Demonstrates competency in physical, behavioral and functional capacity assessment of long-term care residents including use of the State-approved Resident Assessment Instrument.

 

Working knowledge and ability to interpret and demonstrate Facility policies, procedures to direct care staff.

 

Sufficient organizational and interpersonal skills to assign, motivate staff, elicit work output, improve quality and interact effectively with residents, families, interdisciplinary team members, administration, government officials, consultants and other in addition to staff.

 

Carries out all duties in accord with the Facility mission and philosophy.

 

Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in al interactions.  Able to act as role model for unit staff by protecting and promoting residents’ rights in all interactions with residents and families.

 

Appreciates the importance of maintaining confidentiality of resident and Facility information.

 

Demonstrates honesty and integrity at all times in the care and use of resident and Facility property.

 

Able to understand and to follow written and verbal directions.  Able to communicate effectively with staff members and residents through verbal and/or written means.

 

Able to express self adequately in oral and written communication.  Able to communicate effectively within interdisciplinary care setting and to government agencies.

 

Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of Facility.  Able to locate nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency.

 

Sufficient mobility, and strength to move freely through the building, to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of Facility out of danger in case of emergency.

 

Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with Facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code.  Able to arrive and to begin work on time.  Reports for duty as scheduled on all shifts, weekends and holidays.

 

Working knowledge and ability to comply with Facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of universal precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials.

 

Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time.

 

Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned.  Able to fulfill all essential functions of Unit Manage/Charge Nurse.

 

Able to respond to Unit needs on an on-call basis.

 

Knowledge of and ability to apply Facility personnel policies to job actions without regard to race, religion, age, sex, national origin or disability.

 

Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

 

Makes daily rounds on unit to observe, examine, interview residents, to evaluate staffing needs, to monitor regulatory compliance, to inspect care environment, and to evaluate staff interactions and clinical skills competency.

 

Audits 24-hour report as completed by Unit Nurses and reviews clinical records to identify problems, to ensure timely responses to residents’ needs, to evaluate documentation skills of unit nursing staff, and to evaluate regulatory compliance with documentation requirements.

 

Listens to verbal shift report making special note to follow up on significant changes in condition, admissions, transfers, discharges, initiation or use of physical or chemical restraints, unnecessary use of any drug, incidents, unexplained injuries, medication errors, loss of resident property or evidence of resident or family dissatisfaction.

 

Analyzes data gathered from rounds and record reviews and acts promptly to resolve problems and to continuously improve quality.  Participates in formal quality assessment and assurance activities as directed by the Quality Assurance Committee.

 

As the nurse with responsibility for the residents on the unit, conducts or coordinates with the interdisciplinary team resident assessment process including accurate completion of the state-approved Resident Assessment Instrument.

 

Participates as member of interdisciplinary team in development of plan of care for each resident that assists the resident to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psycho-social well being.  Plans of care are developed with the participation, to the extent practicable, and consent of the resident and/or resident’s interested family member, legal representative.  Plans of care include measurable objectives and timetables and accommodate resident’s needs and preferences including choices about preferred intensity of medical treatment.

 

Attends interdisciplinary conferences to plan care.  Elicits input from direct care staff on all three shifts and provides opportunities to attend and participate in interdisciplinary care conferences.

Supervises nursing staff in the implementation of plans of care to assist residents to attain or maintain highest practicable physical, ental and psycho-social well being.

 

Maintains ongoing communication with other disciplines to evaluate resident responses to interventions, to suggest alternative approaches when indicated and to revise and update plans of care to reflect progress toward goals.  Facilitates interdepartmental communication to meet residents’ needs.

 

Informs the resident in advance about care and treatment and any changes to the plan of care.

 

Immediately informs the resident, consults with the resident’s physician and notifies the designated family member and/or the resident’s legal representative when there is an accident involving an injury which has potential for requiring physician intervention; a significant change in the resident’s physical, mental or psycho-social status; a need to alter treatment significantly or a decision to transfer or discharge the resident from the Facility.  Promptly notifies the resident, designated family member and/or resident’s legal representative when there is a change in room or roommate.

 

Interacts with residents, family members, legal representatives, surrogates to answer questions, resolve concerns.  Makes prompt attempts to resolve all resident grievances, seeking consultation or assistance from other departments or administration as appropriate.

 

Educates and develops unit nursing staff members by observing practice, interpreting facility policies and procedures, identifying learning needs and taking advantage of opportunities to teach on the unit.

 

Monitors unit nursing staff for correct, consistent application of infection control procedures.  Consults with (Assistance Director of Nursing) on questions related to infection control.

 

Assists Unit Nurse with the assignment of nursing staff to ensure sufficient number of staff.  Evaluates staffing patterns based on unit census, resident acuity, other resident needs.  Adjusts staffing pattern accordingly.  Communicates difficulty meeting resident needs and maintaining regulatory compliance promptly to Director of Nursing.

 

Adjusts own work schedule to maintain direct contact with and to evaluate performance of nursing staff on all three shifts.

 

Conducts performance evaluations of unit nursing staff based on demonstrated competency to perform essential functions of the job.  Conducts skills observations of nurses aides.

 

Actively participates in long-term care survey process.  Accompanies surveyors at all times while on unit.  Provides or offers supplemental information to ensure accurate survey results.  Responds to surveyor questions.  Records actions of survey team members and reports to Director of Nursing at end of each survey day.  Consults with Director of Nursing about undertaking corrections while survey is in progress.

Completes required documentation of care and services delivered during shift including subjective findings, objective symptoms, interventions and resident responses to interventions.  Completes required documentation of special circumstances including accident/incident reports in compliance with State and Federal laws and regulations.

 

Reports relevant information to the Director of Nursing including, interdisciplinary team functioning and communication, regulatory compliance issues, resident risk factors, sudden changes in resident behavior, expressed dissatisfaction by resident or family, refusals of treatment, unexplained injuries, staff  behavior (positive and negative), staffing needs, equipment and supply needs, opportunities to revise policies and procedures and to improve quality.

 

Monitors staff for compliance with OSHA mandates on workplace safety including hazard communication and blood borne pathogens.  In cases of workplace exposure, provides immediate first-aide and refers employee to appropriate facility staff member for post-exposure follow-up.

 

Reports all injuries to self or others to supervisor immediately.

 

Takes job actions with staff members under appropriate circumstances.  Applies facility policies about progressive discipline correctly.  Removes staff member from unit if necessary to avoid endangerment to health or safety of residents or other staff members.  Reports all job actions taken to Director of Nursing promptly.

 

Attends continuing professional education programs and in-service education.  Applies information to job responsibilities.

 

Participates in fire and disaster drills.  In the event of an emergency, carries out assigned duties to assure resident safety.

 

PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS:

 

Successful performance of essential functions can best be achieved through consistent application of current knowledge, use of good judgment, common sense, ability to establish and carry out priorities, effective use of interpersonal skills and ongoing communication with residents, staff, families, interdisciplinary team members, and government officials, including State surveyors and ombudsmen.

 

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24-hour residential care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disable and cognitively impaired residents.  Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to; shift rotation, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in the nursing home, death and dying, oversight of State surveyors, ombudsmen and Federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.