JOB SUMMARY:

Under the direction of the Director of Nursing, the Charge Nurse is responsible for the comprehensiveness care of assigned residents and for the supervision of nursing personnel, who assist in the provision of care to those residents. Such supervision must be in accordance with current Federal, State, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Must possess, as a minimum, a nursing degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved RN program.
• Must have, as a minimum, one year experience as a supervisor in a hospital, long term care facility, or other related health care facility.
• Must have training in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices.
• Must possess a current, unencumbered license to practice as Registered Nurse in California.
• 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 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 the patience, tact, 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.
• MDS experience preferred.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Must possess the appropriate mathematical skills in conjunction with holding current state license.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• The ability to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, with all levels of staff, governmental agencies, professional organizations, outside vendors, contractors, counsel, AFVW residents and employee’s.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participates in directing the day to day functions of the nursing activities in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long term care facility.
• Participate in the developing, maintaining, and updating of written policies and procedures that govern the day to day functions of the Nursing Services department.
• Participate in ensuring that the Nursing Services procedure manual is followed by nursing service personnel and that it reflects the day to day nursing care procedures used by the facility.
• Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the resident’s total regimen of care.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are following their respective job descriptions.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc.
• Interprets and implements physicians’ orders.
• Participates in the development, maintenance and implementation of the facility’s quality assurance program for the Nursing Services Department.
• Participate in survey inspections made by authorized government agencies.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director as necessary/required concerning the operation of the Nursing Services Department.
• Admit, transfer and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Ensure that the appropriate number of licensed nurses is available during shifts to ensure that quality care is maintained.
• Ensure that the appropriate number of nursing assistants is available for shifts to ensure that routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident.
• Make daily rounds of the Nursing Services Department to ensure that all nursing services personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report findings to Director.
• Monitors absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care personnel are on duty at all times. Reports problem areas to Director.
• Ensure that disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.
• Develop and maintain good working rapport with interdepartmental 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.
• Assure that department personnel, residents and visitors follow the departments established policies and procedures at all times including dress codes.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Assists in the orientation and training of new nursing personnel.
• Attends staff meeting and in-service meetings as necessary.
• Meets with shift on a regularly scheduled basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and/or improvement of services.
• Participate in determining shifts staffing requirements, employee performance evaluations, and making recommendations to the Director concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and nonprofessional personnel.