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Foundation Health Services Group

Director of Nursing

Foundation Health Services Group, Greenville, Mississippi, United States, 38755


Position Summary

The Director of Nursing (DON) provides care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent or disabled. The patient/resident population is frail, complex in nature and experiences many illnesses and dysfunctions. The DON identifies and provides the essential mix of nursing clinical skills; management and leadership skills; knowledge of fiscal management, ethical principles, state and federal requirements and standards of professional nursing practice that the DON must possess in order to develop and implement a system of nursing care that meets the needs of the facility's patient/resident population.

Position Responsibilities

The DON oversees direct and individualized nursing care to older patients based on the application of scientific nursing principles. Responsibilities of the DON include (but are not limited to):

Promotes and maintains a focus of patient-centered care

Adheres to laws, rules & regulations and practices ethical integrity and interpersonal skills

Maintains compliance with long-term care regulations including federal, state and health regulations

Responsible to the Administrator for the overall coordination and execution of nursing services and monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of nursing care

Has strong leadership abilities in change leadership, enforcing laws, rules & regulations, ethical integrity and interpersonal skills

Knowledge of state and federal regulations and ability to implement and maintain compliance with these regulations governing the facility, resident care, and reimbursement

Maintains expansion of knowledge base and improvement of nursing skills by continued professional development, including attendance at educational programs, etc.

Development of professional relationships and representation of the facility and nursing service in professional and community activities

Oversee all staff who provide nursing care to the facility's residents/patients

Ensure there is a successful procedure to collect and review nursing staff's licensure/certification/credentials

Ensure all nursing staff are held accountable for the care they deliver to residents/patients in the facility

Enforce policies and procedures for the care of residents/patients; resident/patient discharges and transfers; provide adequate ongoing nursing coverage; provide appropriate, timely and pertinent documentation

Routine participation in ongoing facility efforts to improve the overall quality of the nursing care, including facility efforts to evaluate and address the causes of various care related problems and deficiencies

Knowledge and skill in resident assessment, critical thinking, and nursing intervention

Oversight of the interdisciplinary care planning process

Ability to evaluate whether the nursing care facility can meet each resident/patient needs

Utilize the expertise of other departments and services to address nursing issues in facilitating delivery of care and services

Conduct clinical rounds on all nursing units

Promote, establish, and maintain positive relationships with residents, families, staff, community and other professionals

Promote and set the example for resident rights and the nursing role in helping protect and enhance those rights

Strategies to improve the processes and outcomes of managing various levels of illnesses in the nursing facility population, including chronic conditions, emergencies, condition changes and terminal events

Promotes principles and processes related to institutional life and family involvement in long-term care, and nursing responsibilities in helping optimize that participation

Leads by example by providing professional support for staff and by assisting staff with direct and indirect patient/resident care through prioritizing patient/resident needs and nursing administration goals

Consults and coordinates with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans

Records all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, appropriate format, entering into the applicable computer system(s), and on the appropriate forms. Ensure appropriate reports are complete and submitted accurately and timely.

Completes required orientation, mentoring and staff training as directed by facility

Perform position duties in a manner as to assure resident safety and rights are priority

Float among various clinical services, where qualified and competent

Adheres to the facility corporate compliance program and promotes the program in a positive and effective manner

Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment/shift setting

Other Responsibilities

Follows facility OSHA safety rules and procedures

Follows facility policies and procedures and adheres to federal and state regulations for long-term care

Respects cultural and religious practices of patients

Upholds HIPAA regulations

Maintains a punctual and dependable attendance record

Position Requirements

Graduate of an accredited RN program

Current RN license, in good standing with the State licensing board

Minimum of (2) years LTC experience, preferred

Prior nursing supervisory experience preferable in Long Term Care preferred

Federal, State, and MHI required credentials current and on file

Cognitive skills as related to the position

Working Conditions

Because the patients need round-the-clock care, working hours include days, nights, weekends and holidays. The number of patients assigned per shift will vary with facility and specialty, if applicable. DONs may spend considerable time walking, bending, stretching and standing; they assist in patient transfers. DONs must guard against back injury because they may have to assist CNA's with patient repositioning and transfers; they must follow proper company procedures as it relates to the use of mechanical patient lift devices. DONs may face hazards from exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases. In addition, the population cared for will contain patients that are confused, irrational, agitated, or uncooperative, from diagnosis, such as Alzheimer's.

Physical Demands

Long periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Prolonged periods of standing, bending, and reaching

Ability to lift twenty (20) pounds. Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to fifty (50) pounds, as well as assist with weights of more than one-hundred (100) pounds

Fine motor skills

Visual acuity

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach forward with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift or move 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Physical Demand Ratings are an estimate of the overall strength requirements that are considered to be important for an average, successful work performance of a specific job. The overall physical demand rating for a DON falls within the Medium classification (exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

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