Unit Manager

Overlook Masonic Health Center -

POSITION SUMMARY :

The primary purpose of the Unit Manager position is to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of your unit on all three shifts.   Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state and local regulations and Joint Commission standards that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

This position can be held by an LPN or RN candidate.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

Administrative Functions :

Assist the Director of Nursing and the Nursing Supervisor in directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing activities in accordance with current rules, regulations and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.

Participate in developing, maintaining and updating written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department.

Ensure the reference material maintained at the nurses’ stations is current.   Recommend written material that will assist the nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the resident.

Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day to day nursing procedures performed in this home.

Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedure Manual.

Make written and oral reports / recommendation to the Director of Nursing as necessary / required, concerning the operation of your unit.

Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the residents’ total regimen of care.

Ensure that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions.

Participate in the development, maintenance and implementation of the home’s Performance Improvement Program.

Participate in the home’s surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing.

Periodically review the resident’s written discharge plan.   Participate in the updating of the resident’s written discharge plan as required.

Assist the Case manager in planning the nursing services portion of the resident’s discharge plan as necessary.

Meet regularly with the nursing staff, as well as support personnel to ensure smooth unit operation.

Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.

Complete accident / incident reports as necessary.

Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, government agencies, and Joint Commission as required.

Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, and charting, as necessary.

Complete weekly Acuity Report, submit to DON.

Complete weekly Skin Integrity Report.

Conduct interviews for prospective employees for your unit.

Other related duties and responsibilities that may become necessary or as directed by the DON.

Committee Functions

Attend weekly Care Plan, Medicare, Unit Manager Meetings or other meetings as required by DON.

Assist in preparing written and / or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities to submit to such committee(s) as directed.

Provide information to the Performance Improvement Committee as requested.

Participate in developing the agenda for the Interdisciplinary Care Plan meetings as necessary.

Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the discharge plans and make such plans available to the Interdisciplinary Care Plan Team as required or as may be necessary.

Implement recommendations for established committees as instructed by the DON.

Attend weekly Wound Rounds on your unit if CRNM is unavailable

Personnel Functions

Ensure that a sufficient number of licensed practical and / or registered nurses are available for your unit to ensure that quality care is maintained.

Ensure that a sufficient number of certified nursing assistants are available for your unit to ensure that routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident.

Develop work assignments as necessary.

Delegate to each Charge Nurse the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform his / her assigned duties.

Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved nursing assistant training program.

Make daily rounds of the nursing unit to ensure that all nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.   Report findings to the DON.

Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care personnel are on duty at all times.   Report problem areas to the DON.

Monitor time sheets for appropriate in / out punches, lunch punches. Report any problems to DON.

Ensure that established policies and procedures, including dress codes are followed by all departmental personnel.

Report complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.   Make appropriate reports to the Director as required or as may be necessary.

Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-department personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.

Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

Meet with each shift on a regular scheduled basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and / or to assist in the improvement of services.

Review and evaluate your unit’s work force and make recommendations to the DON.

Participate in employee performance evaluation, determining your unit’s staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the DON concerning employee dismissals and transfers.

Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race,

color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap or marital status.

Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the home’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

Other duties, roles and responsibilities as assigned by the Health Center Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing,

Nursing Care Functions

Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment.

Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.

Greet newly admitted residents upon admission. Escort them to their rooms as necessary.

Make rounds with physicians as necessary.

Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physicians' orders, on a timely basis and in accordance with current regulations.   Maintain monthly MD Compliance Log.

Inform the DON when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.

Consult with the resident, his / her family, and the resident’s physician in planning the resident’s care, treatment, rehabilitation, as necessary.

Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a certified nursing assistant, and / or a nurse aide trainee qualified to perform the procedure.

Review nurses' notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided, that they reflect the resident's response to the care, and that such care is provided in accordance with the resident's wishes.

10. Provide direct nursing care as necessary.

Start IVs; obtain sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.   Take TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.

Report problem areas to the DON.   Assist in developing and implementing corrective action.

Keep DON informed of the status of residents and other related matters through written / oral reports.

14. Assist the Charge Nurse in monitoring seriously ill residents.

Ensure that all RNs and LPNs on your shift comply with written procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.

Monitor medications passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.

17. Audit medical records to ensure accuracy and completion.

Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.

Meet with residents, and / or family members, as necessary. Report problems to the DON.

20. Ensure that family members are informed of death of the resident.

Ensure implementation of Wound Protocols, Fall Protocols and IV Policy and Procedures.

Staff Development

Participate in ongoing training of all nursing staff members.

Ensure that all new employees are oriented as per facility policies.

Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for your Charge Nurses.

Encourage your Charge Nurses to attend and participate in outside training programs.

Ensure staff attendance at in-service training programs.

Attend and participate in continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

Safety and Sanitation

Assist the Staff Development Coordinator in developing safety standards for the nursing unit as necessary.

Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood / body fluids are following current policies and procedures adequately.

Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is on hand and readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.

Ensure that personnel follow established procedures for the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.

Monitor your unit’s personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.

6.   Ensure that nursing service work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

Ensure that all resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.

8.     Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established hand washing procedures.

9.   Ensure that nursing service personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

10. Ensure implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and / or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel.

11. Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.

Ensure proper maintenance of equipment and reporting of hazardous conditions to DON.

Ensure that nursing personnel wear and / or use safety equipment and supplies (gait belts, mechanical lifts) when lifting or moving residents.

Equipment and Supply Functions

Recommend to the DON the equipment and supply needs of the department.

Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment is maintained on premises at all times to meet the needs of the resident.

Ensure the implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.

Ensure only trained and authorized personnel operate nursing service department's equipment in safe manner.

Monitor nursing procedures to ensure nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

Recommend to the DON any product changes that may be necessary.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

Ensure development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident as necessary.

Ensure development of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems / needs of the resident, indicates the care to be given, goals to be accomplished, and which professional service is responsible for each element of care.

Encourage the resident to participate in the development and review of his / her care plan.

Review resident care plans for appropriate resident goals, problems, approaches, and revisions based on nursing needs.

Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the resident's care plan. Ensure that nursing personnel refer to the resident's care plan prior to administering daily care to the resident.

Review nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.

Assist MDS Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including implementation of RAPs.

Review resident's medical and nursing treatments to ensure that they are provided in accordance with the resident's care plan and wishes.

Resident Rights

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.

Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the resident's room.

Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.

Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written / oral report to the DON indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow home’s established procedures.

Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and / or misappropriation of resident property to the DON.

Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident's refusal of treatment request. Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the home's policies governing advance directives.

QUALIFICATIONS :

Must have, as a minimum, 3 years of experience as a Charge Nurse in a hospital, long-term care facility, or other related health care facility. Must have training in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices.

Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN in MA.

Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies / personnel, and the general public.

Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.

Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other 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 have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.

Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.

Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.