Director of Nursing

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• 1. Collaborate with other health care professionals including consultants, government agencies and advocacy groups in the development and support of resident care, administrative functions and facility mission.
• 2. Develop and maintain nursing policies and procedures that conform to current standards of nursing practice, facility mission and state and federal regulations.
• 3. Maintain knowledge of all current state and federal regulations and facility policies.
• 4. Review all referrals based on facility ability to meet the needs of potential resident.
• 5. Review re-hospitalization trends and implement a plan to reduce unnecessary re-hospitalizations in accordance with facility policies and regulations.
• 6. Participate in the annual facility assessment.
• 7. Work with the Infection Preventionist to establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.
• 8. Provide fiscal oversight and management of the nursing department budget.
• 9. Oversee the staff development program to ensure nursing team members have the tools, training and resources to properly care for residents in accordance with facility policies and the resident assessment.
• 9. Assist in developing, implementing and periodically updating the written procedures for the discharge planning program.
• 10. Develop and implement a nursing services organizational structure.
• 11. Develop methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of resident care.
• 12. Develop, implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program for the nursing services department.
• 13. Develop, maintain and periodically update written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations.
• 14. Develop, maintain and periodically update written facility policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing services department; review facility policies at least annually.
• 15. Maintain a reference library of written nursing material (i.e., Physician's Desk Reference (PDR), regulations, standards of practice, etc.) that will assist the nursing services department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the resident.
• 16. Monitor the facility's quality measure reports; develop and implement performance improvement plans.
• 17. Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as directed.
• 18. Perform administrative duties such as auditing the electronic health record (EHR), completing forms, compiling reports, producing and approving evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
• 19. Oversee and monitor the facility abuse prevention program.
• 20. Ensure that competent and qualified individuals provide nursing care.
• 21. Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct the nursing services department as well as its programs and activities in accordance with current rules, regulations and guidelines that govern the nursing care facilities.
• 22. Participate in all team meetings as required including "triple check," admission, discharge planning, standards of care, utilization review, QAPI, safety and risk meetings, etc.
• 13. Assist with developing resident care plans.
• 14. Encourage the resident and his/her family to participate in the development and review of the resident's plan of care.
• 15. Ensure that medical and nursing care are administered in accordance with the resident's wishes including the implementation of advance directives.