POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Nursing role at Regency Health Care & Rehabilitation Center is a unique opportunity for an energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image. This role requires a strategic vision, sound clinical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, excellent communication skills, and intense focus. The key to this position is a blend of exceptional organizational skills and self-direction while promoting a hospitality and team-oriented culture. The Director of Nursing and all managers are expected to act as educators and mentors, willing to share information and their experience with others and promote well-being and self-improvement among staff and peers.

A positive, courteous, friendly, and warm disposition is essential to this vital role. In this position, the Director of Nursing will often interact with staff members, residents and their families, department managers, vendors, and professionals and should, therefore, be able to communicate effectively.

As a key representative of Regency Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, the Director of Nursing frequently interacts with staff members, residents and their families, department managers, vendors, and professionals. They should be articulate, able to relate to people at all levels, and possess excellent communication skills. They should also be seasoned managers with experience in all aspects of Nursing and Nursing Administration.

The Director of Nursing is responsible for developing and implementing department-wide policy regarding nursing utilization, activities, and training and for managing the programs within the community. The DON also develops and implements standards of nursing practice and protocols, provides nursing expertise and input into the formulation of departmental policies, and participates in strategic planning for the department.

Establishes and maintains ongoing training programs for nursing staff; periodically reviews and updates departmental nursing protocols to ensure they remain current; establishes and reviews department-wide nursing performance measures and outcomes; provides direction and consultation to improve nursing performance and outcomes; reviews medical aspects of nursing staff performance and may recommend disciplinary actions.

Analyzes the utilization of nursing staff to improve efficiency and effectiveness of nursing staff allocations and deployments; collaborates with department managers, staff, and community groups to identify trends and needs for the community and residents. Collaborates with managers to identify and solve departmental issues requiring nursing expertise; works to promote and enhance quality health care for the residents.

Represents the department on various committees, task forces, and community organizations; determines the appropriateness of involvement in outside activities and commits department resources for appropriate efforts; forms relationships with schools of nursing and identifies ways to enhance recruitment of nursing staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

The following responsibilities have been incorporated into this position. This list is not necessarily all-inclusive; other special tasks and responsibilities may be assigned as necessary.

• Conducts job responsibilities according to the policies and procedures set forth by Regency, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable professional standards.
• Provide and promote staff educational programs and monitor attendance and compliance with mandatory training as required.
• Monitors employee performance and identifies and responds to identified compliance issues.
• Must be able to work cooperatively as a member of the Regency Team.
• Complies with HIPPA
• Develops and maintains department objectives, standards of nursing practice, policy and procedure manuals, and job descriptions for all nursing personnel.
• Inputs information to develop a departmental budget for nursing and attends regularly scheduled management meetings.
• Adhere to budget
• Review medical information for potential residents before admission to ensure we can provide the highest standard of care for potential residents.
• Assures the availability of adequate equipment and supplies.
• Coordinates the completion of the admission, discharge, and evaluation process for all residents
• Ensure that all resident rights and responsibilities are protected and enforced
• Establishes systems for care management, including assessments, care planning, the RAI process, and discharge planning. Makes necessary changes to procedures, programs, etc., to promote practices responsive to patients’ current and long-term needs.
• Chairs Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Committee.
• Assures the maintenance of accurate, timely, and required documentation, reflecting every resident's healthcare needs.
• Delegates supervisory authority and promotes accountability to ensure fair and objective nursing staff treatment.
• Supervises nursing department employees’ disciplinary proceedings.
• Performs environmental and patient care rounds routinely.
• Maintains required care system to ensure a maximum standard of care for all residents.

• Communicate with physicians to ensure timely interventions by physicians and work closely with the Medical Director to maintain a high standard of medical care.
• Represents Regency to residents, physicians, family members of current or potential residents, and other referral sources.
• Encourages customer service to employees.
• Strives to enhance team productivity and morale by promoting staff participation in goal setting.
• Resolves staff performance issues by clearly communicating expectations, monitoring performance, and resolving issues as they arise.
• Assures orientation is provided and all nursing personnel meet competency standards.
• The Director of Nursing is also responsible for Developing individual staff members by assisting them in achieving long-range professional goals. This role is crucial in promoting staff development and ensuring the team's growth.
• Assures annual performance reviews are done promptly.
• Develop an employee retention program for nursing.
• Champion new ideas for programs and approaches and gain the buy-in of staff and other managers.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and community groups.
• Effective verbal and written communication is a key requirement for the Director of Nursing. This skill is crucial in ensuring transparent, respectful, and effective communication.
• Represent the department on controversial issues with tact and diplomacy
• Professionally present to the community organizations and various boards and committees.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This position reports primarily to the Skilled Nursing Administrator

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

All Nursing and support staff

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

To perform this job effectively, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these tasks.

Educational Requirements, Experience, and Competencies :

• RN Degree
• Minimum of 3 years experience as Director of Nursing or other Nurse Management position in long-term healthcare
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations as they apply to long-term care
• RN license in good standing in the state of Alabama

Language Ability

o Must be fluent in the English language.

o Must be able to relate to people at all levels and possess excellent communication skills

Mathematical Skills

o Ability to perform intermediate mathematical calculations

o Ability to comprehend the impact of financial data

o Ability to learn new quickly; excellent retention

Cognitive Demands

o Ability to comprehend and carry out detailed written or oral instructions.

o Proficient at problem resolution, researching root causes, and developing measures to effect non-recurrence within the scope of the duties assigned to this position

o Must be able to interpret financial data and communicate information effectively

o Organization and multi-tasking skills are essential to this position.

o Must be able to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant; make prompt and accurate judgments regarding issues within the scope of responsibilities.

o Must be detail-oriented and tolerant of frequent interruptions and distractions from residents and staff

o Must demonstrate a willingness to learn new software and tasks as they are introduced

Computer Skills

o Must be computer literate and able to learn new programs as introduced.

o Working Knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite

o Demonstrated knowledge of Windows XP and email communications

o Ability to learn and master new accounting software as introduced

Competencies

o Hospitality-oriented, warm individual with outgoing personality and behavior; friendly and courteous

o Must be results-driven and goal-oriented

o Must be cognitive and able to work under pressure and meet deadlines

o Supportive of team-spirited environment

o High interest in working with people; patience and a good listener

o The ability to multi-task and complete assignments accurately and promptly

o Demonstrate ability to manage time and tasks and assign priorities to meet company timelines

o Must be able to delegate tasks to ensure meeting timelines

o Ability to work under minimum supervision and demonstrate self-initiative

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY

• Works primarily indoors in a climate-controlled setting
• Frequent exposure to unpleasant odors
• Frequent exposure to chemicals as identified in the MSDS Manual
• Frequent exposure to residents who may be ill, confused, irritable, and irrational

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that an individual must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the DON is regularly required to use hands to handle or feel. They are also regularly required to talk or listen. The DON is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The DON must frequently stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The DON must regularly lift 10 pounds, often lift and move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.