Assistant Director of Nursing

Department: Nursing Services

Cherry Brook Health Care Center, a division of New Horizons, Inc., offers short-term rehabilitation, long –term respite, hospice and dementia care. Our dedicated staff provides individualized care with compassion, dignity and respect. Located in Avon, our facility has spacious private and semiprivate rooms, a well-appointed dining area, comfortable lounges and a beautiful landscaped outdoor terrace.

Cherry Brook’s mission is to provide the highest quality of care and customer service to our residents and their families by using best practices, highly trained staff and innovative programs and services designed to meet their needs.

PURPOSE OF YOUR POSITION:

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning, organizing, developing, and directing the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Services Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, the Medical Director, and/or the Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Assist the DNS with planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating and directing the overall operations of the Nursing Services department, according to state, federal, local and Corporate standards and regulations, policy and procedure, and scope of practice. Maintain familiarity with facility organizations and functions of all departments.
• Meets the clinical needs of all residents while promoting positive resident and family relations.
• Contributes to effective communication and pleasant working conditions. Demonstrates leadership. Maximize the potential of each employee supervised.
• Assists with maintaining, reviewing and has input to development of all clinical policies and procedures. Ensures that Nursing policies and procedures are followed.
• Participates in the Nursing QI program and conducts regular audits pursuant to the program. Is a member of the facility QI Committee and participates in facility QI programs.
• Is a member or assigns a designee to appropriate Quality Improvement Subcommittees/Task Forces and attends each meeting. Ensures the policies and procedures for each Quality Improvement Committee is followed and that corrective actions are being implemented, audited and minutes are documented.
• Assists with continuously monitoring and reviewing the staffing needs, schedules and work assignments by maintaining a Master Staffing Schedule for the nursing department. Assists with developing and maintaining an on-call program for the nursing department.
• Assists with monitoring absenteeism on a continuous basis and provide discipline according to policy and procedure as directed.
• Monitors, reviews, and documents performance evaluations of Nursing staff according to organizational policy and procedure.
• Oversees that all nursing assistants are certified and maintains a system to confirm currency and to track required in-service hours yearly to maintain certification as directed by the DNS.
• Oversees that all nurses are licensed and maintains a tracking mechanism to confirm currency as directed by the DNS.
• Makes rounds of each nursing unit and does visual inspection on each unit. During rounds, ensures that all nursing personnel are performing their assignments/duties in accordance with policies and procedures and standards of practice.
• Ensures that medications are administered, handled, stored, and audited properly. Assists the DNS with documenting Controlled Substance audits twice per month and ensures discontinued medications are logged, destroyed, and documented in a timely manner and per policy and procedure.
• May participate in screening residents for admission to the facility.
• Assists the DNS with reviewing satisfaction of care and services by interviews with families and residents. Reviews complaints and grievances by resident families and employees in a timely and responsive matter and in accordance with policy. All complaints, reports and grievances will be tracked. Reports concerns to DNS and Administrator.
• Assists the Infection Control Nurse in establishing and maintaining the Infection Control Program. Ensures and monitors that nursing service personnel follow established Infection Control Procedures to prevent the spreading of infection. Nosocomial tracking will be monitored through the infection control program.
• Assists the Director of Staff Development in ensuring that all mandatory in-service education sessions, which are required by state and federal law, are performed per schedule; documented and such documentation is retained as directed by the DNS. Attend mandatory in-servicing and participates in general orientation as directed.
• Assists the DNS in developing safety standards for the nursing department and monitors these through employee incidents and develops a plan of correction and audit tool for prevention. The Assistant Director of Nursing is an active member of the Safety Committee.
• Director of Nurses/ADNS will be a member and chairperson of each Quality Assurance Subcommittee and will attend each meeting. The Director of Nurses/ADNS will ensure the policies and procedures for each Quality Improvement Committee is followed and that corrective actions are being implemented, audited and minutes are documented.
• Assist the DNS with developing and implementing a process for monitoring and auditing medical records of at-risk residents with falls, new/re-admissions, etc. Responsible for the accurate and timely completion of medical record documentation.
• Assist the DNS with Monthly Nursing department staff meetings that are held on all three shifts.
• Assists the DNS with completing monthly reports and with developing and implementing a plan of correction for all identified areas that fall below standards.
• Participates in surveys and inspections by government agencies and implements plans of correction for deficiencies.
• Monitors and reviews the Accidents and Incidents (Reportable events), ensuring that all appropriate notifications, documentation, interventions, and investigations are complete. Completes follow up reports as per guidelines. Develops, along with the DNS, processes to determine if an incident is an isolated event or a trend in the facility.
• Assumes the role of “Acting DNS” when the DNS is out of the facility.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing area (i.e., medication rooms, nurses’ stations, resident rooms, etc.).
• Sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• May be subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, personnel and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing services, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and holidays, when necessary. Scheduled hours may change to meet facility needs. May need to perform duties of other positions when necessary.
• Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate.
• Is subject to falls, burns from equipment, odors, exposure to chemicals, etc., throughout the workday.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents’ needs.

EDUCATION:

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited school of nursing, college or university. B.S.N. preferred.
• CPR certified.

EXPERIENCE:

• Must have, as a minimum, one (1) year experience in a hospital, long-term care facility or other related health care facility is preferable.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a current, unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such actions.
• Must possess accurate and comprehensive assessment skills.
• Must be familiar with drug actions and interactions.
• Must have knowledge of restorative nursing and rehabilitation policies and utilizes appropriately.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must be knowledgeable in the Privacy Rule and ensure all staff comply with facility privacy practices policies and procedures.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must be able to communicate effectively to appropriate personnel regarding emergencies.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the patients, personnel and support agencies.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, and do heavy lifting without restrictions up to 51 pounds.
• Must have working knowledge of hoist equipment.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents in emergencies.

EEO STATEMENT:

New Horizons, Inc. is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. New Horizons, Inc. considers applicants for employment without regard to and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does New Horizons, Inc. discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.