory In-service Education and Training programs, Quality Assurance programs, and other improvement activities as may be conducted by Goodwill Retirement Community.
2. Exert every effort at all times to assist and support each resident, maintaining the dignity and independence of the resident to the highest degree possible and maintaining the confidentiality of the resident and his or her records in every respect.
3. Treat every resident, family member, member of the public, and member of the staff with respect and dignity.
4. Obtain and maintain any and all required Certification and/or licensure from the appropriate agency.
5. If a regularly scheduled employee, make himself or herself available to work as scheduled on an ongoing basis.
6. Report to work on the day and at the time indicated on the posted work schedule in accordance with the policies and procedures on employee attendance, tardiness, and absenteeism.
7. Report to work dressed appropriately for the work assignment in accordance with the policy and procedures on employee attire.
8. Remain at the workstation throughout the tour of duty except when excused or sent by the supervisor to another location.
9. Take breaks and meal times in accordance with the policies and procedures on breaks and mealtimes.
10. Willingly cooperate with supervisors and with coworkers in the performance of his or her duties, complying with all appropriate standards and practices of the discipline and complying with all Goodwill Retirement Community rules, procedures and policies at all times.
11. Encourage professionalism, mutual respect, and teamwork among fellow workers in order to achieve excellence of service; and work to maintain a positive atmosphere and attitude at all times in Goodwill Retirement Community, refraining from any activity, which encourages the development of a negative atmosphere or attitude.
12. Recognize problems, which interfere with excellent care, handling them in an open, honest fashion and through appropriate channels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Expectations

 

            The Registered Nurse is required to perform each of the following responsibilities to a performance level set by the immediate supervisor with input from the employee.  Both the employee and the supervisor monitor the employee's performance level for the purpose of improving performance and evaluating the contributions of the employee to the care of residents and to the overall operation of Goodwill Retirement Community.

 

 

 

 

 

Essential Functions and Marginal Functions

 

            Essential functions of a job classification are those functions which are performed very frequently, which require a high level of skill, which require licensure or certification, which cannot be assigned to others because of the unavailability of staff, or which are highly relevant to the nature of the job itself.  Marginal functions are those who can be performed by another person without significant limitations such as those posed by the essential functions.

            Because of the nature of the nursing home industry few functions can be described as marginal.  Goodwill Retirement Community, however, intends to make reasonable accommodations for those who have difficulty in performing a particular task unless such accommodations place undue burdens on other staff members, residents, or Goodwill Retirement Community.

 

 

 

 

 

Essential Functions:

 

The Registered Nurse will:

1. Review the condition of all residents and review all events of the last 24 hours using the written 24-hour report, the 3-day charting log, and the oral report of the previous charge nurse to ensure that appropriate care is given during the next shift.
2. Review the scheduled events for the day using the daily calendar to ensure appropriate preparation for all scheduled events.
3. Pass medications accurately and initial each medication immediately after administration using the medication schedule, the Medication Administration Record, (MAR), the orders of the physician, and medications and supplies needed to ensure that the needs, as defined by physicians, of all residents are met.
4. Prepare medication reorder forms using blank reorder forms and medication reorder slips to ensure that all medications are on hand when they are needed.
5. Administer treatments accurately at the appropriate times using the treatment schedule, the treatment record, and the medications and supplies needed to provide a sterile or clean field for healing to maintain or improve the medical and mental condition of the resident.
6. Stock treatment carts using inventories of items on hand, order ointments, and notify nursing office of the need for all other treatment supplies to ensure that all treatment supplies are on hand when they are needed.
7. Pass instructions and information to the Geriatric Nursing Assistants to ensure that GNAs have instructions and information needed for appropriate care and maintaining the dignity of each resident.
8. Complete all necessary forms such as Concurrent Reviews, Incident Reports, etc. in accordance with policy and procedures.
9. Notify the family promptly of changes in the resident's condition or other incidents as appropriate using family information in the resident's chart to ensure that the appropriate family member (ex. Power of Attorney) is fully informed about the resident.
10. Record faxed telephone orders from the physician for care, medications, and treatments using the physician's order forms to ensure the delivery of appropriate care to the resident.
11. Fax or telephone to the pharmacy all orders from the physician for medications and treatments using medication order forms to ensure the timely delivery of appropriate care to the residents.
12. Maintain the appropriate delivery of oxygen to all residents on oxygen using the resident's orders for treatment and personal inspection of apparatus to ensure that the oxygen unit is functioning correctly in all respects.
13. Administer all tube feedings following the orders of the physician and using the appropriate tool, nourishments, and procedures to ensure the proper nourishment of the resident.
14. Administer all intravenous fluids as ordered by the physician using the appropriate fluids and tools for administration.
15. Maintain liaison with the Administration, Dietary Department, Activities Department, and the Maintenance Department using the telephone and appropriate forms to ensure appropriate care for the resident.
16. Meet the personal needs of the resident using skills of observation and the assistance of Geriatric Nursing Assistants to ensure that the resident enjoys dignity and comfort.
17. With the oncoming charge nurse inventory all Schedule II drugs using the inventory record and appropriate documentation to ensure that all Schedule II drugs are accounted for.
18. Review and authenticate by signature as required the Treatment Book, the Medicine Administration Record and the Antipsychotic Drug Charts to attest to their accuracy and completeness.         
19. Make all required entries in each resident's chart using the 24-hour report, 3 day open charting log, personal observations, Kiosk observations, and oral reports on observations by Geriatric Nursing Assistants to document the care given to each resident.
20. Prepare physician orders, MARS, treatment sheets and behavior sheets needed for nursing care for the ensuing month.  Update the Geriatric Nursing Assistant section sheets as needed.
21. Complete assessments of all residents listed on the potential problem list (open chart).
22. Inform physicians, in a timely manner, of significant changes and problems as they occur.
23. Report malfunctioning equipment, needed building repairs, and safety concerns relating to the equipment and the building to the Maintenance Department using Maintenance Request forms to inform the Maintenance Department fully of needs of the residents and the nursing staff.
24. Report the procedures used and problems encountered during the shift to the incoming charge nurse and to incoming Certified Nursing Assistants using the 24-hour report and other appropriate documentation along with personal observations to ensure appropriate care for residents during the next shift.
25. Personally deliver the keys used for medications and refrigerated materials to the incoming charge nurse.
26. Upon the death of a resident carry out appropriate notifications using resident information in the resident's charge to ensure that the resident's representative and the funeral home are promptly notified of the death.
27. Provide positive reinforcement to Geriatric Nursing Assistants for a job well done; provide positive criticism where needed.
28. Assist the nursing staff in maintaining isolation technique where needed.

 

 

Marginal Functions:

1. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Nursing for the efficient and effective operation of the Nursing Department.

 

Qualifications

DISCLOSURE OF PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

 

            The physical requirements and environmental conditions associated with each job classification are disclosed to each employee of Goodwill Retirement Community upon employment and annually thereafter.  The employee is well advised to be aware of the physical demands and environmental conditions under which he or she works and to take sensible precautions at all times to avoid accidents.

            Most accidents are preventable; they often result from employee inattention to the physical requirements of the job and the environmental conditions under which tasks will be performed.  Goodwill is committed to disclose physical requirements and environmental conditions to employees and to teach employees how to work safely within those requirements and conditions.  The employee must do his or her part to learn and then to engage in practices, which ensure safety for all.  These practices include the use of appropriate body mechanics in all areas of work.

            Goodwill Retirement Community complies with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule at 29 CFR Part 1910.1030, Occupational Exposure to Blood borne Pathogens; Final Rule.  This rule, which applies to all occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, requires us to make available to each employee a current copy of our Exposure Control Plan.  The degree of exposure of an employee in this job classification to blood borne pathogens is defined in the Exposure Control Plan.  It is also reproduced below.

 

 

 

 

Physical Requirements

 

Nursing Department personnel must have the physical ability to:

 

1. Lift and/or carry light objects such as resident charts, thermometers, linen, resident care items up to 50 pounds without assistance.
2. Frequently manipulate with assistance up to 150 pounds while positioning and transferring residents to and from beds, bedside commodes, toilets, wheelchairs, and so on.
3. Manipulate up to and in excess of 250 pounds with the assistance of proper equipment and/or other employees while positioning and transferring residents to and from beds, bedside commodes, toilets, wheelchairs, and so on.
4. Push residents weighing in excess of 250 pounds in wheelchairs on tiled floors and on carpeted floors throughout the building.
5. Stand, stoop, squat, bend, reach to floor level, reach to up to 6 feet above floor level, and walk up to 16 consecutive hours per day with infrequent rest periods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environment Conditions:  Exposure Determination

 

            The Administrator of Goodwill Retirement Community has made the following determination with respect to the exposure of Nursing Department employees to blood borne pathogens:

 

            Nurses:  Exposure may occur when the nurse is performing treatments or procedures in which potentially infectious body fluids or secretions are present.  Examples of such treatments or procedures are providing personal hygiene, changing dressings, performing hemocult or urinalysis, giving injections, giving medications orally, and performing venipuncture.

 

            Geriatric Nursing Assistants:  Exposure may occur when the GNA is providing care to residents while potentially infectious body fluids or secretions are present.  Examples of such care are changing bed linens, providing personal hygiene, feeding residents, cleaning the resident and/or the room after an episode of emesis or diarrhea, changing incontinence pads, and taking temperatures orally or rectally.

 

            Feeding Assistants:  Exposure may occur when the feeder comes in contact with potentially infectious body fluids or secretions while feeding residents or while cleaning residents after feeding them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Environmental Conditions

 

Nursing department personnel will be exposed to:

 

1. The chemical compounds of medications and treatments.
2. Hazardous chemicals such as disinfectants, cleansers, and soap.
3. Potential bruises, scratches, and hits due to the unpredictable behavior of some residents.
4. Occasional loud and unpleasant noises due to the unpredictable behavior of some residents.
5. Unpleasant odors.
6. Tasks related to resident care, which some individuals may find unpleasant.
7. Potential unkind remarks at times from residents, family members, or visitors.
8. Potential stress symptoms resulting from the responsibilities of daily care for elderly, sick residents, and, for the Director of Nursing, from the total responsibility for resident care and nursing staff management 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

 

Salary : $35 - $38