Director of Nursing

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Nursing will recognize and respond to the nursing and health care of residents. This person will effectively manage the nursing department regarding residents, employees, families’ visitors, and the public. The Director of Nursing will make prompt and accurate nursing assessment of care and management judgments. This individual will perform the essential functions of the job in a manner which benefits residents of the facility and complies with business necessity without causing undue hardship.

The Director of Nursing position will require an individual who is dependable, self-sufficient, and can easily multi-task. Qualified candidates will plan, organize, develop, and direct the overall operation of the nursing department in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines and regulations. The position is charged with responsibility to ensure the quality of care is delivered consistently to the resident population; and performs related work as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs duties and responsibilities with assigned functional area within a nursing home facility which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following tasks:

• Ensure nursing staff is providing quality and appropriate resident/patient care that meets or exceeds company and regulatory standards.
• Oversee the provision of appropriate medications, treatments and general nursing services according to the resident’s care plan and physician directed orders.
• Monitor and control inventories of drugs and supplies.
• Assist in the preparation of annual budget for facility.
• Monitor monthly performance of nursing services in relation to budget and intervene as needed.
• Schedule and perform resident/patient rounds to monitor and evaluate the quality and appropriateness of nursing care.
• Maintain administrative authority, responsibility and accountability for the proper charting and documentation of care and of medications and treatments.
• Recruit, hire, provide orientation/training, and retain a sufficient number of qualified nursing staff to carry out services.
• Adopt and implement facility Clinical Policies and Procedures, including but not limited to: Incidents & fall prevention program, TB Control Program, weight program and Infection Control Program.
• Develop and implement the written staffing plan and nursing schedule that reflects the needs of the resident and resident population.
• Ensure all required records are maintained and submitted, as appropriate, in an accurate and timely manner.
• Evaluate current and potential residents and patients to ensure facility can provide appropriate level of care.
• Maintain regular and ongoing communication with facility Medical Director ensuring programs and care services meet the needs of patients/residents.
• Complete required forms and documents in accordance with company policy and state and/or federal regulations.
• Manage clinical aspects of state or federal government survey processes.
• Know and understands Illinois Department Public Health regulations and requirements.
• Involved with the safety of the resident population by ensuring that all health, fire, safety and sanitation codes are carried out in accordance with the facility’s disaster and OSHA plans.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of an ongoing Quality Assurance program
• Thorough understanding of regulatory process, MDS and care planning process.
• Must know documentation requirements and be driven by quality care standards.
• Possess the ability to work with physicians and other healthcare professionals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel reach with hands and arms; talk or hear, and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to blood or other body fluids, fumes, or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Because the essential functions of the job of Director of Nursing often require exposure to bodily functions and infectious waste, disease, odors, and other situations associated with health care, including but not limited to exposure to AIDS, HIV and Hepatitis B viruses. Involving Risk Classification Categories 1, 2, and 3, environmental conditions will fluctuate.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing.
• Valid IL State licensure as an RN.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a Director of Nursing in a long-term care environment required.
• One to three (1-3) years of management or supervisory experience in long-term care, acute care, restorative or geriatric nursing.