Job Description

Purpose of Your Job Position 

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide direct nursing care to the residents, and to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants if a RN is Not available. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services or Nurse Supervisor to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is always maintained.

Major Duties and Responsibilities 

Administrative Functions 

• Direct the day-to-day functions of the nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.

• Ensure that nursing assistances and medication aids assigned to you comply with the written policies and procedures established by this facility.
• Meet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts’ services, programs, and activities.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow their respective job descriptions.
• Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as may be requested.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports, as necessary.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

Charting and Documentation 

• Transcribe physician’s orders to resident charts, Kardex, medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required.

• Chart nurses’ notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the resident, as well as the resident’s response to the care.
• Fill out and complete accident/incident reports. Submit to Director as required.
• Perform routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures.

Drug Administration Functions 

• Ensure that adequate supplies and equipment are on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents. Report needs to the Director of Nursing.
• Ensure that narcotic records are accurate for your shift.

Personnel Functions 

• Develop work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments.
• Provide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift.
• Make daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Receive/give the nursing report upon reporting in and ending shift duty hours.

Nursing Care Functions 

• Make rounds with physicians, as necessary.
• Notify the resident’s attending physician when the resident is involved in an accident or incident.
• Notify the resident’s attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident’s condition.
• Inspect the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.
• Administer professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, taking blood, giving massages and range of motion exercises, care for the dead/dying, etc., as required.
• Obtain sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.
• Monitor seriously ill residents, as necessary.
• Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
• Admit, transfer and discharge residents, as necessary.
• Inform family members of the death of the resident.
• Call funeral homes when requested by the family. Ensure that established post-mortem procedures are followed.

Safety and Sanitation 

• Monitor your assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that established departmental policies and procedures, including dress codes, are followed by your assigned nursing personnel.
• Ensure that your assigned work areas (i.e., nurses’ stations, medicine preparation rooms, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions 

• Review care plans daily to ensure that appropriate care is being rendered.
• Ensure that your nurses’ notes reflect that the care plan is being followed when administering nursing care or treatment.
• Ensure that your assigned certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are aware of the resident care plans.
• Ensure that the CNAs refer to the resident’s care plan prior to administering daily care to the resident.

Resident Rights 

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents’ responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.

Working Conditions 

• Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B Viruses.

Education  

Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/LVN program.

Specific Requirements 

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN/LVN in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements 

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices) 

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• Must be able to lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of 50 pounds.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.