Overview

Coordinates Nursing operations for the residential program within Citizens Options Unlimited. Responsible for ensuring the delivery of nursing services in compliance with OPWDD and DOH regulation for individuals residing in program ICFs and IRAs. Practices and promotes the agency’s mission statement in every interaction. Provide ongoing support to people in becoming active participants in every aspect of their lives and to ensure that a high quality of life is maintained.

Responsibilities

Primary duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Provides direct supervision to Residential Nurses, RNs and LPNs by maintaining ongoing supervisory interaction and conducting yearly evaluations. Ensures the implementation of proper principles of primary nursing, in accordance with OPWDD and DOH regulation, ensuring the effectiveness of each nursing department.
• Develops day to day medical systems to ensure continuity of care and maintenance of highest standards of care including training and systems for staff who run medical
• Confers with appropriate staff to discuss present resident’s medical status as needed and to ensure the ongoing communication of pertinent information.
• Collaborates with Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs to identify and implement immediate and long-term plans of correction for systemic medical concerns/problems. Functions as member of agency committees eg. Human Rights, Incident Review, Medical Review Committee, etc.
• Responsible for recruitment, retention and hiring of nursing staff.
• Conducts nursing staff meetings & attends administrative and management meetings to communicate medical information and seek recommendations to improve medical care to individuals in each program.
• Conducts monthly support meetings with nurses to review job performance, job concerns, individual’s health concerns, and provide suggestions, support and to problem solve. Utilizes progressive discipline in regard to nurse’s job performance as required.
• Attends monthly support meeting with Director of Nursing to review health status of individuals and discuss job related concerns and performance.
• Visit residential sites/ ICF houses monthly to spot check documentation, assess individuals and provide nursing and staff support.
• Provides on-site support during compass and state audits. Responsible for completing the plan of corrective action with the residential nurse in response to the statement of deficiency of the audit.
• Confers with medical providers (pharmacies, psychologists, lab supply vendors, and physicians) by telephone and scheduled meetings to ensure the delivery of quality and cost effective health care services.
• Provides ongoing communication with Director of Nursing in regard to program concerns and health concerns/changes of the individuals.
• Responsible for completing the report of death, with input from the residential nurse, and submitting to QA within the required time period.
• Responsible for gathering daily nursing report regarding the individuals’ health status and for the distribution to the Director of Nursing and the team.
• Collaborates with families by telephone and scheduled team meetings to serve as an insightful resource and to discuss their specific questions related to their medical concerns.
• Evaluates the quality of the medical services provided to the individuals in each program by collaborating with other health service agencies and hospitals.
• Ensures 24/7-day week on-call system including providing telephone support to the nurses during on-call hours. Review of RN triage and establishment of on-call system and protocols as needed.
• Ensures nursing coverage of sites via the nursing backup system in the event nurses are using accrued time.
• Provides back-up coverage in the absence of the Director of Nursing.
• Directs and oversees nurses regarding admissions, discharges, and transfer of individuals.
• Ensures that work-related safety procedures are in place and are being adhered to by staff; observance of an unsafe act or potentially hazardous work environment must be immediately reported to supervisor and or safety committee.
• This position requires regular and substantial unsupervised or unrestricted physical contact with people receiving services and, therefore, is subject to successful completion of fingerprint/criminal background check.
• Reports to Justice Center as a mandated reporter if there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect or a potentially hazardous work environment. Additionally, follows all agency incident policy and procedures.
• Adheres to all regulations, agency policy and procedures, the employee handbook, and agency and program training requirements.
• Arrives to work by start of scheduled shift, adheres to agency policy and procedure in regard to call- offs and overtime to ensure quality support is provided to people each day.
• Practices and promotes Citizens mission statement in every interaction:
  • Through family and community engagement, Citizens supports People to live the life they choose
• Performs other related duties as instructed by supervisor.

Qualifications

• NYS Registered Nurse License
• 5 years experience in clinical nursing supporting people with intewllectual and other developmental disabilities, 2 years of which are in a supervisory capacity.
• CPR training/ certification required.

Physical Aspects may include but are not limited to lifting and transferring of an adult/child participant.