What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Nursing position at Pennington Health Services dba Thief River Care...?
Pennington Health Services
2001 Eastwood Dive
Thief Rive Falls, MN 56701
Mission and Core Values
Expressing Christ’s love by providing care that values every human life.
Integrity: We adhere to high principles and professional standards.
Follows policies and procedures and ensures compliancy.
Admits and corrects mistakes in a professional manner.
Commitment: We dedicate ourselves to those we serve.
Follows through with tasks given or undertaken.
Is committed to healthcare as a vocation.
Respect: We value and treat others with compassion and dignity.
Keeps a clean environment.
Maintains confidentiality and observes privacy, respecting and recognizing consumer and co-worker dignity.
Excellence: We have the passion to do our best.
Strives to provide exceptional care in the work performed so those served can experience his/her commitment to excellence.
Honors the knowledge and experience of co-workers and works together to develop best practices which produces extraordinary results.
Service: We contribute to the wellbeing of others.
Focuses on the person, responds to voiced needs and strives to anticipate future needs.
Works as a team and helps others meet the needs of those we serve.
Stewardship: We wisely manage all resources God entrusts to us.
Values what has been entrusted to him/her, making sure to care for others and the environment in which he/she works.
Is creative and shares best practices, strives for excellence while being prudent in his/her use of resources.
Position Purpose:
The purpose of your position of your job position is to plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of our Nursing Service Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our care center, and as may be directed by the Administrator and the Medical Director, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.
Essential Job Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Delegation of Authority:
As the Director of Nursing Services, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.
Organizational Responsibilities:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Delegation of Authority:
As the Director of Nursing Services, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.
Organizational Responsibilities:
- Adhere to, support and promote St. Francis Health Services’ Mission and Core Values, philosophy, goals and objectives while conducting company business.
- Maintain confidentiality of company and individual receiving services related information at all times.
- Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the care center as appointed by the Administrator.
- Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, oral and/or written reports, etc. and submitting such to the Administrator as required.
- Develop, maintain, and update as required, written policies and procedures that govern the day to day functions of the nursing service department.
- Attend relevant daily meetings, participating in discussion, and relaying pertinent information to other nursing staff.
- Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to nursing services.
- Review all incident reports, medication errors, adverse medication reactions and infection reports to identify problem areas or negative trends and determine if additional measures or interventions should be taken.
- Does not disclose individual receiving services’ protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
- Ensure that all care is provided in privacy, as appropriate, and to knock before entering an individual receiving services’ room or individual receiving services care area such as tub rooms.
- Assure an individualized care plan is established and implemented for each individual receiving services and that the plan is periodically reviewed and revised as necessary according to the MDH/CMS regulations.
- Ensure all personnel involved in providing care are aware of individual receiving services’ care plan.
- Ensure that nursing personnel refer to the individual receiving services' care plan prior to administering daily care to the individual receiving services.
- Regular review of nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.
- Assist the Individual receiving services Assessment/Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of Care Area Assessments (CAAs).
- Conduct Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings with appropriate departments to coordinate and assure completion of timely and accurate individual receiving services MDSs and care plans.
- Ensure that medical and nursing care is administered in accordance with the individual receiving services' wishes, including the implementation of advance directives.
- Participate in the individual receiving services admission process including assessment to determine appropriateness of admission in terms of nursing service needed, nursing competencies, and subsequent admission to the care center.
- Participate in individual receiving services discharge process including transfer planning and setting up outside service providers when needed.
- Continuously develop, promote, and assure implementation of standards of nursing practice that are consistent with high quality of care.
- Report all complaints and grievances, according to company policies and procedures, which are made by the individual receiving services, family, or visitors and make a written/oral report to supervisor indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.
- Report any communicable or infectious disease that you contract to the appropriate supervisor.
- Assure 24 hour accountability for the nursing service department and delegate a responsible staff member to act on your behalf during your absence from the care center.
- Supervise nursing service department personnel, communicating throughout the day with key nursing management staff as needed.
- Review departmental complaints and grievances from personnel and make oral or written reports to the Administrator of action(s) taken. Follow care center’s established procedures.
- Counsel/discipline nursing personnel as necessary.
- Monitor nursing care to ensure that all individual receiving services are treated fairly, with kindness, dignity, and respect.
- Develop, maintain, and periodically update written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, OSHA, and other pertinent laws and regulations.
- Determine the staffing needs of the nursing service department necessary to meet the total nursing needs of the individual receiving services.
- Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of timely in service training classes and individualized training that provides instructions on "how to do the job," and ensure a well-educated nursing service department.
- Develop, implement, and maintain an effective onboarding program that onboard the new employee to the care center, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties. Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
- Provide complaint/grievance reports to the Administrator as required or as may be necessary.
- Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and/or assist nurse scheduling staff in completing and performing such tasks.
- Delegate to professional nursing staff the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.
- Develop performance evaluation schedules, criteria, and annual reviews for the nursing service department (e.g., RNs, LPNs, CNAs, HUC’s, etc.).
- Hold regularly scheduled professional nurse and nursing assistant meetings, with predetermined agendas. Keep comprehensive meeting minutes of all meetings.
- Continuously assess, develop and implement methods for coordination of nursing services with other individual receiving services to ensure the continuity of the individual receiving services' total regimen of care including communications with other departments.
- Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.
- Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.
- Ensure that nursing service personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
- Ensure that nursing personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., transfer belts, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving individual receiving services.
- Keep the call light system within easy reach of the individual receiving services.
- Demonstrate and practice correct sanitation techniques, such as hand washing, proper handling of supplies, cleansing and sanitizing equipment, per policy procedure.
- Adhere to basic infection control practices, and use standard precautions.
- Follow established policies and procedures in performance of duties such as safety, infection control and exposure to blood/body fluids.
- Follow care center’s established policies governing safety data sheets (SDS) and the handling of hazardous chemicals. Ensure that hazardous chemicals are labeled.
- Follow established safety policies and procedures regarding fire, weather related, and other potential disaster threats to individual receiving services and staff.
- Participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids or hazardous chemicals.
- Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g. back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving individual receiving services.
- Use personal protective clothing/devices/equipment when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids.
- Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the care center’s policies and procedures.
- Report and/or correct unsafe conditions immediately.
- Promptly report all accidents, errors and unusual incidents to the supervisor no matter how minor they may be. Such occurrences must be reported on the shift in which they occur.
- Utilize proper body mechanics.
- Know exact location of emergency equipment (e.g., alarms and fire extinguishers).
- Operate all equipment that is used in the department and social areas accurately and in a safe manner according to established procedures.
- Report defective equipment to the supervisor.
- Follow up on equipment maintenance or repair concerns.
- Participate in fire safety and disaster preparedness drills.
- Ensure that the department's policy and procedure manuals identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could result in bodily injury.
- Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
- Ensure that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
- Monitor nursing service personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
- Develop, implement and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases, including TB, among the individual receiving services and personnel.
- Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
- Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
- Develop and implement procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.
- Ensure that only trained and authorized personnel operate the department's equipment.
- Ensure that all personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner.
- Ensure that appropriate SDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the nursing service department.
- Keep abreast of current federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards of practice, and make recommendations on changes in policies and procedures to the Administrator.
- Understand and follow the Vulnerable Adult and Abuse Policy and reporting procedure.
- Understand and adhere to Individual receiving services Bill of Rights.
- Direct the nursing service department, as well as its programs and activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines, including the MDH, CMS and third party contractors that govern services in long term care facilities.
- Ensure that appropriate adverse personnel actions relative to CNA's and professional nurses’ employment criteria are reported to the State Nurse Aide Registry or MN Board of Nursing.
- Ensure that background checks on Nursing Service personnel are being performed in accordance with established procedures. Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a CNA, and/or a nurse aide trainee qualified to perform the procedure.
- Develop, maintain, and periodically update the written procedure for ensuring that professional nursing personnel have valid/current licenses as required by this State.
- Assist Administrator and other departments of the care center during governmental surveys (inspections) including developing and implementing appropriate plans of correction to identified deficiencies bringing the care center back into compliance.
- Assume administrative authority, responsibility and accountability in the absence of the Administrator.
- Authorize the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with our established policies and procedures.
- Conduct investigations (including Vulnerable Adult investigations) of complaints or problem areas including working with other departments as necessary to assure resolution of the complaint or problem.
- Maintain a clean, attractive, safe and sanitary work environment.
- Keep work areas free of hazardous objects, unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc.
- Ensure that all individual receiving services care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
- Ensure the monthly Medicare billing documentation is submitted to corporate office in a timely manner.
- Be a good steward by using supplies and resources entrusted to you in an efficient manner.
- Participate in the annual operating budget for department, including estimating needs of supplies, staffing levels, capital & minor equipment purchases and ongoing maintenance of equipment.
- Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises to adequately meet the needs of the individual receiving services.
- Develop and implement procedures that ensure nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
- Attend departmental and staff meetings as directed.
- Attend and participate in in-service educational classes, on-the-job training programs, workshops, seminars, etc., as directed.
- Give adequate notice to appropriate person when absence is necessary.
- Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.
- Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Minnesota and a nursing degree from an accredited college or university.
- Must have a minimum of one year of experience in rehabilitation nursing technique and geriatric nursing in a long-term care center, hospital or other related health care center.
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language while conducting company business.
- Must adhere to the Corporate Compliance Program Code of Conduct.
- Must adhere to company policies and procedures.
- Must have a positive and friendly attitude.
- Must maintain a courteous and professional manner in dealing with individual receiving services, visitors, medical staff, and fellow employees.
- Must be able to solve diverse procedural problems and plans.
- Must be able to communicate directives to others.
- Must be able to communicate, coordinate, and facilitate with other departments, families, and the general public.
- Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, individual receiving services, visitors and the general public.
- Must respect the individual receiving services’ personal and property rights.
- Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times, hostile people within the care center.
- Must be willing to work beyond normal working hours when necessary and on other shifts/days.
- Must possess the ability to work harmoniously with other personnel.
- Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
- Must promote an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the care center.
- Must promote good public relations.
- Must be able to request and/or accept direction/education as needed to develop new skills.
- 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 the ability to apply current theoretical approaches to delivery of geriatric nursing care and nursing home management.
- 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 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 individual receiving services' condition.
- Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
- Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
- Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of the position can be fully met.
- Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with individual receiving services, personnel, and support agencies.
- Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this care center.
- Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 30 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
- May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of individual receiving services during emergency situations.
Experience
Required- 1 year(s): Must have a minimum of one year of experience in rehabilitation nursing technique and geriatric nursing in a long-term care center, hospital or other related health care center.
Education
Required- Associates or better in Nursing
Licenses & Certifications
Required- CPR Certification
- RN License