Director of Nursing

Job Description

Director of Nursing (DON)

1. Leadership & Management: Plan, organize, implement, and coordinate all nursing services within the Nursing Department to ensure high-quality care and maintain regulatory compliance.

2. Policy Development: Oversee the development and implementation of nursing policies and procedures, setting goals and objectives, and ensuring resident care standards are consistently met.

3. Communication with Administration: Keep administration informed of the nursing department's needs, unusual occurrences, challenges, and achievements, ensuring effective communication and continuity of quality care.

4. Quality Assurance Oversight: Lead the Quality Assurance and Assessment (QAA) Committee, working closely with the QAA Coordinator and Administration. Responsible for timely auditing and reporting of required QAA data, and actively participating in committee meetings and tasks as directed by Administration.

5. Staffing & Performance Management: Maintain optimal staffing levels by overseeing the recruitment, hiring, orientation, ongoing evaluations, scheduling, counseling, promotions, and disciplinary actions within the nursing department. Ensure all staffing aligns with resident needs and quality care standards.

6. Personnel Management: Ensure the nursing department is up-to-date on employee matters, including timecards, payroll changes, and performance evaluations, fostering effective communication within the team.

7. Employee Health & Benefits Coordination: Work with Personnel to ensure timely completion of employee evaluations, TB skin tests (or chest X-rays), probationary periods, and benefit assignments for nursing staff.

8. Resource & Equipment Oversight: Oversee the proper utilization of nursing equipment and supplies, ensuring accurate tracking of Resident charges. Communicate additional Resident charges to the Business Office in a timely manner each month.

9. Collaboration with Other Departments: Coordinate nursing functions with other departments, as well as visitors and volunteers, to ensure a seamless operation.

10. Professional Development: Review job roles and descriptions annually. Take responsibility for ongoing personal and professional development, improving nursing and management skills, and using those skills in staff, resident, family, and public interactions.

11. Quality Care Maintenance: Maintain and review care planning meetings and policies annually to ensure compliance with quality care standards.

12. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the nursing department is in full compliance with state and federal regulations, and coordinate survey and inspection processes with relevant agencies.

13. Medical Record Compliance: Oversee the proper maintenance of all active and non-active medical records in compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.

14. Resident Coordination: Coordinate nursing functions related to resident admissions, discharges, room changes, and assignments, ensuring effective communication of resident needs with other departments.

15. Flexibility in Staffing: Be prepared to step into the roles of Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), Nursing Supervisor, or RN Staff Nurse in emergency situations or as needed, as directed by Administration.

    Job Qualifications:

    1. Educational Requirements: Graduate of an accredited nursing program with an RN degree and current registration with the Virginia State Board of Nursing.

    2. Experience: Minimum of two years' experience in a supervisory role within a hospital or extended care facility, and at least two years of experience in geriatric nursing.

    3. Personal Qualities: Strong mental and physical health, sound judgment, high ethical standards, and a genuine desire to work with the elderly and individuals with limited self-care abilities.

    4. Leadership & Coordination Skills: Ability to effectively plan, organize, coordinate, and manage a nursing department and services.

    5. Adaptability: Capacity to understand and apply new theories and principles in nursing practice.

    6. Decision-Making & Collaboration: Ability to make independent decisions while collaborating effectively with other departments to ensure seamless nursing services.

    7. Communication Skills: Strong verbal communication skills to understand and relay medical records, policies, and regulatory guidelines. Must be able to communicate clearly with administration, department heads, nursing staff, residents, families, and regulatory agencies.

    8. Manual Dexterity & Computer Skills: Ability to perform nursing duties requiring fine motor skills. Basic knowledge of clerical tasks and familiarity with computer systems is beneficial.

    9. Professional Development: Ongoing attendance at workshops and continuing education in nursing is encouraged.