Director of Nursing

Job Summary:
The primary purpose of Director of Nursing (DON) is to plan, organize, develop and direct the
overall operation of our Nursing Service 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 and the Medical Director, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is
maintained at all times.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
• The Director of Nursing Services is delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and
accountability necessary for carrying out assigned duties. In the absence of the Medical
Director, the DON is responsible for carrying out the resident care policies established by this
facility.
• Supervises the Nursing Department
• Has the ability to hire, discipline, assign, apprise, and terminate assigned employees

Duties/Responsibilities:
CUSTOMER SERVICE
• Demonstrates positive customer service when performing the role of the Director of Nursing,
with residents, family members, facility staff and medical staff.
• Displays flexibility, team spirit, compassion. respect honesty, politeness and accountability
when dealing with residents, family members and facility staff.
• Demonstrates an awareness of and sensitivity for resident's rights in all interfaces with
residents and family members.
• Communicates effectively via open, straightforward communication, including use of listening
skills and by accessing the appropriate chain of command.
• Seeks validation of knowledge base, quality, decision-making and skill level by actively
questioning when necessary.
• Participates in interdisciplinary communication activities; actively listens and actively
contributes.

Administrative Functions:
• Plan, develop, organize, implement evaluate, and direct the nursing service department, as
well as its programs and activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and
guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update written policies and procedures that govern the
day-to-day functions of the nursing service department through the Facility Leadership
Council (QA&A/ QAPI Committee).
• Maintain a reference library of written nursing material (i.e.,PDR'S, Federal and State
Regulations, etc.) that will assist the
• nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the resident.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the Nursing Service Procedures Manual and
nursing service objectives and philosophies.
• Develop and implement a nursing service organization structure.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required,
concerning the operation of the nursing service department.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update written job descriptions for each level of nursing
personnel in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, OSHA, and other pertinent
laws and regulations.
• Develop methods for coordination of nursing services with other resident services to ensure
the continuity of the residents' total regimen of care.
• Develop, implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the nursing
service department
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Assist the Quality Assessment & Assurance Committee in developing and implementing
appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
• Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing, implementing and periodically
updating the written procedures for the Discharge Planning Program.
• Assist the resident and Discharge Planning Coordinator in planning the nursing service
portion of the resident's discharge plan.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations,
studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

Committee Functions:
• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control,
Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.) as
required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities as required,
or as may be directed by such committee(s).
• Assist the Pharmaceutical Services Committee in developing, maintaining, implementing, and
periodically updating written policies and procedures for the administration, storage, and
control of medications and supplies.
• Schedule, attend, and participate in developing the agenda for 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.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain
to nursing services.
Personnel Functions:
• Determine the staffing needs of the nursing service department necessary to meet the total
nursing needs of the residents.
• Recommend the number and level of nursing personnel to be employed.
• Assist the Administrator and/or the Personnel Director in the recruitment and selection of
nursing service personnel.
• Ensure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved training
program.
• Assign a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses for each tour of duty
to ensure that quality care is maintained.
• Assign a sufficient number of certified nursing assistants for each tour of duty to ensure that
routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident.
• Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and/or assist nursing supervisory staff
in completing and performing such tasks.
• Delegate to nursing service supervisory personnel the administrative authority, responsibility,
and accountability necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Assist the Personnel Director in developing performance evaluation schedules, criteria, and
annual reviews for the nursing service department (e.g., RNs, LPNs, CNAs, medication
aides, etc.).
• Make daily rounds of the nursing service department to ensure that all nursing service
personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing
standards .
• Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care personnel are on
duty at all times.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the written procedure for ensuring that
professional nursing personnel, including private duty nurses, have valid and current licenses
as required by this State.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
• Provide complaint/grievance reports to the Administrator 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.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in establishing ATB management program for
Employees.
• 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.
• Perform background checks on Nursing Service personnel in accordance with established
procedures.
• Verify nursing license through Board of Nursing.
• Ensure that all CNA's credentials are verified through the State Nurse Aide Registry.
• Ensure that appropriate adverse personnel actions relative to CNA's employment criteria are
reported to the State Nurse Aide Registry.

Nursing Care Functions:
• Participate in the interviewing and selection of residents for admission to the facility, including
PASARR screenings.
• Provide the Administrator with information relative to the nursing needs of the resident and
the nursing service 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 to room as necessary.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary. Schedule physician visits as necessary .
• 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 is provided by a licensed nurse, a CNA, 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 residents' 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
in accordance with the resident's request
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being
administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
• Authorize the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with our established
policies and procedures.
• Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
Staff Development
• Develop and participate in the planning, conducting, and scheduling of timely In-service
training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job, " and ensure a well-educated
nursing service department
• Develop, implement and 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.
• Provide leadership training that Includes the administrative and supervisory principles
essential for Nurse Supervisors/Charge Nurses.
• Encourage the nursing supervisory staff to attend and participate in outside training
programs. Schedule times as appropriate.
• Assist the Administrator in developing and revising the nursing assistant training curriculum
used by the facility. Submit to state agency for approval as required.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service
training programs for hazard communication, TB management and blood-borne pathogens
standard.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator 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 service department
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in the development of in-service training programs for
the nursing staff. Ensure that these programs meet the continuing education requirements
which allow licensed personnel (e.g., RNs, LPNs, CNAs, etc.) to keep their licenses on an
active status.
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of
changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in the development of a TB management program.

Safety and Sanitation:
• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing service department
• Ensure that the department's policy and procedure manuals identity safety precautions and
equipment to use when performing tasks that could result in bodily injury.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and
job-related functions to ensure those tasks in which potential exposure to blood/body fluids
are properly identified and recorded.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body
fluids participate in appropriate in- service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
• Ensure that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are 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 c o d e s.
• Ensure that nursing service personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster
preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
• Assist the Infection Control Committee in the development, implementation, and revising of
written aseptic and isolation techniques.
• Develop, implement and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious
diseases, including TB, among the residents and personnel.
• Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established infection control procedures when
isolation precautions become necessary.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazard>us conditions or
equipment
• Ensure that personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace,
mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.
• Report missing illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.
Equipment and Supply Functions:
• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department
• Ensure that a 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 service departments' equipment and supplies ina safe and operable
manner.
• Develop and implement procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.
• Ensure that only trained and authorized personnel operate the departments equipment
• Ensure that all personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner.
• Develop and implement procedures that ensure nursing service supplies are used in an
efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Ensure that personal protective equipment used in the handling of infectious materials are
available and easily accessible to nursing service personnel.
• Ensure that appropriate MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the nursing
service department.
Care Plan and Assessment Functions:
• Assist in the development of preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing
needs of each resident
• Develop a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that
identifies the problems/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 his/her family to participate in the development and review of the
residents' plan of care.
• Assist the Resident Assessment/Care Plan Coordinator 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.
• Assist the Resident Assessment/Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising
the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers.
• 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 a comprehensive plan of care.
• Ensure that medical and nursing care is administered in accordance with the resident's
wishes, including the implementation of advance directives.

RESIDENT RIGHTS
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity,
and respect
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock
before entering the resident's room.
• 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/oral report to the
Administrator 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 given to residents 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.
• Ensure that the facility's policies and procedures governing advance directives are reviewed
with the resident and/or representative.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in developing and implementing a resident TB
management program.

Expense Control
• Prepare and plan the nursing service departments' budget and submit to the Administrator for
his/her review, recommendations, and/or approval.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations, and recommend to the Administrator
adjustments in nursing services that
• ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.
• Recommend to the Administrator the equipment and supply needs of the nursing service
department

Education and Experience:
• Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Must have, as a minimum, 2 years of experience as a supervisor ina hospital, long-term care
facility, or other related health care facility.
• 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 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 long-term care.
• 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.
Physical Requirements:
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• 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 relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at
times hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 40 pounds to a minimum height of
waist height and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of
20 feet
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.