LPN/RN Charge Nurse

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nPurpose of Your Job Position:\n\nThe primary purpose of your job position is to provide direct nursing care to the residents, and to supervise the day-to-day activities performed by nursing assistants. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local state guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services or Nurse Supervisor. E nsure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.\nDelegation of Authority:\nAs Charge Nurse you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying assigned duties.\nJob Functions:\n\nEvery effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that the only duties you will be required to perform.\nThe omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.\n\nAdministrative Functions:\n\nDirect the day-to-day functions of the nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.\nEnsure that all nursing personnel assigned to you comply with the written policies and procedures established by this facility.\nPeriodically review the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc.\nMake recommendations for revisions.\nMeet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts' services, programs, and activities.\nEnsure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day-to-day nursing procedures performed in this facility.\nEnsure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.\nMake written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your shift as required.\nCooperate with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the resident's total regimen of care is maintained.\nEnsure that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions.\nParticipate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's quality assurance program for the nursing service department.\nParticipate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as may be requested.\nPeriodically review the resident's written discharge plan.\nParticipate in the updating of the resident's written discharge plan as required.\nAssist in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan as necessary.\nInterpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as required Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.\nComplete accident/incident reports as necessary.\nWrite resident charge slips and forward to the Business Office.\nMaintain the Daily Census Report and submit to the Business Office as required.\nPerform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.\nAgree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.\nAgree not to disclose resident's protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.\nReport any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility's information system.\n\nCharting and Documentation:\n\nComplete and file required reordkeeping forms/charts upon the resident's admission, transfer, and/or discharge.\nEncourage attending physicians to review treatment plans, record and sign their orders, progress notes, etc., in accordance with established policies.\nReceive telephone orders from physicians and record on the Physicians' Order Form.\nTranscribe physician's orders to resident charts, cardex, medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required.\nCharge 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.\nFill out and complete accident/incident reports. Submit to Director as required.\nChart all reports of accidents/incidents involving residents.\nFollow established procedures.\nRecord new/changed diet orders.\nForward information to the Food Services Department.\nReport all discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet change,charting error, etc., to the Nurse Supervisor.\nFill out and complete transfer forms in accordance with established procedures.\nEnsure that appropriate documentation concerning unauthorized discharges is entered in the resident's medical record in accordance with established procedures.\nPerform routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures.\nSign and date all entries made in the resident's medical record.\n\nDrug Administration Functions:\n\nPrepare and administer medications as ordered by the physician.\nVerify the identity of the resident before administering the medication/treatment.\nEnsure that prescribed medication for one resident is not administered to another.\nEnsure that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents. Report needs to the Nurse Supervisor.\nOrder prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary, and in accordance with established policies.\nEnsure that narcotic records are accurate for your shift.\nNotify the Nurse Supervisor of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift.\nReview medication cards for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of the physician's order, and adherence to stop order policies.\nNotify the attending physician of automatic stop orders prior to the last dosage being administered.\nDispose of drugs and narcotics as required, and in accordance with established procedures\n\nPersonnel Functions:\n\nParticipate in employee performance evaluations, determining your shift's staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor\nconcerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.\nInform the Nurse Supervisor of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work.\nReport absentee call-ins to the Nurse Supervisor.\nReview and evaluate your department's work force and make recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor.\nDevelop work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments.\nProvide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift.\nMake daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.\nReport problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.\nEnsure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved nursing assistant training program.\nEnsure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.\nMeet with your shift's nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or to improve services.\nEnsure that department personnel, residents, and visitors follow the department's established policies and procedures at all times.\nDevelop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.\nCreate and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.\nReview complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel.\nMake appropriate reports to the Nurse Supervisor as required or as may be necessary.\nFollow facility's established procedures.\nEnsure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.\nReceive/give the nursing report upon reporting in and ending shift duty hours.\nReport occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.\nReport known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.\nEnsure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates within established facility policy guidelines.\n\n \nNursing Care Functions:\n\nInform nursing personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.\nEnsure that rooms are ready for new admissions.\nGreet newly admitted residents upon admission. Escort them to their rooms as necessary.\nParticipate in the orientation of new residents/family members to the facility.\nMake rounds with physicians as necessary.\nRequisition and arrange for diagnostic and therapeutic services, as ordered by the physician, and in accordance with our established procedures.\nConsult with the resident's physician in providing the resident's care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary.\nReview the resident's chart for specific treatments, medication orders, diets, etc., as necessary.\nImplement and maintain established nursing objectives and standards.\nMake periodic checks to ensure that prescribed treatments are being properly administered by certified nursing assistants and to evaluate the resident's physical and emotional status.\nEnsure 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.\nCooperate with and coordinate social and activity programs with nursing service schedules.\nNotify the resident's attending physician when the resident is involved in an accident or incident.\nNotify the resident's attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident's condition.\nCarry out restorative and rehabilitative programs, to include self-help and care.\nInspect the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.\nAdminister 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.\nUse restraints when necessary and in accordance with established policies and procedures.\nObtain sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.\nTake and record TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.\nMonitor seriously ill residents as necessary.\nCheck foods brought into the facility by the resident's family/visitors to ensure that it is within the resident's dietary allowances.\nReport problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor and Dietary Supervisor.\nEnsure that personnel providing direct care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident's care plan and wishes.\nEnsure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.\nMeet with residents, and/or family members, as necessary.\nReport problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor\nAdmit, transfer and discharge residents as necessary.\nAssist in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary.\nEnsure that discharged residents are escorted to the pick-up area.\nInform family members of the death of the resident.\nCall funeral homes when requested by the family. Ensure that established post- mortem procedures are followed.\n\nStaff Development:\n\nParticipate in developing, planning, conducting, and scheduling in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job," and ensure awell-educated nursing service department.\nImplement and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to your shift, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.\nAssist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.\nAssist in training department personnel in identifying tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.\nAssist the Director in planning clinical supervision for nurse aide trainees.\nAttend and participate in outside training programs.\nAttend and participate in annual facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).\nAttend and participate in advance directive in-service training programs for the staff and community.\nAttend 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.\n\nWorking Conditions:\n\nWorks in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses' stations, resident rooms, etc.).\nMoves intermittently during working hours.\nIs subject to frequent interruptions.\nIs involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.\nIs subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.\nCommunicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department directors.\nWorks beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.\nIs subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).\nAttends and participates in continuing educational programs.\nIs subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.\nIs subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.\nMay be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.\nMaintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents' needs.\n\nEducation:\n\nMust possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/L.VN program.\n\nSpecific Requirements:\n\nMust possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN/LVN in this state.\nMust be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.\nMust demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.\nMust be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of team work and team concept.\nMust possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.\nMust possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members,