Asst. Director of Nursing

ArchCare•Town of Rhinebeck, NY

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Nursing assists the Director of Nursing (DON) with assigned duties and helps plan, develop, implement, and evaluate professional practice standards and resident care outcomes. The role ensures compliance with facility policies and procedures, the facility’s philosophy of care, and state and federal regulations. It also helps ensure that care meets facility and regulatory standards and keeps the DON informed of important events, feedback, and problems. The position is responsible for the clinic, including Central Supply, Podiatry, Dental, Optometry, Radiology, and Audiology. Duties include overseeing daily operations, scheduling and evaluating clinic staff, conducting monthly and quarterly quality-assurance audits and reporting findings to the QA committee, and arranging biannual Dutchess County X-ray inspections. The Assistant Director of Nursing prepares and follows an annual budget for clinic areas. The role coordinates resident out-trips and in-house consultations, follows up with primary physicians, coordinates Infection Control activities when the Infection Control Nurse is absent, and tracks Employee Health as necessary. It performs audits of nursing staff attendance, overtime, mandatory assignments, and retention, as well as resident-care audits covering admissions, resident expiration, MAR/TAR omissions, psychotropic and restraint usage, and Foley catheter usage. It also handles discontinued medications and controlled substances according to applicable policy and procedure. The Assistant Director of Nursing participates in nursing-home committees and the Nursing Policy and Procedure Committee; assists with the development, review, revision, and implementation of nursing policies and procedures; conducts nursing staff meetings as assigned; and performs other related quality-assurance duties. The role functions as Nursing Supervisor as needed and covers the nursing unit when Nurse Managers are absent. It provides on-call coverage for the DON at least two weekends per month and when the DON is away on vacation, holiday, or sick leave. The work involves standing and walking during the shift; lifting and carrying equipment; assisting residents into equipment and while moving; reading instructions and charts; observing residents during treatments; adjusting equipment; and positioning residents. Exposure may include infections, odors, and behavioral changes or reactions among older adults. A professional appearance, grooming, attitude, and skills are expected.

Requirements

3–5 years of related work experience in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).
New York State RN license.
Ability to stand and walk during the shift; lift and carry equipment; assist residents into equipment and with moving; read instructions and charts; observe residents during treatments; adjust equipment; and help position residents.
Ability to work with exposure to infections, odors, and behavioral changes and reactions of older adults.

Responsibilities

Assist with assigned general duties and responsibilities of the Director of Nursing.
Interpret and ensure compliance with facility policies and procedures, the facility’s philosophy of care, and state and federal regulations.
Provide on-call coverage for the DON at least two weekends per month and when the DON is on vacation, holiday, or sick leave.
Interview, select, and assist in assigning Certified Nursing Assistants and Nursing Assistant trainees.
Oversee clinic operations, including Central Supply, Podiatry, Dental, Optometry, Radiology, and Audiology; schedule and evaluate clinic staff; conduct monthly and quarterly QA audits and report to the QA committee; and arrange biannual Dutchess County X-ray inspections.
Prepare and adhere to an annual budget for clinic areas.
Coordinate Infection Control activities when the Infection Control Nurse is absent.
Coordinate and oversee resident out-trips and in-house consultations and follow up with primary physicians regarding consults.
Audit nursing staff attendance, overtime, mandatory assignments, and retention.
Coordinate and track Employee Health as necessary.
Collect discontinued resident medications and ensure their proper disposition or destruction; collect discontinued medications for pharmacy credit and discontinued controlled substances for recording, storage, and destruction according to policy and regulations.
Perform other assigned quality-assurance duties, including resident-care audits of admissions, resident expiration, MAR/TAR omissions, psychotropic usage, restraint usage, and Foley catheter usage.
Participate in the Nursing Policy and Procedure Committee and assist with formulating, reviewing, revising, and implementing nursing policies and procedures.
Keep the DON informed of important events, feedback, and problems.
Function as Nursing Supervisor as needed and cover the nursing unit when Nurse Managers are absent.
Participate in nursing-home committees and conduct nursing staff meetings as assigned.
Help plan, develop, implement, and evaluate professional practice standards and resident care outcomes.
Ensure care is delivered in accordance with facility and regulatory standards.
Maintain a professional appearance, grooming, attitude, and skills.