Position Description
All Nursing Department
Exempt Salary
Responsible for the administration and management of Nursing Services to residents in accordance with orders of the
physicians and total needs of the residents. Responsible for 24-hour supervision of Nursing Services and directs the Nursing
Department to maintain quality standards of care in accordance with current Federal, State and The Company standards,
guidelines and regulations. In absence of the Administrator, assumes the responsibility for center operations. The position
conducts the nursing process – assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation – under the scope of the State’s Nurse
Practice Act of Registered Nurse licensure.
Principal Responsibilities
Assumes ultimate responsibility for coordinating plans for the total care of each resident which comply with
physician’s orders, governmental regulations and facility resident care policies.
Communicates and interprets policies and procedures to nursing staff, and monitors staff practices and
implementation.
Participates in all admissions decisions, and may visit prospective residents before admissions.
Participates in daily and weekly management team meetings to discuss resident status, census changes, personnel, or
resident complaints or concerns.
Ensures delivery of compassionate quality care and nursing supervision as evidence by adequate services and staff
coverage, absence of odors, general cleanliness, prevention of pressure wounds, and apparent maintenance of optimal
resident functions.
Demonstrates knowledge of and application of Key Clinical Quality Indicates, and proactively monitors and
implements systems to achieve and/or surpass company thresholds.
Collaborates with physicians, consultants, community agencies, and institutions to improve the quality of services and
to resolve identified problems.
Coordinates nursing services with all other departments including Therapy.
Responsible for competency testing on registered, licensed, certified, non-certified nursing personnel.
Establishes, implements, and monitors the infection control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary, and
comfortable environment designed to prevent the devilment and transmission of disease and infection.
Prepares or reviews infection control surveillance reports to identify trends and to develop effective actions to control
and prevent infections. Submits an infection control report to the QA Committee.
Coordinates and/or develops on-going QA activities for nursing services to monitor nursing compliance with
standards and regulatory requirements through rounds, interviews, and record reviews. Compiles summary of findings
for the Quality Assurance committee.
Helps the Administrator prepare staff for inspection surveys, instructing staff on matters of conduct and disclosure,
being interviewed by inspectors, immediate corrections of problems noted by surveyors, etc. Reviews and reinforces
important standards previously cited.
Participates in the preparation of the Plan of Correction response to an inspection survey, and implements any follow
up QA required for any nursing allegations.
Communicates directly with residents, families, medical staff, nursing staff, interdisciplinary team members, and
Department Heads to coordinate care and services, promote participation in care plans, and maintain a high quality of
care and life for residents.
Oversees nursing schedules to assure they meet resident needs and regulatory and budgetary standards; Assists in
controlling nursing service hours and supply costs, including recommendation for the number and type of nursing
personnel to be employed and nursing service equipment and supply needs.
Performs rounds to observe care and to interview staff, residents, families or other interested parties.
Makes daily rounds and spot checks documentation accuracy and completeness on new admissions, residents with
change in condition, residents triggering occurrence investigations, and residents to be discharged.
Promotes customer service and hospitality and responds to and adequately resolves complaints or concerns from
residents or families about nursing services.
Monitors staff for compliance with OSHA mandates and facility policies on workplace safety. Proactively develops
procedures and incentives to promote workplace safety and safe work practices.
Oversees and supervises development and delivery of in-service education to equip nursing staff with sufficient
knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, quality care and respect for resident rights.
Proactively develops positive employee relations, incentives, and recognition programs. Promotes teamwork, mutual
respect, and effective communication.
Develops, maintains and improves nursing service objectives, standards for nursing practice, nursing procedure
manuals and written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel.
Provides 24-hour “on call” service to the nursing center in case of emergency.
Promotes a safe environment within the facility, which includes fire and accident prevention, maintenance of sanitary
conditions and assurance that all nursing personnel understand their roles in the event of a disaster or other disruption
of services.
Assures that an adequate orientation and in-service training program is provided for all nursing personnel.
Confers daily with the Administrator regarding current status of nursing services and submits written reports as
requested.
Ensures ethical care delivery with adherence to corporate compliance and safe business practices.
Understands and promotes the Federal, State and company position on Abuse and Neglect prevention.
Understands federal and state survey enforcement practice and to attain and maintain compliance; educates staff.
Promotes nursing process and critical thinking in nursing care delivery.
Institutes organizational structure and effective communication systems, which include all levels of nursing staff to
promote effective care delivery and follow-up.
Designs systems to plan, promote, develop, assess, interpret, validate and evaluate the implementation of clinical
programs, policies, procedures and forms.
Monitors facility incidents and complaints daily to identify those defined as unusual occurrences by State policy and
promptly reports such occurrences to Administrator/Executive Director for appropriate action.
Monitors complaint reports daily for allegations of potential abuse or neglect, or the loss or misappropriation of
resident property, and participates in these investigations.
Promotes compliance with accident prevention procedures, safety rules, and safe work practices to prevent employee
injury and illness and control worker’s compensation costs.
Ensure 24 hour services such as RN coverage compliance; abuse and neglect coordination compliance, and other
services as required by federal, state, local and other governing agencies.
Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or assigned at any time with or without notice.
Management Responsibilities
Develops organizational strategies by contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to strategic thinking
and direction; establishing functional objectives in line with organization objectives.
Establishes operational strategies by evaluating trends, establishing critical measurements; determining production,
productivity, quality, and customer-service strategies; designing systems; accumulating resources; resolving problems;
implementing change.
Develops financial strategies by estimating, forecasting, and anticipating requirements, trends, and variances; aligning
monetary resources; developing action plans; measuring and analyzing results; initiating corrective action; minimizing
the impact of variances.
Oversees the development of the nursing department structure and roles of each position.
Establishes and manages goals and objects for the nursing department through analysis and strategic planning
consistent with the company mission.
Understands and affects the role of the nurse leader with staff through effective team building, motivation, change
management, efficient time management, delegation, stress management and effective and timely communication.
Facilitates collegial relationships among nurse managers and other healthcare professionals.
Hires, educates and counsels a nursing leadership team to participate in clinical oversight.
Maintains and evaluates an environment that empowers and supports nurse managers in problem solving and in
decision-making to address identified issues.
Designs systems of share governance in clinical practice and accountability.
Ensures availability of nursing leadership team members to accommodate staff education; to address resident care
issues; to meet with family members unavailable during routine shift hours.
Attends quality and operation reviews for the center with Administrator and Regional Director of Operations.
Participates in meetings and conducts rounds with the Administrator and Regional Director of Operations.
Provides leadership to the center in the absence of the Administrator.
Financial Management
Collaborates with the Administrator and Regional Director of Operations in preparing the annual nursing budget
using corporate guidelines to ensure adequate resources for staffing, supplies and capital items needed for resident
care.
Utilizes payroll reports in managing and monitoring the staffing of the nursing department.
Ensures adequacy of supplies and equipment for current need and projects future cost impact.
Prepares suggested 901 needs for nursing during the budgeting process.
Oversees the operation of the nursing department in accordance with the approved budget through effective use of
corporate and facility financial reports.
Using the monthly P&L and other available reports, monitors PPDs, trends outcomes, documents variances and
communicates corrective action plans to Administrator.
Assists in planning, coordinating, and conducting continuing education programs and special in-service training
sessions relevant to the needs of department personnel.
Staffs the department with capable people
Ensures that employees are adequately oriented and trained to perform their duties
Reviews employee performance annually and makes recommendations for pay increases, promotions or performance
improvement plans as deemed appropriate
Establishes and maintains effective two-way communication to understand the needs and concerns of employees.
Recommends changes in policies and practices wherever employee needs are not being met.
Receives, investigates and responds to employee complaints
Human Resource Responsibility
Accomplishes human resources strategies by determining accountabilities; communicating and enforcing policy and
procedures; implementing recruitment, selection, orientation., training, coaching, counseling, disciplinary, and
communication programs; planning, monitoring appraising, and reviewing job contributions; planning and reviewing
compensation strategies.
Ensures professional staff, hold current licenses in the state of practice; that non-licensed nursing personnel providing
care delivery hold current certifications after the fourth month of hire; and all nursing personnel including purchased
services or contracted services providing care have criminal background checks and appropriate TB screening.
Ensures effective departmental orientation and on-the-job training for new nursing employees.
Ensures personnel are adequately educated to care for acute events, chronic illnesses of the frail elderly, cognitive
impairment, end of life, and hospice care. In some settings, post-acute services/programs may dictate additional
specialized education and competencies.
Conducts continuing education programs and special in-service training to direct reports.
Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains facility personnel.
Completes evaluation of performance of direct reports at least once annually and makes recommendations for
performance improvement plans for employees who fail to meet company expectations.
Promotes and maintains pro-active, positive employee relations programs.
Maintains frequent, daily, informal interaction and provides positive feedback to staff while they are working;
Maintains open door policy in dealing with staff.
Communicates and enforces company standards on counseling, disciplinary action, granting time-off, calling off-duty
employees and/or transferring employees to cover staffing, assigning employees to specific work tasks, training,
orienting, interviewing and screening prospective employees, disciplining employees who violate policies, adjusting
complaints, evaluating performance, rewarding, approving time off and overtime, and attending to other supervisory
duties as required.
Manages the performance management process within the facility; coordinates with human resources department on
employee compensation for merit within Company pay guidelines.
Ensures mandatory in-service are provided annually, including but not limited to abuse prevention, documentation
guidelines, corporate compliance and safe business practices, blood borne pathogens, and exposure control plan.
Demonstrates developmental action to encourage and prepare nursing staff for advanced practice responsibilities or
nurse management roles.
Coordinates terminations of staff for performance related issues or for unethical behavior.
Follows-up on all complaints of sexual harassment, as appropriate.
Attends and participates in all Human Resources Workshop.
General Responsibilities
Attends and participates in scheduled training, educational classes, and meetings to maintain current certification as
applicable; Attends and participates in in-service training as mandated by regulatory agencies and company policy.
Adheres to work schedules in completing and performing assigned tasks; completes all assigned tasks in a timely
manner as instructed by the direct supervisor.
Meets acceptable center attendance requirements; notifies facility before late arrival to or absence from work
according to established center policy.
Cooperates with other facility personnel to ensure that services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of
residents; creates and maintains an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm
environment.
Adheres to established employee policies.
Adheres to established dress code.
Customer Service Responsibilities
Models customer service principals throughout the center and promotes appreciation of our customer’s needs.
Treats residents, residents’ family members, visitors and fellow employees with courtesy, respect, and dignity.
Presents professional image through appearance, behavior and speech.
Explains procedures to residents before administering services.
Residents Rights
Understands, upholds and promotes the rights of the residents.
Ensures residents can exercise rights without interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from the facility.
Ensures protected health information is kept confidential.
Ensures resident concerns/complaints are responded to with tact and urgency.
Reports allegations of resident abuse, neglect and/or misappropriation of resident property.
Coordinates effective communication with Residents and Companions by assuring all arrangements for providing
interpreters and/or other auxiliary aids and services needed by Residents and Responsible Party are made, including
scheduling interpreters through outside agencies and scheduling staff interpreters, if any; and ensuring appropriate
maintenance, repair, replacement and distribution of auxiliary aids.
Safety and Sanitation
Follows established safety policies and procedures.
Identifies and corrects safety hazards; reports safety concerns as required.
Observes safety needs of residents as indicated in care plan.
Wears and/or uses safety equipment and supplies when indicated and properly trained to use.
Demonstrates job-specific knowledge of fire and disaster preparedness during drills or actual situations.
Staff Development
Attends and participates in scheduled in-service training, educational classes and meetings to maintain current
certification as applicable and as managed by regulatory agencies and company policies.
Ensures that small group meetings are held per company policy.
Communicates new Policy & Procedures and regulations to staff to ensure compliance.
Qualifications
Currently licensed as RN in the state practiced.
Associate or Bachelor Degree from an accredited nursing school required.
Five years in long-term or acute health care preferred; At least 2 years nursing supervisory experience required.
Travel
As required to attend company meetings and workshops and marketing duties
Principal Contacts
Works closely with Administrator, nursing personnel, residents and/or responsible parties, facility personnel;
Physicians, vendors, hospitals and community agencies.