Nursing Leadership Position

Job Title: Charge Nurse

About the Role:

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Charge Nurse to join our team at Diakonos Group. As a Charge Nurse, you will be responsible for providing direct nursing care to our residents and supervising the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants.

Key Responsibilities:

* Direct the day-to-day functions of the nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility
* Ensure that all nursing personnel assigned to you comply with the written policies and procedures established by this facility
* Periodically review the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc. Make recommendations for revisions
* Meet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts' services, programs, and activities
* Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day-to-day nursing procedures performed in this facility
* Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual
* Make written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your shift as required
* Cooperate with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the resident's total regimen of care is maintained
* Ensure that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions
* Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's quality assurance program for the nursing service department
* Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as may be requested
* Periodically review the resident's written discharge plan. Participate in the updating of the resident's written discharge plan as required
* Assist in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan as necessary
* Interpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as required
* Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required
* Complete accident/incident reports as necessary
* Write resident charge slips and forward to the Business Office
* Maintain the Daily Census Report and submit to the Business Office as required
* Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary
* Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator
* Agree not to disclose resident's protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator
* Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility's information system
* Complete and file required recordkeeping forms/charts upon the resident's admission, transfer, and/or discharge
* Encourage attending physicians to review treatment plans, record and sign their orders, progress notes, etc., in accordance with established policies
* Receive telephone orders from physicians and record on the Physicians' Order Form
* Transcribe physician's orders to resident charts, cardex, medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required
* Chart nurses' notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the resident, as well as the resident's response to the care
* Fill out and complete accident/incident reports. Submit to Director as required
* Chart all reports of accidents/incidents involving residents. Follow established procedures
* Record new/changed diet orders. Forward information to the Food Services Department
* Report all discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet change, charting error, etc., to the Nurse Supervisor
* Fill out and complete transfer forms in accordance with established procedures
* Ensure that appropriate documentation concerning unauthorized discharges is entered in the resident's medical record in accordance with established procedures
* Perform routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures
* Sign and date all entries made in the resident's medical record
* Prepare and administer medications as ordered by the physician
* Verify the identity of the resident before administering the medication/treatment
* Ensure that prescribed medication for one resident is not administered to another
* Ensure that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents. Report needs to the Nurse Supervisor
* Order prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary, and in accordance with established policies
* Ensure that narcotic records are accurate for your shift
* Notify the Nurse Supervisor of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift
* Review medication cards for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of the physician's order, and adherence to stop order policies
* Notify the attending physician of automatic stop orders prior to the last dosage being administered
* Dispose of drugs and narcotics as required, and in accordance with established procedures
* Participate in employee performance evaluations, determining your shift's staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc
* Inform the Nurse Supervisor of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work
* Report absentee call-ins to the Nurse Supervisor
* Review and evaluate your department's work force and make recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor
* Develop work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments
* Provide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift
* Make daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor
* Ensure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved nursing assistant training program
* Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse
* Meet with your shift's nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or to improve services
* Ensure that department personnel, residents, and visitors follow the department's established policies and procedures at all times
* Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents
* Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift
* Review complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel. Make appropriate reports to the Nurse Supervisor as required or as may be necessary. Follow facility's established procedures
* Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status
* Receive/give the nursing report upon reporting in and ending shift duty hours
* Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents
* Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator
* Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates within established facility policy guidelines

Requirements:

* Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN/LVN in this state
* Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language
* Must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served
* Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of team work 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 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 have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents
* Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices
* Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition
* Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace

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