Registered Nurse
Classification Reports to
Non-Exempt Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing
Summary/Objective
In keeping with our organization’s goal of improving the lives of the Guests we serve, the Registered Nurse (R.N.) plays a critical role in providing superior customer service and nursing care to all Guests. The R.N. provides supervision of staff and will safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all Guests under their care by following applicable laws, regulations, and established nursing policies and procedures.
Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Provides quality nursing care to Guests in an environment that promotes their rights, dignity and freedom of choice.
- Provides supervision to C.N.A’s and all subordinate staff which includes checking their work to ascertain that assignments have been completed.
- Assign all C.N.A’s and other subordinate staff to Guests. Assign break times and all regular and special assignments.
- Administer all parenteral, intramuscular and sub-cutaneous injections.
- Administer medications within the scope of practice of the R.N. Licensure. Maintain a current report of narcotics received and used.
- Review daily the documentation of the dispensing of the controlled substances and narcotics. Ensure that drugs covered by controlled substances laws are verified by inventory.
- Place pharmacy orders, for and administer all newly prescribed medications and document.
- Carry out direct contemporaneous charting in your shift. Chart detailed monthly evaluations of each Guest that reflect his/her condition and progress.
- Responsible for all nursing care of assigned Guests while on duty. Must notify appropriate persons if there is any significant change in a Guest’s condition or any transfer to a hospital.
- Ensure that Guest care plans are being followed and asses each Guest’s status in accord with their care plan.
- Round with physicians when needed.
- Administer or supervise all treatments prescribed by physicians including but not limited to pressure ulcer care, Foley catheter care, hot and cold compounds and intravenous therapy.
- Supervise serving of prescribed diets and fluids intake and immediately report any issues to the physician and DON/ADON.
- Must be knowledgeable of individual care plans and support the care planning process by reporting specific information and observations of the Guest’s needs, preferences and report any behavioral changes.
- Provide wound care when needed.
- Completes medical records documenting care provided and other information in accordance with nursing policies while maintaining strict confidentiality.
- Assure that established infection control and standard precaution practices are maintained when providing care. Follow established safety precautions when preforming tasks and using equipment and supplies.
- Reports all hazardous conditions, damaged equipment and supply issues to appropriate persons.
- Maintains the comfort, privacy and dignity of Guests and interacts with them in a manner that displays warmth, respect and promotes a caring environment.
- Answer and respond to call lights promptly and courteously.
- Assist with new admissions, re-admissions and assist with the transfer of Guests to different rooms within the facility.
- Communicates and interacts effectively and tactfully with Guests, visitors, families, peers and supervisors.
- Attend and participate in departmental meetings and in-services as directed.
Supervisory Responsibility
Supervises employees in the department and others for whom they are administratively or professionally responsible by following policies and applicable laws. Uses independent judgment and discretion on behalf of the organization in the performance of these duties.
Supervisory responsibilities include:
- Interviews, hires, and trains employees.
- Schedules, plans, assigns and directs work.
- Receives calls and finds replacements for absent staff.
- Prepares performance evaluations
- Approves errors in time cards or other timekeeping records.
- Receives and resolves employee complaints.
- Monitors and corrects job performance of employees.
- Disciplines employees up to and including discharge.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to blood or other body fluids, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here representative those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance and stoop, squat or kneel. The employee will frequently will assist to lift and/or transfer objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and peripheral vision.
Infection Control
Applies hand washing principles during daily work; demonstrates understanding of isolation and standard precautions; recognizes signs and symptoms of infection and complies with the employee health program; demonstrates understanding of the process for identifying and handling infectious waste; maintains personal hygiene; complies with OSHA standards in the work place; and demonstrates understanding of cross-contamination.
Language Skills
Must be able to speak and write in the English language in an understandable manner. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond quickly to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
Resident Rights
Promotes and protects residents’ rights; assists residents to make informed decisions; treats residents with dignity and respect; protects residents’ personal belongings; reports suspected abuse or neglect; avoids the need for physical restraints in accordance with current professional standards; supports independent expression, choice and decision-making consistent with applicable law and regulation.
Continuing Education
Attends in-service and education programs and attends continuing education required for maintenance of professional certification or licensure.
Required Education and Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Graduate from and accredited nursing program.
- Current State License as a Registered Nurse
- P.R. Certified
- Preferred one year experience as an R.N. in a long term care setting.
- Knowledge of LARA regulations.
