Assistant Director of Nursing

SUMMARY: The primary purpose of the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) is to assist the Director of Nursing in planning, organizing, developing, and directing the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Department in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be directed by the Administrator, the Medical Director, and/or the Director of Nursing, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist the Director of Nursing in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing department, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.
Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating our written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing department.
Ensure that reference material maintained at the nurse’s station is current. Recommend to the Director written material that will assist the nursing department in meeting the day-to-day needs of residents.
Develop and periodically update nursing service objectives and statements of philosophy.
Assist in developing and implementing a nursing organization structure. Make written and oral recommendations to the Director as necessary/required, concerning the operation of the nursing department.
Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the resident’s total regimen of care.
Ensure that all nursing personnel are following their respective job descriptions. Participate in the development, maintenance, and periodic updating of the written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations.
Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing.
Assist the resident and Discharge Planning Coordinator in planning the nursing portion of the resident’s discharge plan.
Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc.
Monitor the facility’s QI, QM, and survey reports and provide the Director with recommendations that will be helpful in eliminating problem areas.
Assist the Director in obtaining staffing information that must be posted on a daily basis.
Agree not to disclose resident’s protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
Service on the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee as directed.
Schedule, attend, and participate in developing the agenda for the Care Plan Team Meetings as required.
Assist the Director in determining the staffing needs of the nursing department. Recommend to the Director the number and level of nursing personnel to be employed. Assist the Director in the recruitment and selection of nursing personnel.
Ensure that a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses are available for each shift to ensure that quality care is maintained.
Ensure that a sufficient number of Certified Nursing Assistants are available for each shift to ensure that routing nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident. Also, ensure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved nursing assistants program.
Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and/or assist nursing supervisory staff in completing and performing such tasks.
Delegate to the Charge Nurse and Nurse Supervisors the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.
Assist the Director in preparing performance evaluations as directed.
Make daily rounds of the nursing department to ensure that all nursing personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report findings to Director.
Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel. Make appropriate reports to Director 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.
Interpret the department’s policies and procedures for personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as necessary.
Ensure that all nursing personnel participate in the facility’s TB testing program.
Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility.
Inform nursing 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.
Review the nurse’s 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 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.
Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
Report problem areas to Director. Assist in developing and implementing corrective action.
Participate in developing, planning, conducting, and scheduling in-service training that provides instructions on “how to do the job” and ensures a well-educated nursing department.
Participate in the mandatory new hire orientation.
Assist the Director in scheduling annual mandatory in-service training for staff. (OSHA, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Infection Control, etc.)
Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing department.
Assist the Director of Nursing in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
Ensure that nursing personnel work areas (nurse’s station, medication rooms, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
Ensure all resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
Ensure that all nursing personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drill in a safe and professional manner.
Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on the premises at all times to adequately meet the needs of the residents.
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.
Ensure that only trained and authorized personnel operate the department’s equipment in a safe manner.
Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident. Assist the MDS/CPC in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers.
Encourage the resident and his/her family to participate in the development and review of the resident’s plan of care.
Be sure that staff members are providing care that reflects the wishes of the resident.
Maintain confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information. Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.
Ensure all nursing personnel are knowledgeable of the residents’ responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university.
Registered Nurse with a current unencumbered state license.
Must have, as a minimum, 2 years of experience as a supervisor in a hospital, nursing care facility, or other related health care facility.
Must have, a minimum of 6 months of experience in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices.
Current CPR Certification is required.
Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of teamwork and team concept.
Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
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 nursing care facilities.
Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as a willingness to handle difficult residents.
Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Must be able to move intermittently throughout the day.
Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
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 function independently, and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 50 feet.
May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.

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