Director of Nursing (DON)

DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICES

Job Description:


The Director of Nursing Services (DON) is a registered nurse who works full time and has the authority and responsibility for taking all reasonable steps to ensure quality of care is delivered to the residents. Additionally, the DON shares a large responsibility toward creating and sustaining an environment that humanizes and individualizes each resident. In collaboration with the Administrator, the DON has administrative authority oversight, responsibility and accountability for functions and activities of the nursing staff while appropriately integrating these activities with all other departments in the facility that contribute to resident care. In conjunction with the Medical Director, the DON ensures that resident care objectives are established and met and the standards, policies, and procedures are consistent with the standards, policies and procedures of the facility, and current standards of care and practice. The DON's job is multifaceted to promote and include a focus on resident's quality of life issues while ensuring quality of care is delivered to each resident. The DON reports directly to the Administrator.

Essential Job Duties:
• In conjunction with the Medical Director, ensures that resident care objectives are established and met.
• Promotes constructive and open communication to allow the resident and/or family to express opinions regarding continual improvement of customer satisfaction.
• Our facilities' philosophy to render care in a manner and in an environment that promotes maintenance or enhancement of each resident's clinical status and quality of life.
• Plans and organizes systems of care, objectives, policies, procedures, staffing patterns and staff development based on the needs of the residents within the framework of the established budget.
• Interprets and maintains standards of nursing care and nursing practice.
• Encourages, teaches and motivates staff to perform resident care functions in ways designed to promote and increase the resident's overall quality of life.
• Meets regularly with the Medical Director and Administrator to address quality of care or quality of life issues for residents.
• Conducts daily rounds to evaluate care and offers suggestions or direction to nursing staff that are intended to assist residents to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being possible for them.
• Appropriately utilizes supplies and equipment and monitors nursing staff for safe and effective use.
• Hires, disciplines, transfers and terminates nursing personnel as appropriate in accordance with established policies and procedures of the facility.
• Provides direction to nursing staff through written standards, policies and procedures, meetings and memos.
• Ensures appropriate in-service education programs are conducted for nursing personnel as determined by resident needs and as required by state/federal regulations.
• Performs annual written job performance evaluations on all nursing staff members.
• Ensures that personnel are assigned responsibilities consistent with their education, experience and ability.
• Reviews medical records for compliance with regulations, standards of practice and care and appropriateness of information.
• Supports, assists and evaluates staff nurses in the management of their units.
• Assesses new and acutely ill residents and determines the need for medical care, hospitalization or specialty nursing care interventions.
• Establishes systems by which procedures are carried out and evaluates the effectiveness of the system and/or the need to revise the system to promote a higher quality of care/quality of life for residents. Documents in the Quality Assurance Program of the facility according to policies and procedures of Grace Living Centers.
• Establishes and alters staffing patterns within the framework of the established budget based on the needs of residents.
• Evaluates policies, procedures, objectives, staffing patterns, personnel, budgetary concerns, committee work, and training programs/resources for the nursing department.
• Plans, enforces and prepares nursing department for state/federal survey process. Maintains systems, policies and procedures of nursing department for compliance with state/federal regulations.
• Reviews and considers recommendations from professionals including but not limited to, Registered Dietician, Registered Pharmacist, Corporate Consultants, etc. and implements corrective actions as indicated.
• Monitors and enforces systems/procedures designed to provide security and safety for residents and staff.
• Ensures that adequate procedures and supplies are available in case of emergency. Monitors staff response to emergencies and provides instruction or direction to ensure the actions of staff during emergencies meet current standards of practice and care.

• Acknowledges and praises the efforts of others in the performance of their duties.
• Performs other duties as reasonably assigned by the Administrator.

Job Knowledge & Skills:
• Must possess comprehensive knowledge of good nursing practice and its application to the aged, chronically ill and convalescent resident.
• Must have a general knowledge of the Medicare/Medicaid program and have knowledge of current federal and state rules and regulations for skilled (SNF) and nursing (NF) facilities, including OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standards and the facility's Exposure Control Plan.
• The DON must work to familiarize him/herself with policies and procedures and ensure that these policies and procedures are carried out in all aspects of their responsibilities.
• The DON must understand and value quality of life issues for residents and promote alternatives to residents' care that are designed to increase or maintain the residents' quality of life.
• Must possess leadership skills.


Qualifications & Education:
• Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Oklahoma and must remain in good standing with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.
• Must maintain his/her nursing license in current status and provide evidence of renewal as required by the facility's policies and procedures.
• Two years' prior experience in direct resident care is preferred.
• Must demonstrate a moderate level of computer literacy in order to use and access our systems and tools within our facilities to complete online tasks and documentation.
• Must be able to effectively communicate and interact professionally with staff and residents.

Physical Requirements:
• May be required to lift, carry, turn or assist high-risk residents and be willing and able to work a flexible work schedule.
• Must be able to sit, stand, bend and move intermittently during work hours.
• Must be able to lift, push and carry 40 pounds with 2 hands. Must be able to lift, push and carry 20 pounds with 1 hand.

Please note that all candidates must be able to perform the full range of job functions as outlined in this description to be considered for this position. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the position, please contact Human Resources.