Director of Nursing Services

Job Description

Job Description

Department:   Nursing Services

Cherry Brook Health Care Center, a division of New Horizons, Inc., offers short-term rehabilitation, long –term respite, hospice and dementia care.  Our dedicated staff provides individualized care with compassion, dignity and respect.  Located in Avon, our facility has spacious private and semiprivate rooms, a well-appointed dining area, comfortable lounges and a beautiful landscaped outdoor terrace.

Cherry Brook’s mission is to provide the highest quality of care and customer service to our residents and their families by using best practices, highly trained staff and innovative programs and services designed to meet their needs.

PURPOSE OF YOUR POSITION:

The primary purpose of your position is to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall operation of our Nursing Services Department in accordance with federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator and the Medical Director, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times. 

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Plans, develops, organizes, implements, evaluates and directs the nursing service department, according to state and federal guidelines and scope of patience. 
• Maintains, reviews and has input to development of all clinical policies and procedures. 
• Oversee the Nursing QI program and conducts regular audits pursuant to the program.  Is a member of the facility QI Committee and participates in facility QI programs. 
• Determines the staffing needs of the nursing service department, making recommendations to the Administrator, necessary to meet the needs of the residents.    
• Oversee that all nursing assistants are certified and that there is a system to maintain currency and to track required in-service hours yearly to maintain certification. 
• Oversees that all nurses are licensed and that there is a tacking mechanism to maintain currency.  
• Ensures that all GPN & GRN are under the direct supervision of an RN. 
• Develops work assignments and schedules duty hours, and/or assists nursing supervisor staff in completing and performing tasks necessary to insure quality of care. 
• Reviews performance evaluations on staff according to company policy and procedure.  
• Establishes and maintains a Master Staffing Schedule for the nursing department. 
• Develops and maintains an on-call program for the nursing department. 
• Makes daily rounds of each nursing unit, does a visual inspection on each unit and ensures that all nursing personnel are performing their assignments in accordance with policies and procedures and standards of practice. 
• Monitor absenteeism and provides discipline according to policy and procedure. 
• Reviews satisfaction of care and services with interviews with families and residents.  Reviews complaints and grievances by resident families and employees in a timely and responsive matter and in accordance with policy.  
• Assists the Infection Preventionist in establishing and maintaining the Infection Control Program. 
• Assists the Director of Staff Development in ensuring mandatory in-service education sessions, which are required by state and federal law, are performed per schedule; documented and such documentation is retained. 
• Assists the Administrator in developing safety standards for the nursing department, monitors these through employee incidents, and develops a plan of correction and audit tool for prevention.  
• Ensures that nursing service personnel follow established Infection Control Procedures to prevent spreading infection.  Nosocomial tracking will be monitored through the infection control program. 
• Director of Nurses/designee will be a member and chairperson of each Quality Assurance Subcommittee and will attend each meeting.  
• Audits newly admitted/readmitted residents by bringing the medical record to the next morning report.  The record will be reviewed and audited through the assessments, care plan and admission nurses notes. 
• Completes Monthly Clinical Services Report and forwards to the Director of Clinical Services.   Develops a plan of correction for all identified areas that fall below standards. 
• Develops, along with the Administrator, processes to determine if an incident is an isolated event or a trend in the facility. 
• Assumes the role of “Acting Administrator” when the Administrator is out of the facility.
• Is knowledgeable about laws and regulations relating to job responsibilities, e.g., EEO, OSHA, patient rights, fraud/abuse laws. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., medication rooms, nurses’ stations, resident rooms, etc.). 
• Sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours. 
• Is subject to frequent interruptions. 
• Is involved with patients, personnel, visitors, government agencies, etc., under all conditions and circumstances. 
• May be subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, personnel and visitors.  
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing services, and other department supervisors. 
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and holidays, and in other positions temporarily when necessary.  Scheduled hours may change to meet facility needs.  May need to perform duties of other positions when necessary. 
• Is involved in community/civic health matters/projects as appropriate. 
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses. 
• Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents’ needs. 

EDUCATION:

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing, college or university.  B.S.N. preferred.  CPR certified.  Certification in Gerontology preferred. 

EXPERIENCE:

Must have at least one (1) year of additional education or experience in rehabilitative or geriatric nursing and one (1) year of nursing administration

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language. 
• Must possess a current, unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state. 
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such actions. 
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public. 
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care. 
• Must be knowledgeable in the privacy rule and ensure all staff comply with facility privacy practices policies and procedures. 
• Must possess leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with professional and nonprofessional personnel. 
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care. 
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents. 
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices. 
• Must be able to communicate effectively to appropriate personnel regarding emergencies. 
• Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of nursing theory and practice. 
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. 
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the patients, personnel and support agencies. 
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times, hostile people within the facility. 

EEO STATEMENT:

New Horizons, Inc. is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce.  New Horizons, Inc. considers applicants for employment without regard to and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does New Horizons, Inc. discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.