FREE FLOAT UNIT MANAGER/SHORT TERM REHAB

Purpose of Your Job Position

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide direct nursing care to the residents, and to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nurses and nursing assistants. 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.

Delegation of Authority

As Unit Manager you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Direct the day-to-day functions of the nurses and nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility utilizing a teamwork approach.

• Ensure that all nursing personnel assigned to you 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.

• Meet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts' services, programs, and activities.

• Make written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your unit as required.

• Cooperate with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the resident's total regimen of care is maintained.

• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's continuous quality assurance program for the nursing service department.

• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as may be requested.

• Assist with and review the resident's written discharge plan. Participate in the updating of the resident's written discharge plan as required.

• Interpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as required.

• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.

• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.

• Complete investigation of accident/incident prior to forwarding to the Risk Manager

• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

• Adhere to the C.N.A. and nursing guidelines set forth in our staffing grids.

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• Promote a " zero overtime environment" while ensuring that all nursing personnel comply with the overtime policy and obtain approval and complete forms when deemed necessary.

Charting and Documentation

• Complete and file required record keeping forms/charts upon the resident's admission, transfer, and/or discharge.

• Encourage attending physicians to complete history and physicals, 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.

• Transcribe physician's orders to resident charts, kardex, medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required.

• 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.

• Report all discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet change, charting error, etc., to the DNS.

• Fill out and complete transfer forms in accordance with established procedures.

• Ensure that appropriate documentation concerning unauthorized discharges is entered in the resident's medical record in accordance with established procedures.

• Assist resident or family in the completion of the advanced directives in accordance with the resident's wishes and complete with appropriate physician's order.

• Must be proficient with computers and the utilization of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Systems.

Drug Administration Functions

• Supervise the preparation and administration of medications as ordered by the physician.

• Maintain that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents.

• Audit narcotic records for accuracy

• Notify the Director of nursing services of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift.

• Review medication Kardex for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of the physician's order, and completeness of documentation of administration.

• Dispose of drugs as required, and in accordance with established procedures. Dispose of narcotics by notifying the Director of nursing services of the need for removal.

Personnel Functions

• Participate in employee performance evaluations, determining your shift's staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the DNS concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.

• Inform the Staffing Coordinator of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work.

• Report absentee call-ins to the Staffing Coordinator.

• Develop work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments.

• Provide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift.

• 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 DNS.

• Meet with your shift's nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or to improve services.

• Ensure that department personnel, residents, and visitors follow the department's established policies and procedures at all times.

• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services, rehab services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel. Make appropriate reports to the DNS as required or as may be necessary. Follow facility's established procedures.

• Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.

• Give and receive the nursing report at beginning and end of shift while monitoring for staff's utilization of taped report.

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• Participate in disciplinary actions as appropriate.

• 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.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing 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 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.

• Review the resident's chart for specific treatments, medication orders, diets, etc., as necessary.

• Implement and maintain established nursing objectives and standards.

• Make periodic checks to ensure that licensed nurses are properly administering prescribed treatments and to evaluate the resident's physical and emotional status.

• Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a certified nursing assistant, and/or a nurse aide trainee qualified to perform the procedure.

• Notify the resident's attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident's condition, including an accident or incident.

• Carry out restorative and rehabilitative programs, to include self-help and care.

• Inspect the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.

• Administer professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, 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 and procedures. Ensure that all documentation has been completed prior to the use of restraints.

• 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.

• Ensure that personnel providing direct care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident's care plan and wishes.

RHMLC