Charge Nurse - RN Job Opening

Purpose

To provide direct nursing care to the residents, and to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of the Nursing Staff and the CNAs in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the facility.

Essential Functions

• Ensure assigned personnel 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.
• Cooperate with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the resident's total regimen of care is maintained.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government.
• 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.
• 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.
• Complete and file required record-keeping 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.
• 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.
• Record new/changed diet orders. Forward information to the Dietary 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Report absentee call-ins to the Nurse Supervisor.
• 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.
• Inform nursing personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.; ensure rooms are ready for new admissions.
• Greet newly admitted residents upon admission. Escort them to their rooms as necessary.
• Participate in the orientation of new residents/family members to the facility.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
• Requisition and arrange for diagnostic and therapeutic services, as ordered by the physician, and in accordance with our established procedures.
• Consult with the resident's physician in providing the resident's care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary.
• Administer professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, taking blood, giving massages and range of motion exercises, care for the dead/dying, etc., as required.
• Use restraints when necessary and in accordance with established policies & procedures.
• Obtain sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.
• Take and record TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.
• Monitor seriously ill residents as necessary.
• Check foods brought into the facility by the resident's family/visitors to ensure that it is within the resident's dietary allowances. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor and Dietary Supervisor.
• Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
• Meet with residents, and/or family members, as necessary. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary.
• Ensure that discharged residents are escorted to the pick-up area.
• Inform family members of the death of the resident.
• Call funeral homes when requested by the family. Ensure that established post-mortem procedures are followed.
• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood-borne pathogens standard.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training prior to performing such tasks.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases.
• Review care plans daily to ensure that appropriate care is being rendered.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the resident's room.
• 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.
• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.

Work Schedule

• As assigned, including some week-ends, evenings and Holidays.

Working Conditions

• Works in well-lighted/ventilated areas.
• Most of the work is performed indoors
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing staff, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal duty hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• May be exposed to bodily fluids, infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including the AIDS and hepatitis B viruses.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; implements or office equipment; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Collect information through observation, listening, touching, and smelling.
• Must have auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess
• Job requires regular sitting, standing, walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting, writing, and carrying charts, food, trays, etc.
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Employee may be required to move chairs, beds, and medical equipment, move patients in bed (with or without assistance).
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.
• May be required to lift, push, pull, and move equipment, supplies, etc., in excess of fifty (50) pounds.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents.

Safety, Sanitation and Infection Controls

• Assure the assigned work areas are maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary manner.
• Assure that established infection control and universal precautions practices are observed.
• Report all hazardous conditions or equipment to your supervisor.
• Follow established safety policies and procedures.
• Dispose of refuse daily in accordance with established sanitation procedures.
• Keep work/assignment areas free of hazardous objects, unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc.
• Report any accident/incident to your supervisor no matter how minor.

Qualifications

• Must have, at a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved Registered Nurse program.
• 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.
• 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 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 be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.