Purpose of Your Job Position
The primary purpose of your position is to assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning organizing, developing, and directing the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Service Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the Facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, the Medical Director, and/or Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.
Delegation of Authority
As Unit Manager you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.
Job Function
Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. 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 an essential function of the position.
Duties and Responsibilities
Administrative Functions
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services and Assistant Director of Nursing Services in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Services Department, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the Facility.
- Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating our written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Services Department.
- Ensure that reference material (i.e., PDR’S, regulations, professional standards of practice, etc.) maintained at the nurses’ stations is current. Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services written material that will assist the Nursing Services Department in meeting the day-to-day needs of residents.
- Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual reflects the day-to-day nursing care procedures used by the Facility.
- Make written and oral reports or recommendations to the Director of Nursing Services, as necessary or required, concerning the operation of the Nursing Services Department.
- Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the residents’ total regimen of care.
- Ensure that all nursing services personnel are following their respective job descriptions.
- Participate in the maintenance and implementation of the Facility’s quality assurance program for the Nursing Services Department.
- Participate in Facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing Services.
- Participate in developing, implementing, and periodically updating the resident’s written discharge plan.
- Assist the resident and Discharge Planning Coordinator in planning the nursing services portion of the resident’s discharge plan.
- Monitor the Facility’s QI, QM, and survey reports and provide the Director of Nursing Services with recommendations that will be helpful in eliminating problem areas.
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services in obtaining staffing information that must be posted on a daily basis.
- Participate in the development, maintenance, implementation, and updating of the written policies and procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate protocols and standards of assigned unit(s) while following the proper chain of command (approval channels).
- Supervise and evaluate unit secretary assigned to unit(s).
Committee Functions
- In the absence of the Director of Nursing Services and Assistant Director of Nursing Services, serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the Facility.
- Serve on the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee, as directed.
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services in preparing written and/or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities to submit to such committee(s).
- Attend, and participate in developing the agenda for the Care Plan Committee meetings, as necessary.
- Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the discharge plans and make such plans available to the Care Plan Committee, as required or as may be necessary.
Personnel Functions
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services in determining the staffing needs of the Nursing Services Department.
- Assist in the scheduling of nursing staff in compliance with state guidelines.
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services in the selection of nursing service personnel.
- Ensure that a sufficient number of LPNs and/or RNs are available for each tour of duty to ensure that quality care is maintained.
- Ensure that a sufficient number of CNAs/GNAs are available for each tour of duty to ensure that routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident.
- Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and/or assist nursing supervisory staff in completing and performing such tasks.
- Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a LPN.
- Schedule work assignments.
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services and Assistant Director of Nursing Services in preparing and conducting performance evaluations, as directed.
- Make daily rounds of the Nursing Services Department to ensure that all nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report findings to the Director of Nursing Services.
- Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care personnel are on duty at all times. Report problem areas to the Director of Nursing Services.
- Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel. Make appropriate reports to the Director of Nursing Services, as required or as may be necessary.
- Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status in accordance with all applicable laws.
- Ensure that all nursing personnel participate in the Facility’s TB testing program.
Nursing Care Functions
- Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the Facility, including the PASARR screenings.
- Provide the Director of Nursing Services with information relative to the nursing needs of the resident and to the Nursing Services Department’s ability to meet those needs.
- Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.
- Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.
- Greet newly admitted residents upon admission. Escort them to their rooms, as necessary.
- Make rounds with physicians, as necessary.
- Inform the Director of Nursing Services when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
- Encourage attending physicians to record and sign progress notes, physicians’ orders, etc., on a timely basis and in accordance with current regulations.
- Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a CNAs/GNAs, and/or a nurse aide trainee qualified to perform the procedure.
- Review nurses’ notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided, that they reflect the resident’s response to the care, and that such care is provided in accordance with the resident’s wishes.
- Schedule daily rounds to observe residents and to determine if nursing needs are being met.
- Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.
- Report medication errors to the Director of Nursing Services.
- Provide direct nursing care, as necessary.
- Report problem areas to the Director of Nursing Services. Assist in developing and implementing corrective action.
- Authorize the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with our established policies and procedures and applicable state laws.
- Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
- Initiates and conducts periodic meetings with staff among all shifts and with other members of the interdisciplinary team to disseminate information, develop protocols, establish resident care goals, and evaluate performance.
- Participates in developing a program to facilitate continuing of care when residents are transferred to other nursing facilities or hospitals.
- Prepare written reports, reviews records, and participate in collection of data, as required (quality improvement, special assigned projects, billing, medical record chart reviews, etc.).
Staff Development
- Participate in planning, conducting, and scheduling in-service training classes that provide instructions on “how to do the job,” and ensure a well-educated Nursing Services Department.
- Maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the Facility, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.
- Encourage Nurse Supervisors, LPNs, and RNs to attend and participate in outside training programs. Schedule times as appropriate.
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services in developing and revising the nursing assistant training curriculum used by the Facility.
- Assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning and conducting universal precautions in-service training.
- Assist in developing annual Facility in-service training programs (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).
- Assist in developing advance directive in-service training programs for the staff and community.
- Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the Nursing Services Department.
- Assist in the development of in-service training programs for the nursing staff. Ensure that these programs meet the continuing education requirements that allow licensed personnel (e.g., RNs, LPNs, CNAs/GNAs, etc.) to keep their license on an active status.
- Attend 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.
Safety and Sanitation
- Assist in developing safety standards for the Nursing Service Department.
- Assist in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood or body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
- Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood or body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
- Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is on hand and readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
- Monitor nursing service personnel to ensure 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, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
- Ensure that all resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
- Ensure that all nursing service personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.
- Ensure that nursing service personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
- Assist in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation techniques.
- Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel.
- Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
- Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
- Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies when moving or lifting a resident.
- Report missing or illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.
Equipment and Supply Functions
- Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services the equipment and supply needs of the Nursing Services Department.
- Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on premises at all times to adequately meet the needs of the resident.
- Assist the Maintenance Director in developing a preventive maintenance program for maintaining the Nursing Department’s equipment and supplies in a safe and operable manner.
- Participate in the development and implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.
- Ensure that only trained and authorized personnel operate the Nursing Services Department’s equipment.
- Ensure that all personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner.
- Monitor nursing procedures to ensure that nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
- Ensure that appropriate MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the Nursing Services Department.
Care Plan and Assessment Functions
- Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident.
- Assist in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers.
- Participate in the development of a written care plan (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems and 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 and their family to participate in the development and review of the resident’s plan of care.
- Assist in the scheduling of care plans and assessments to be presented and discussed at each committee meeting.
- Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the resident’s care plan. Ensure that nursing personnel refer to the resident’s care plan prior to administering daily care to the resident.
- Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.
- Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least quarterly.
- Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing the resident’s comprehensive care plan.
- Be sure that staff members are providing care that reflects the wishes of the resident.
Budget and Planning Functions
- Participate in the budget process. Submits written requests for special needs, equipment, manpower, programs for the unit, personal development (i.e. seminars, educational opportunities).
- Keep abreast of economic conditions and situations, and recommend to the Director of Nursing Services adjustments in nursing services that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.
- Recommend to the Director of Nursing Services the equipment needs of the Nursing Services Department.
Resident Rights
- Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents’ responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
- Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written and oral report to the Director of Nursing Services indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow Facility’s established procedures.
- Maintain a written record of the resident’s complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.
- Ensure that appropriate notices are received by the resident before their room or roommate is changed.
- Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
- Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the Facility’s policies governing advance directives.
- Review the Facility’s advance directive policies and procedures with resident and/or family members as necessary.
- Must adhere to all HIPAA requirements.
Working Conditions
- Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses’ stations, resident rooms, etc.).
- Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies and personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
- Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department directors.
- Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
Education
- Must possess valid unencumbered RN state license.
- Bachelors Degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university, preferred.
Experience
- Two (2) years of experience preferred as a supervisor in a hospital, nursing care facility, or other related health care Facility. Must have, as a minimum of six (6) months experience in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices.
Specific Requirements
- Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in this state.
- Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
- Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
- Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to nursing care facilities.
- Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other 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 be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
Physical and Sensory Requirements
(With or Without a Reasonable Accommodation)
Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.- Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
- Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of the Facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
- Based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Guidelines for Nursing Homes Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the American Conference Governmental Industrial Hygienists' Threshold Limit Values for Lifting the Facility has identified that this job may require the lifting of residents, equipment, or other objects. Accordingly, this job may require a minimum of 5 pounds and a maximum of 45 pounds lifting, periodically and or as needed.
