Assistant Director of Nursing

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICES

Long Term 190 Bed Unit

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning organizing, developing, and directing the day-to-day functions 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 / Assistant Administrator, the Medical Director, and / or the Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Delegation of Authority

As the Assistant Director of Nursing Services, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. In the absence of the Director of Nursing Services, you are charged with carrying out the resident care policies established by Lord Chamberlain.

Job Functions

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 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 long-term care 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, Federal and State Regulations, etc.) maintained at the nurses' stations is current. Recommend to the Director written material that will assist the nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of residents.

Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current at all times and reflects the day-to-day nursing care procedures used by this facility.

Assist in developing and implementing a nursing service organization structure.

Make written and oral reports / recommendations to the Director as necessary / required, concerning the operation of the nursing service department.

Periodically review the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc.

Make recommendations for revisions of policies, procedures, etc., to the Director of Nursing Services.

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 developing, maintaining, and periodically updating the written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, OSHA, and other pertinent laws and regulations.

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 director of nursing services.

Assist the resident and Social Service Department 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.

Administrative Functions (continued)

Responsible for compliance with all JCAHO standards, policies & procedures.

Monitors that performance evaluations are completed for all nursing department employees in a timely manner.

Committee Functions

In the absence of the Director, serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assurance & Assessment, etc.).

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).

Participate in the development, maintenance, implementation, and updating of the written policies and procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.

Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to nursing services.

Personnel Functions

Assist the Director in determining the staffing needs of the nursing service department.

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.

Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and / or assist nursing supervisory staff in completing and performing such tasks.

Delegate to the Charge Nurses, Head Nurses and Nurse Supervisors the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.

Assist the Director in preparing performance evaluations as directed.

Participate in the development and implementation of performance evaluations for the nursing service department.

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.

Review & investigate 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.

Interpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as necessary.

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.

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. in conjunction with social service department.

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.

Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a certified nursing assistant, and / or a nurse aide trainee 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.

Nursing Care Functions (continued)

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.

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.

Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.

Performs random supervisory rounds to observe patient care being given by staff.

Supervises staff to ensure that staff are interacting with patients in compliance with residents rights.

Staff Development

Provide leadership training that includes the administrative and supervisory principles essential for Nurse Supervisors / Charge Nurses.

Encourage Nurse Supervisors / Charge Nurses to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate.

Assist the Director in planning and conducting universal precautions in-service training.

Assist the In-service Director / Educator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.

Assist the In-service Director / Educator in developing advance directive in-service 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 the In-service Director / Educator in the development of in-service training programs for the nursing staff. Ensure that these programs meet the continuing education requirements which allow licensed personnel (e.g., RNs, LPNs, CNAs, 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 the Safety Officer 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 is potential exposure to blood / body fluids are properly identified and recorded.

Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood / 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 (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when moving or lifting a resident.

Report missing / illegible labels and MSDS's 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.

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 the Resident Assessment / Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers.

Assists in the Electronic Transmission of the MDS to the State of Connecticut in compliance with HCFA & State Regulations.

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.

Performs daily rounds to verify that nursing staff are aware of the individual resident

RHMLC