Assistant Director of Nursing

JOB SUMMARY:

The Assistant Director of Nursing assists the Director of Nursing Services in planning, organizing, developing and directing the day-to-day functions of the Nursing Services Department in accordance with current federal, state and local standards governing long-term care facilities, and as may directed by the Administrator, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care can be provided to the residents at all times.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be a Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing and currently licensed by the State of Hawaii.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Previous experience in a hospital, long-term care facility, or other healthcare related facility.
• Must show ability to read and write in a legible and understandable manner.
• Must speak and understand English.
• Must be knowledgeable of general, rehabilitative and restorative nursing and medical practices and procedures and laws, regulations and guidelines governing long-term care.
• Positive attitude toward the elderly.

Essential Job Functions

• Assist the Director of Nursing in planning, developing, organizing, implementing , evaluating, and directing the day-to-day function of the Nursing Services Department, its programs and activities; participate in developing, maintaining and periodically updating written nursing policies, procedures, reference materials, manual, objectives and philosophies; assist in developing and implementing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services; implement plans of action to correct deficiencies; complete medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charts, etc.; ensure that all nursing services personnel are performing their respective duties; participate in developing, implementing and maintaining resident discharge procedures and plans; assist in developing and implementing nursing services organization structure; participate in surveys and inspections by government agencies; and make reports and recommendation to the Director of Nursing Services and Administrator concerning operations of the department.
• Responsible to provide Clinical Supervision for all residents as "day supervisor."
• Responsible for all in-service Coordination/Educational needs of all departments. Will maintain in-service records.
• Responsible for accident/unusual occurrence tracking/trending monitoring systems as assigned.
• Assistant Director of Nursing with pressure sore and infection control monitoring.
• Responsible for rounding on all facility residents at least twice a day.
• Responsible for making schedules for nursing staff/CNA staff for all hours as assigned by the Director of Nursing.

Nursing Care Functions

• Participate in interviewing and screening residents for admission to the facility; inform personnel of new admissions, ensure rooms are ready, greet new admissions and escort to rooms; schedule daily rounds and monitor residents' treatment and medications to ensure residents are receiving proper care; review nurses' notes to ensure proper documentation is maintained relating to residents' treatment, medication and conditions; ensure proper record keeping by physicians; report problem areas to the Director of Nursing Services and assist in developing and implementing corrective actions; and provide direct nursing care as necessary.

Personnel Functions

• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, counseling, evaluating, disciplining and terminating nursing services personnel, document and coordinate personnel actions with the Personnel Manager or Administrator.
• Assist in scheduling department work hours; delegate administrative authority, responsibility and accountability to nursing services supervisory personnel as deemed necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Ensure that all nursing services personnel have valid and current licenses and are performing duties in accordance with acceptable nursing standards; interpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, families, visitors and government agencies as necessary.
• Review personnel complaints and grievances and ensure that all personnel are treated consistent with policies and applicable laws.

Infection Control (or Preventionist) Functions (if designated as Infection Preventionist or as assigned.)

• Implement and review the facility's infection prevention program.
• Utilization of existing standards and guidelines related to infection control of applicable professional organizations and regulatory agencies.
• Collect and analyze data related to infections and antibiotic usage, monitoring for trends and increasing resistance.
• Dissemination of infection prevention information, including surveillance data and policy decisions.
• Direction, management and operation of the infection prevention program, including the education of facility staff and independent practitioners.
• Consult with county and state health departments, as needed.
• Resource for facility staff regarding infection prevention issues, including the management of infections residents and other infection prevention concerns.
• Monitor and track employee illness to identify trends and determine necessary interventions and/or work restrictions.

Staff Development Functions

• Participate in developing, planning, implementing, conducting and scheduling orientation, training and in-service educational activities for nursing services personnel within scope of practice; assist other departments with developing, implementing and coordinating training programs that relate to nursing services; maintain professional competence, as well as current licenses, through participation in continuing education programs, seminars and training programs; and assist in ensuring that all nursing services personnel attend and participate in Hazardous Communication and Standard Precautions training programs prior to reporting for work assignments.

Committee Functions

• In the absence of the Director of Nursing Services and as directed, attend and participate in various committees and meetings of the facility; participate in the development, maintenance, implementation and updating of policies and procedures for the storage, administration and control of medications and supplies; and evaluate and implement recommendations pertaining to nursing services.

Safety and Sanitation Functions

• Assist in developing, implementing safety standards, written aseptic and isolation techniques, programs for monitoring communicable and/or infectious disease among residents and personnel, and procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment; ensure that nursing services personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary; ensure that all nursing services personnel understand and follow departmental policies and procedures, standard precautions, established safety rules and faire and disaster procedures; and ensures cleanliness of Nursing services work areas, stations, preparation rooms, treatment areas and resident care rooms.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Assist and participate in developing each resident a preliminary and comprehensive assessment and written care plan that identifies the nursing and medical problems and/or needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem and/or need identified; encourage resident and their families to participate in the development and review of care plans; ensure that all nursing services personnel are aware of the care plan and that care plans are used in providing daily nursing services to the resident; review nurses' notes and monitor residents to determine if the care plans are being followed and if each residents' needs are being met; and participate in assessing, reviewing and revising care plans as required.

Safety

• Comply with all Company safety policies, regulations and requirements regarding fire and life safety.
• Comply with all Company safety policies regulations and requirements involving employee safety and patient safety. This includes but is not limited to: a zero tolerance for harassment and violence; following infection control procedures; following safe patient handling as required with your specific job position.
• May be required to assist in the evacuation of patients during emergency situations.
• Meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility.

Resident' Rights

• Maintain resident confidentiality and privacy; treat residents with kindness, dignity and respect.
• Know and comply with and ensure that all nursing services personnel know and comply with Resident's Rights rules; monitor nursing services to ensure that resident's needs and rights are met.
• Review, promptly report to the Administrator and maintain written records of all resident complaints and grievances.

Residents' Rights and Positive Relationships

• Understand, comply with and promote all rules and regulations regarding residents' rights.
• Promote positive relationships with residents, visitors, and regulators, to include presenting a professional appearance.

Other Functions and Responsibilities

• Must adhere to Code of Conduct and Business Ethics policy, including documentation and reporting responsibilities.
• Participate in Quality Improvement activities as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned or needed.
• Ability to understand and apply training from in-service education and ability to instruct personnel during training education and staff meetings.
• This position regularly requires long hours and frequent weekend work.
• This is a position in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and working during inclement weather may be required.
• Participate in Regional QA meetings.
• Work collaboratively with Risk Management to identify potential customer service breakdowns and recovery strategies.

Physical and Sensory Requirements (With or Without Aid of Mechanical Devices):

This position is very active and requires:

• Sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; ability to read and write.
• Ability to sit (greater than 3 hours) stand or walk for extended periods of time.
• Have a working understanding of English; ability to ready and write; ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions; ability to verbally communicate with residents and others; ability to hear respond to pages.
• Use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to distinguish smells, tastes and temperatures.
• Ability to remain calm in emergency situations and when handling multiple tasks.