III.5.2c Charge Nurse at CHESHIRE HOME INC

Description

To provide sensitive, quality nursing care to residents through ongoing assessments, direct care, leadership and supervision of Certified Nurses' Aides and other Nurses and report any problems to the Clinical Coordinator and assist management with solution to same.

JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Provide high quality nursing care in accordance with recognized standards of nursing practice and established policies of Cheshire Home. Behave responsibly and ethically towards all. Respect confidentiality of residents and staff.
2. Provide leadership and promote sound communications throughout the Nursing Department and report regularly to the Clinical Coordinator any trends with staff or residents that do not appear satisfactorily resolved.
   • a. Assist the Clinical Coordinator and Director of Nursing in providing leadership and supervision to other Nursing Staff personnel.
   • b. Assist in suggestions and problem solving in Nursing Department as well as assisting Clinical Coordinator and Director of Nursing in formulation of new policies and procedures and completing employee inservices and evaluations.
   • c. Serves as back up to Clinical Coordinator in completing intake interview on potential candidates for admission to Cheshire Home.
3. Interact with residents and staff through a genuine concern for the smooth operations of the shift and the Nursing Department.
4. Report for duty before shift change and receive report from prior shift Charge Nurse, give report to oncoming shift Charge Nurse using care plans and twenty-four hour report sheet. Report to include any changes in physician's orders, any significant changes in resident status, any resident receiving specific treatments.
5. Maintain controlled substance record through participation in a double count each shift that is worked. Administer medications and record, as needed.
6. Participate in comprehensive assessments and care planning with residents and the Interdisciplinary Team, and encourage residents to follow through with their individualized care plans.
7. Give report to Certified Nurses' Aides. Assist with and complete the scheduling of Care Staff and temporary agency when needed to ensure full complement of staff in the absence of the Clinical Coordinator or the Director of Nursing.
8. Maintain accurate and complete resident health record for your tour of duty including updating care plans, nursing summaries, M.D.S., medication and treatment records, and physician orders to ensure that all are in compliance with federal, state and local (Medicaid) regulations.
9. Assess resident care needs. Help assign duties and delegate responsibilities to the Nurses' Aides with assistance of the Charge Certified Nurses' Aide.
10. Supervise and monitor Certified Nurses' Aides with all aspects of residential care.
11. Complete prescribed treatments and procedures for residents and record in TAR times.
12. Supervise self-medication regime on a planned periodic basis for those residents on this program including ongoing education of residents, spot-checking and documentation of interventions.
13. Maintain coverage of nursing station including call bells and telephone.
14. Receive and transcribe physician orders. Report change of condition to attending physician and document appropriately. Notify RN. on call or Nursing Administration on call (4-12 and 12-8).
15. Report all unusual occurrences and changes in resident status to the Clinical Coordinator and/or the Director of Nursing.
16. Notify a resident's family, health care proxy, or person of their choice, within two hours of a change in resident's status, and document same in medical record.
17. Check audits of MARs/T ARs, medication and treatment cart, assist and confer with nurses responsible for same.
18. Transcribe monthly MARs/TARs and proof with Physician's Order Sheets.

Non-Essential Job Functions

1. Maintain established controls for linen and medical supplies while participating in the maintenance of adequate inventories at all times.
2. Participate in recognition of potential health and safety hazards with individual residents throughout the Home environment.
3. Assist in orientation of new staff; counseling staff and evaluations when asked to do so.
4. While on duty, monitor activities taking place in-house and communicate any problems to appropriate staff members to ensure smooth operations in-house.
5. Coordinate the scheduling of resident care to attempt to comply with residents' wishes and needs.
6. Participate in regularly scheduled Nursing Services Department staff meetings, Cheshire Home staff meetings, and inservice programs.
7. Work cooperatively with regulatory agency personnel during their survey visits to Cheshire Home.
8. Perform any and all such duties related to the effective and efficient operation of Cheshire Home, as may be assigned by the Clinical Coordinator or the Director of Nursing.

JOB RELATIONSHIPS

WORKERS SUPERVISED: All care staff

CONTACTS

• Administration
• Residents
• Medical Staff
• Families
• Other Departments
• Visitors
• Outside Agencies and Organizations

ENVIRONMENT

1. Work Conditions
   • a. Works indoors in a long term care facility environment.
2. Physical Demands
   • a. Moderate amount of walking and occasional resident care activities
   • b. Occasional exposure to lifting and turning residents
3. Hazards
   • a. Normal to a long term care facility environment
   • b. Mechanical equipment

Qualifications

1. Charge Nurse with current license in the State of New Jersey.
2. Minimum three years experience in nursing, including responsibilities of charge nurse or taking charge for a unit.
3. Experience in working with the disabled, preferably in a rehabilitation or long term care setting, desirable.
4. Skills in problem solving, goal setting, assessment, and care planning.
5. Ability to focus on the total person rather than on a specific disability or presenting problem.
6. Dedication to the Cheshire Home philosophy of promotion of functional independence, self-care, self-government and self-realization.
7. Demonstration of leadership and creativity; a self-starter with proven management skills.
8. Membership in professional associations, desirable.
9. Proof of professional liability insurance.
10. Can perform Essential Functions with or without reasonable accommodations.