Registered Nurse

Job Title: Assistant Resident Care Director (Registered Nurse)

Qualifications

Holds a current RN or LPN license in the State of Michigan and is in good standing.

Demonstrates the ability to practice and maintain an assessment, skilled management, and documentation process of resident care in a community setting. Has the ability to manage care staff, discipline and provide teaching/training when necessary.

Job Summary

Provides nursing procedures with emphasis on prevention, restoration, and maintenance of optimal health for the residents of Comfort Care Senior Living and residents under the care of Harmony Home Health And Hospice Care. Nurse will be assigned a case load of 8-12 patients, all of whom reside in the same building. Assist with other building residents and care needs as permitted by workload.

Essential Job Duties:

• Maintain a professional and positive attitude.
• Work as a team with management, staff and families.
• Assists Resident Care Director in reviewing 24-hour report, noting indications of new problems or changes of condition that may require further assessment and intervention.
• Stays current on medical procedures or industry changes.
• Communicates with the Building Administrator regarding problems and approaches of care.
• Reviews the dashboard in QuickMar and provides education or determines areas that propose concern.
• Assists Resident Care Director in reviewing Service Plans and adjusts, as necessary. Changes will be communicated to the care team and monitored for completeness.
• Collaborates with the visiting physician with updates on patient conditions and requests for changes in approaches as determined following collaboration with the Administrator.
• Briefs the visiting physician of all new and existing health problems and any changes in the residents and their health conditions. 
• Assists Resident Care Director in med cart audits weekly.
• Assists Resident Care Director in monitoring narcotic count books and compares to inventory on computer.
• Assists with quality assurance surveys to maintain quality of care and adherence of staff to facility standards of practice.
• Provides staff/caregivers education on pertinent issues as deemed necessary by the Administrator.
• Make rounds, communicate with each care staff member regarding the condition and care of their assigned residents. Advise the care staff regarding new or specific information, directing to read and follow the service plan.
• Always maintains resident privacy and dignity.
• Understand and follow the HIPPA policy and procedures.
• Remain cognizant of care staff, completion of their duties and the way they are completed. Variation from what is expected will immediately be addressed with the care staff and followed up to ensure compliance. Non-compliance will be reported to the Administrator in a timely manner. Violation of Resident Rights will be reported regardless of whether correction was made.
• Welcome new employees to the team and provide the necessary support to facilitate their performance on the job.
• Continually monitor QuickMar for updates, changes or adjustments made by the pharmacy.
• Assist Resident Care Director in reviewing the Bowel List (BM list), determine and facilitate approach for each resident.
• Must be familiar with the State Regulations and how rules apply to the nursing department.
• Continue to monitor compliance with the State Regulations.
• Communication skills with staff, families, and 3rd party vendors. Maintain a healthy, supportive relationship always.
• Take on-call according to facility policy.
• Be available for staff, families, medical professionals, and management when needed.
• Plan, coordinate and provide hospice/home health care in accordance with the patient's plan of care.
• Coordinates hospice/home health care by working with other team members as well as with the patients/family members to ensure needs are met.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of hospice services to the patient and family on an ongoing basis.
• Perform evaluations for hospice/home health along with informational visits as needed.
• Utilize the nursing process to provide professional nursing care.
• Consult with the attending physician and Medical Director concerning changes in patients condition requiring order changes and/or changes in the plan of care.
• Oversee building staff/caregivers and aides to ensure Plan of Care is being followed
• Pronounce Time of Death for Hospice patients.
• Coordinate patient services with other members of the IDG as well as contracted services, when needed.
• Submit complete, accurate and relevant clinical notes in a timely manner.
• Submit patient visit schedule weekly.
• Participate in IDG and case conferences.
• Discuss with the supervisor if IDG determines that the patient would benefit from contracted services.
• Take responsibility for ensuring patients’ plans of care are kept current.
• Continually strive to improve his/her nursing care skills by attending in-service education, through formal education, attendance at workshops, conferences, active participation in professional and related organizations and/or individual research and reading.
• Provide education to patients/family members regarding the dying process, plan of care and offers guidance with healthcare decisions.
• Provide dietary counseling, considering health issues and dietary changes at the end of life.
• Perform death visit per agency’s policy.
• Participate in the patient’s discharge planning process.
• Maintain an on-going knowledge of current drug therapy.
• Adhere to Federal, state and accreditation requirements including Medicare and Medicaid regulations.
• May be requested by a supervisor to fill in for the other nurses.
• Conduct an initial as well as ongoing comprehensive assessments of the patients.
• Obtain a medical history from the patient and/or a family member particularly as it relates to the present condition.
• Conduct a physical examination of the patient, including vital signs, physical assessment, mental status, appetite and type of diet, etc.
• Evaluate the patient, family member(s) and home situation to determine what health teaching will be required.
• Evaluate the patient's environment to determine what assistance will be available from family members in caring for the patient and what services may be needed.
• Be competent in knowledge about different levels of care and when it’s appropriate to offer them.
• Explain nursing and other Agency services to patients and families as a part of planning for care.
• Develop and implement the initial plan of care and work with other members of the IDG in completing and maintaining the comprehensive plan of care.
• Nursing services, treatments and preventative procedures requiring substantial specialized skill and ordered by the physician.
• Observing signs and symptoms and reporting to the physician reactions to treatments, including drugs, as well as changes in the patient's physical or emotional condition.
• Supervise and evaluate the care given by the Hospice/Home Health Aide at a minimum of once every 14 days and as needed.
• Chart those services rendered to the patient by the staff nurse and changes that have been noted in the patient's condition and/or family and home situation, makes revisions in the nursing care plan as needed, records supervisory visits conducted with the Hospice/Home Health Aide, evaluates patient care and progress and closes charts of discharged patients.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of her nursing service to the individual and family.
• Discuss with the supervisor problems concerning the patients and possible resolution.
• Cooperate with other agencies providing nursing or related services to provide continuity of care and to implement a comprehensive care plan.
• Participate in staff development meetings.
• Prepare the care plan for the Hospice/Home Health Aide.
• The ability to access patients’ homes which may not be routinely wheelchair accessible is required.
• Hearing, eyesight and physical dexterity must be sufficient to perform a physical assessment of the patient's condition and to perform and demonstrate patient care.
• Physical activities will include, walking, sitting, stooping, and standing and minimal to maximum lifting of patients and the turning of patients.