Assistant Director of Nursing

Purpose of Your Job Position The primary purpose of your position is to assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning organizing, developing, and directing the day-to-day function of the Nursing Service Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our Facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, the Medical Director, and/or the Director of Nursing Services to ensure the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times. Delegation of Authority As Assistant Director of Nursing Services you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. In absence of the Director of Nursing Services, you are charged with carrying out the resident care policies established by this Facility. Job Function Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is an essential function of the position. Duties and Responsibilities Administrative Functions Assist the Director of Nursing Services (the "Director") in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the Facility. Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating our written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department. Ensure that reference material (i.e., PDR'S, regulations, professional standards of practice, etc.) maintained at the nurses' stations are current. Recommend to the Director written material that will assist the nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of residents. Develop and periodically update nursing service objectives and statements of philosophy. Assist in developing and implementing a nursing service organization structure. Make written and oral reports or recommendations to the Director concerning the operation of the nursing service department, as necessary. Periodically review the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc. Make recommendations for revisions of policies, procedures, etc., to the Director. 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 following their respective job descriptions. Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the Facility's quality assurance program for the nursing service department. Participate in Facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or the Director. Participate in developing, implementing, and periodically updating the resident's written discharge plan. Assist the resident and Discharge Planning Coordinator in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan. Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary. Monitor the Facility's QI, QM and survey reports and provide the Director with recommendations that will be helpful in eliminating problem areas. Assist the Director in obtaining staffing information that must be posted on a daily basis. Participate in the development, maintenance, implementation, and updating of the written policies and procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies. Committee Functions In the absence of the Director, serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the Facility. Serve on the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee, as directed. Assist the Director in preparing written and/or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities to submit to such committee(s). Schedule, attend, and participate in developing the agenda for the Care Plan Committee meetings, as necessary. Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the discharge plans and make such plans available to the Care Plan Committee as required or as may be necessary. Personnel Functions Assist the Director in determining the staffing needs of the nursing service department. Recommend to the Director the number and level of nursing personnel to be employed. Assist the Director in the recruitment and selection of nursing service personnel. Ensure that a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses are available for each tour of duty to ensure that quality care is maintained. Ensure that a sufficient number of certified nursing assistants are available for each tour of duty to ensure that routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident. Ensure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved nursing assistant training program. Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and/or assist nursing supervisory staff in completing and performing such tasks. Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Schedule work assignments and duty hours. Delegate to the RNs, LPNs, and Nurse Supervisors the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties. Participate in the development and implementation of performance evaluations for the nursing service department as it relates to the Facility's standards and goals of the individual. Make daily rounds of the nursing service department to ensure that all nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report findings to the Director. Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care personnel are on duty at all times. Report problem areas to the Director. Monitor the professional nurses' licensing status to ensure that they remain current. Inform nurses at least 30 days in advance of their license expiration date. Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel. Make appropriate reports to the Director as required or as may be necessary. Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status in accordance with all applicable state laws. Ensure that all nursing personnel participate in the Facility's TB testing program. Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the Facility's policies and procedures governing accident and incidents. Nursing Care Functions Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the Facility, including the PASARR screenings. Provide the Director with information relative to the nursing needs of the resident and to the nursing service department's ability to meet those needs. Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc. 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. Inform the Director when physician visits are not made in a timely manner. Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physicians' orders, etc., on a timely basis and in accordance with current regulations. Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a certified nursing assistant and/or a nurse aide 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. Schedule daily rounds to observe residents and to determine if nursing needs are being met. Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled. Report medication errors to the Director. Provide direct nursing care as necessary. Report problem areas to the Director. Assist in developing and implementing corrective action. Authorize the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with our established policies and procedures as well as in accordance with applicable state laws. Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently. Staff Development Participate in developing, planning, conducting, and scheduling in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job," and ensure a well-educated nursing service department. Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the department, its policies, and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties. Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for Nurse Supervisors, RNs, and LPNs. Encourage Nurse Supervisors, RNs, and LPNs to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate. Assist the Director in developing and revising the nursing assistant training curriculum used by the Facility. Assist the Director in planning and conducting universal precautions in-service training. Assist in developing annual Facility in-service training programs (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.). Assist in developing advance directive inservice training programs for the staff and community. Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the nursing service department. Assist in the development of in-service training programs for the nursing staff. Ensure that these programs meet the continuing education requirements that allow licensed personnel (e.g., RNs, LPNs, CNAs/GNAs, etc.) to keep their license on an active status. 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 in developing safety standards for the nursing service department. Assist the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there are potential exposure to blood or body fluids are properly identified and recorded. Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood or body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks. 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. Monitor nursing service personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies. Ensure that nursing service work areas (i.e., nurses' stations, medicine preparation rooms, etc.) 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. 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. Assist the Infection Control Committee in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation techniques. Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel. Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary. Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment. Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies when moving or lifting a resident. Report missing or illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person. Equipment and Supply Functions Recommend to the Director the equipment and supply needs of the department. Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises at all times to adequately meet the needs of the resident. Assist the Maintenance Director in developing a preventive maintenance program for maintaining the nursing department's equipment and supplies in a safe and operable manner. Participate in the development and implementation of the 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. Monitor nursing procedures to ensure that nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste. Ensure that appropriate MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the nursing service department. Care Plan and Assessment Functions Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident. Assist in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers. Participate in the development of a written care plan (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 and his/her family to participate in the development and review of the resident's plan of care. Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting. 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. Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly. Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing the resident's comprehensive care plan. Be sure that staff members are providing care that reflects the wishes of the resident. Budget and Planning Functions Participate in the preparation of and planning of the nursing service department's budget and submit to the Director for his/her review, recommendations, and/or approval. Keep abreast of economic conditions and situations, and recommend to the Director adjustments in nursing services that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care. Recommend to the Director the equipment needs of the nursing service department. Resident Rights Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written or oral report to the Director of Nursing. Follow Facility's established procedures. Maintain a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint. Report all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property. Must adhere to all HIPAA requirements. Working Conditions Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses' stations, resident rooms, etc.). Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies or personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances. Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department directors. Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary. Is subject to complete "on Call" rotation per Facility schedule/policy and to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.). Is involved in community, civic health matters, projects as appropriate. Attends and participates in continuing educational programs. Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents' needs. Education Must possess, a valid unencumbered RN state license and a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university preferred. Experience Must have, as a minimum, two (2) years of experience as a supervisor in a hospital, nursing care facility, or other related health care facility. Must have, as a minimum of six (6) months experience in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices. Specific Requirements Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state. Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served. Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action. Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to nursing care facilities. 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. Physical and Sensory Requirements (With or Without a Reasonable Accommodation) Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday. Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met. Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of the Facility, which may include a medical and physical examination. May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations. Based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Guidelines for Nursing Homes Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the American Conference Governmental Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Values for Lifting the Facility has identified that this job may require the lifting of residents, equipment, or other objects. Accordingly, this job may require a minimum of 5 pounds and a maximum of 45 pounds lifting, periodically and or as needed.