RN/LPN Staff Nurse

Reports to:  Nurse Supervisor or Director of Resident Care

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

1. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  Requires the professional knowledge, skills necessary to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of the Resident Care Department in accordance with current state and local standards to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.
   
   Knowledge of the professional nursing theory and practice to give and evaluate patient care.  Knowledge of organizational policies, regulations and procedures to administer resident care.  Knowledge of medical equipment and instruments to administer resident care.  Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment.  Skill in applying and modifying the principles, methods and techniques of professional nursing to provide on-going resident care.  Skill in preparing and maintaining records, writing repots, and responding to correspondence.  Skill in preparing and maintaining department quality assurance.  Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with residents, medical staff and the public.  Ability to maintain quality control standards.  Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.  Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.  Ability to communicate clearly (both verbally and writing) in English.
2. Education:  Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
3. Experience:  Prefer prior administrative experience in the long-term care industry.
4. Certificate/Licenses:  (1) Current licensure in the state employed (2) CPR certification and (3) driver’s license preferred.

EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Copier
2. Telephone
3. Emergency oxygen equipment
4. Sphygmomanometer
5. CPR mask/ambu bag
6. Medication equipment (i.e., syringes, vials, etc.)
7. Thermometer

RESPONSIBILITIES:  The Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse is responsible for performing direct resident care and resident related activities as assigned by the Nursing Supervisor.  RN’s and LPN’s are responsible for supervising and directing the activities of the Resident Care Assistants assigned in his/her units.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:  The employee must be able to perform these essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation by the employer, without posing a direct threat to himself/herself or to others.  (This list may not include all of the duties.)

1. Delivers quality nursing care and medication management and treatment as directed by physicians.

• Interacts with all residents, families, visitors, employees and administrative team in a mature, responsible manner to ensure a positive and professional living and working environment.
• Displays ability to appropriately express one’s own opinion and ideas relating to daily resident operations and to responsibilities assigned.  Supports the final decision of the facility and supervisor.  Discusses differences with supervisor privately.
• Conducts all work activities in resident areas with respect for the rights and wishes of residents, other employees and visitors, including the maintenance of a pleasant, quiet environment.
• Consistently remains calm during stressful situations and vents emotions and frustrations appropriately.  Act as a role model to others by anticipating and diffusing negative, volatile situations.
• Maintains confidentiality of all resident, staff and business-related information as required by facility policy.  Intervenes in situations to maintain confidentiality.  Discourages gossip.
• Demonstrates the competent usage of proper body mechanics in all activities.  Consistently uses proper body mechanics and identify potentially unsafe practices and notifies supervisor.
• Completes all employee/resident incident documentation in a thorough and timely manner.  Anticipates unsafe conditions and proactively notifies supervisor to assist in avoiding employee and/or resident incidents.
• Demonstrates complete understanding of emergency procedures for department and facility and acts to insure that others follow procedures.
• Practices infection control and universal precautions as instructed and trained.  Initiates reminders to staff and discusses lapses with supervisor.  Consistently reminds staff of proper procedures and trains new staff.
• Incurs no more than three (3) episodes of unscheduled absences in a review year as noted in the attendance record. 
• Incurs no more than three (3) episodes of unscheduled tardiness (6 incidents) in a review year as noted in the attendance record.
• Requests scheduled time off and notification of unscheduled absences or tardiness are in accordance with department procedures.
• Insures resident rooms, utility rooms and storage areas are maintained in a neat, clean, orderly manner.
• Insures residents’ personal hygiene regimens are completed as indicated.  These include:  AM and PM care, showers, skin care and inspections, oral hygiene, proper dressing with clean clothing, and hair and nail care.  Inspects and talks with residents to be sure that they have been given appropriate care.
• Answers call lights and communicate needs to appropriate person when unable to independently meet the request.  Demonstrates ability to prioritize call light request and to make certain all are taken care of in a timely fashion.
• Provides assistance to meet residents’ nutritional needs.  This includes ensuring that special need diets are given the appropriate meals, monitoring intake and assisting with feeding when needed.  Recognizes and corrects deviations from resident’s normal response to nutritional plan.
• Completes daily rounds with incoming shift.  Provides a shift report to oncoming personnel, which is accurate, concise and pertinent to the resident’s care.  Coordinates the dissemination of resident information in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Reviews information on all new residents to insure that proper assistance is given.  Orients resident and family to new environment, activities and dining routines, introducing to roommates.  Does everything possible to make the transition pleasant and comfortable.
• Completes admission requirements in a timely manner (vital signs, skin survey sheets, explanation and reinforcement of call bell system, etc.).  Insures that information is accurate, complete and completed on shift of admission.
• Distributes scheduled medication to residents in a timely manner, insuring proper and correct dosage is given.  Properly records administration on MAR forms.  Rechecks dosage with physician if questioned by resident.
• Coordinates resident care performed by others such as physical, speech and occupational therapies, home care, trips to dialysis clinic, and others, insuring that residents do not miss scheduled appointments.
• Follows all guidelines of the Department of Welfare as they apply to the nursing department.  Supervises all staff to insure that they comply with standards.
• Supervises all resident care department employees.  Monitors quality and quantity of work, insures that break times and time clock procedures are followed, and nursing policies and procedures are met.  Acts as a role model for appropriate conduct.
• Assesses residents’ status on an ongoing basis and acts as a resource to others in discussing their assessments.
• Demonstrates ability to coordinate resident care by assigning responsibilities based on resident needs and available staff.  Insures that the resident care workload is evenly distributed and resident care is completed on a timely basis.
• Participates in the orientation of the resident care staff.
• Collaborates with other departments as needed.  Serves as a role model for interpersonal relationships.
• Attends 75% of unit based staff meetings and demonstrates review of minutes for others.
• Make decisions on resident status.  Talks with physicians and hospitals.  Make arrangements for transfer to hospital and insures that all documentation travels with the resident.
• Completes a monthly summary on each resident.
• Supervises and assists team members in keeping residents active and out of bed and as independent as possible within limitations of physical and/or mental disabilities.
• Assists residents in adjusting to their daily life.
• Handle and lift residents.
• Stand and walk around facility for extensive length of time.
• Lift and carry supplies.

2. Supervises the resident care staff as assigned to his/her unit in order to provide quality services by a satisfied staff in a cost-effective manner.

• Displays ability to appropriately express one’s own opinion and ideas relating to daily resident operations and to responsibilities assigned.  Supports senior management’s decisions.
• Supervises all nursing department employees and effectively communicates both individual and departmental expectations.  Monitors quality and quantity of work, insures that break times and time clock procedures are followed, and nursing standards, policies and procedures are met.  Independently resolves problems with established P & P’s and break times as need arises on his/her shift.
• Insures that adequate staffing is present to provide quality care and services to resident.  Replaces employees who call-off, as needed, giving consideration to resident census.
• Appropriately grants employees time off and to leave early or arrive late.
• Completes  in detail and with accurate judgment employees he/she supervises, evaluation forms and recommends to continue or not to continue employment.
• Discipline employees by completing appropriate disciplinary forms and submitting to Department Head for review prior to filling in employee’s personnel file.
• Appropriately suspends, relieves from work or sends home without pay any employee for serious misconduct such as intoxication, patient abuse or failure to carry out work assignment.
• Consistently and appropriately interprets, interprets, enforces and follows personnel policies and the facility’s administrative policies to insure fair and equal interpretation and consistent enforcement.  Documents violations of policies in a timely, consistent manner and initiates disciplinary action when appropriate.
• Adjusts employee’s hours of work and/or assignment as necessary.