Center Nurse

The Center Nurse is a licensed professional nurse certified with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.  The nurse will collaborate with the Center Director, primary care physicians, therapists and other personnel regarding medical needs of patients.

Summary of essential job function

• Adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in the Arkids Pediatric Day Centers’ Employee Handbook, Management Policies and Procedures and Medical Policies and Procedures Manuals
• Familiar with requirements set forth by regulatory agencies including but not limited to Division of Provider Services & Quality Assurance (DPSQA), Arkansas Minimum Licensing, Arkansas Department of Health, EQHealth (or current gatekeeper to Medicaid), etc.
• Maintain organized and updated lists of scheduled and PRN medications for each patient receiving medications at the Center
• Obtain prescribing information from the parent/guardian, physician, or pharmacy
• Complete daily documentation of medications, including dosage, frequency, and route of medications given on the appropriate form
• Include a printout of all possible side effects for all medications
• Monitor patients for drug reactions, documenting appropriately
• Report any adverse reactions to a medication or medication error in administration to the Center Director, Program Administrator, parent/guardian, and primary care physician (PCP)
• Notify parents/guardians when medications need to be refilled
• Ensure all medication, both prescription & over the counter, is double locked in the Center Nurse’s office when unsupervised
• Examine patients in need of medical attention and respond accordingly, making sound decisions based on facts and experience
• If necessary, contact the primary care physician for recommendations
• Document illness or injury requiring medical attention and follow-up with parent/guardian, and PCP if needed, and document follow-up action taken
• Obtain discharge information for patients who have been absent from the Center due to hospitalization, prior to the child returning to the Center, to ensure proper care is given
• Complete a comprehensive nursing intake and gather medical information on all new patients enrolling in the Center, including a signed parent/guardian permission form for any over the counter (OTC) medications
• Complete a comprehensive nursing evaluation, including the prescribed number of nursing units needed per day and the PCP signature, whenever billable nursing services are needed (e.g. tube feedings)
• Develop a medication management plan for all patients with prescribed medication that may be administered at the Center
• Return any unused or out-of-date medications to the parents/guardians. If medication is not picked up by the parent/guardian, it will be disposed of according to recommendations of the US Food & Drug Administration. Two staff members should accompany the medication to any local drop offs & documentation of disposed medications will be kept at the Center.
• Review patient immunization records prior to enrollment & track immunization records on an internal spreadsheet, highlight due dates, noting those potentially out of compliance. Document communication with parents/guardians on the nursing notes and on the Parent/Guardian Communication Form in the front of the immunization section in the patient chart a minimum of weekly.  Email the Immunization Tracker to the Center Director a minimum of monthly to review. 
• Maintain documentation of Incident/Accident Reports: Immediately communicate with Center Director, or designee, via email or face-to-face when incidents occur and notification to parents/guardians occur. Communication of all incidents will, at a minimum, be reported to the Center Director, or designee, by the end of the day.  Turn in all Incident Reports to the Center Director by the end of the day of the Incident for review.  Review will be evidenced by initials and date of review. 
• Maintain patient emergency information and employee emergency information, updating a minimum of annually
• Maintain the Safety Data Sheet binder: update whenever new products are introduced into the Center, but at a minimum of quarterly
• Familiar with the following nursing duties:  feeding tube (feeding, care and maintenance), catheters, breathing treatments, monitoring vital statistics (including diabetes sugar checks, insulin, blood draws, pulse ox), tracheostomy (suctioning and care), assisting ventilator-dependent patients
• Request any orders from the patients’ primary care physician, or specialist, as needed by the Center
• Advocate for referrals to outside specialists and other health personnel as needed
• Maintain an updated list of allergies for each patient at the Center, updating every time a new patient starts with allergies, but a minimum of monthly, indicating a revision date at the bottom of the form
• Complete monthly fire and tornado drills and quarterly earthquake, bomb threat and crisis prevention drills, documenting on the appropriate form
• Assist with New Employee Orientation
• Review all medical records received and distribute to appropriate personnel, interpreting clinical data to identify patient risks (actual and potential)
• Complete nursing supply order by the 3rd week of the month when medical equipment/supplies need to be ordered and stock when delivered
• Maintain oxygen tank
• Complete monthly Center inspections
• Assist with weekly Center inspections
• Maintain first aid kits in all locations of the Center and check them monthly, initially the tag
• Maintain daily temperature checks on the refrigerator containing medications
• Work with the audiologist to complete and track required hearing screenings
• Ensure medical documentation is completed and in compliance with regulatory agencies and standards as established by the Center
• Ensure the nursing notes are completed on all tasks, follow-ups, conversations with parents/guardians, etc.
• Maintain confidentiality of patients and staff
• Communicate with the Center Director on all nursing/medical needs
• Communicate with appropriate staff when children are being sent home and/or cannot return due to minimum licensing standards
• Promote continuity, consistency, and expediency of care to patients and families
• Serve as a resource for Center Staff in areas of primary health care, infection control, disease processes, and emergency procedures
• Perform staff in-services, as needed, when recommended by the Center Director, on topics related to nursing/health/safety
• Complete all nursing notes and billing by the end of the shift on the day the event/incident/service occurred
• Assist with covering lunch breaks for classroom staff or fill in for the Administrative Assistant
• May assist with CPR training for all staff, if certified as an instructor
• May assist with loading/unloading vans
• May perform light housekeeping duties
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum requirements

• Must be a graduate of an accredited school or vocational nursing
• Must be (currently) licensed in the state of Arkansas
• Experience and knowledge of children with special needs preferred
• Clear Criminal Record Check, Arkansas Child & Adult Maltreatment Regulatory Checks, FBI Regulatory Check, including National Sex Offender Registry
• Pass a drug screen (upon hire, annually, and/or randomly)

Abilities Required 

• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and supervisors
• Ability to work with children
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a very busy environment
• Ability to carry out instructions
• Ability to clean efficiently and timely
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to bend, stoop, stand, walk, pull, and reach for several hours per day
• Ability to demonstrate basic computer skills 

*Medical, Vision, Dental, Paid Time Off, Life Insurance, Other Supplemental Insurances, 401K*