Per diem LPN /RN Charge Nurse, Long term care/rehab

Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to be responsible for the total care of the residents on your unit during your tour of duty. You must be in compliance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, regulations, and policies that govern our facility, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Delegation of Authority

As Charge Nurse you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties. The Charge Nurse works under the direction of the Nursing Supervisor.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. 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 a logical assignment to the position.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

Direct the day-to-day functions of the nursing activities in accordance with current policies, rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.

Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the residents' total regimen of care.

Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

Recommend written material that will assist the Nursing Services Department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the resident.

Assist in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan as necessary.

Participate in surveys (inspections) made by authorized agencies.

Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director as necessary/required, concerning the operation of the Nursing Services Department.

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

Admit, transfer and discharge residents as required.

Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.

Maintain assigned area to meet all safety standards.

Committee Functions

Attend various committee meetings of the facility as required.

Assist in preparing written and/or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities to submit to such committee(s) as directed.

Personnel Functions

Assist in the orientation of newly assigned personnel as directed.

Develop work assignments and/or assist CNA's in completing and performing such tasks.

Delegate to each CNA the administrative authority, responsibility and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.

Make daily rounds of the nursing unit to ensure that all CNA's are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.

Ensure that disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap or martial status.

Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-department personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to assure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.

Assure that department personnel, residents and visitors follow the departments established policies and procedures at all times, including dress codes.

Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

Meet with your shift on a regularly scheduled basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and/or the improvement of services.

Participate in determining your shifts staffing requirements, employee performance evaluations and making recommendations to the Supervisor.

Nursing Care Functions

Inform CNA's of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.

Greet newly admitted residents upon admission. Escort to room as necessary.

Review nurses' notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive reflecting any areas in resident change in status.

Make rounds with physicians as necessary.

Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physician's orders, etc., on a timely basis and in accordance with current regulations.

Make daily resident visits to observe and evaluate the residents physical and emotional status.

Assure that medications are administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.

Review medications and treatment kardexes for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of physician orders, and adherence to stop order policies.

Provide direct nursing care as necessary.

Report problem areas to the Supervisor. Assist in developing and implementing corrective action.

Keep the Supervisor informed of the status of residents and other related matters through written/oral reports.

Meet with residents and/or family members, as necessary. Report problem areas to the Supervisor.

Participate in Resident Care Conference and implement recommendations.

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

Notify the resident's attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident's condition.

Assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

Receive and give report to other nurses and CNA's at change of shift.

Work with the facility's consultants and implement those changes with the assist of the Supervisor.

Assure that a stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises at all times to adequately meet the needs of the resident.

Make independent decisions concerning nursing care. Consult Supervisor prn.

Schedule lab tests as ordered.

Inform family members of the death of resident as necessary.

Call funeral homes as necessary.

Perform CPR and emergency medical treatment.

Staff Development

Participate in in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job", and ensures a well-educated nursing services department.

Monitor the performance of CNA's during their orientation. Inform Supervisor and Staff Development Director of need for additional training as necessary.

Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession.

Completes mandatory education as assigned RQI completion for CPR.

Safety and Sanitation

Assist in developing and ensuring compliance with the safety standards for the Nursing Department.

Monitor your shift's personnel to assure 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, utility rooms, etc.,) and resident rooms are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

Ensure that nursing personnel follow established hand washing techniques in the administering of nursing care procedures.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

Participate in the development of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problem/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 to participate in the development and review of his/her plan of care.

Review resident care plans for appropriate resident goals, problem, approaches and revisions based on nursing needs.

Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident is aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in administering daily care to the resident.

Review nurses' notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.

Resident Rights

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

Monitor nursing care to assure that all residents are treated fairly and with kindness, dignity and respect.

Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the residents' rooms.

Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' rights and responsibilities including the right to refuse treatment.

Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Supervisor indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.

Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident's refusal of treatment requests.

Equipment and Supply Functions

Correctly use all necessary equipment for your position (ie, thermoscan, felac, BP