Director of Nursing
About The Position
The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for providing the pinnacle of excellence in patient care by establishing a professional philosophy of gerontological nursing. The nursing service maintains a qualified staff to meet the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of all patients. The DON establishes the overall objectives of nursing and provides administrative guidance and support of facility goals, policy, and chain of command. This is a hands-on role requiring the ability to be on the floor, coach and mentor staff in real time, build a team of compassionate, committed nurses, and set the tone for a positive, accountable culture. The ideal candidate leads by example and is willing to roll up their sleeves.
Requirements
- Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing
- Must have a current license in the state in which he/she is practicing
- Management skills, including planning, organizing, directing, and controlling
- Communication skills and follow-up capabilities
- Ability to initiate specific nursing judgment in individual patient care treatments
- Capacity for participating in various departmental, clinician, educator, personnel manager, and controller of quality roles
- Must be available on a 24-hour basis as needed for guidance of resident and staff needs
- Good human relations in communication are required
- Must be assertive and motivated to be effective in management
- Must ensure the nursing department meets the requirements set forth in Federal and State regulations
- Responsible for overall management of the facility when the administrator is not on the premises or unavailable
- Gerontological certification should be achieved within two years
Responsibilities
- Establish objectives, plans, and programs
- Develop and implement policies and procedures
- Define and assign responsibilities
- Communicate and collaborate with medical directors
- Evaluate and audit departmental operations
- Assess staff development needs
- Develop and implement recruitment and retention programs
- Demonstrate techniques – oversee care planning and delivery
- Counsel and promote staff – perform team member evaluations
- Serve as a role model – share and implement new knowledge
- Collect data on unusual occurrences – provide safe and clean environment for patient and staff
- Assure competency and health of staff
- Counsel families, patients, and solve problems where indicated
- Function as resident care coordinator
- Perform chart auditing in an orderly fashion, including new admissions and unstable conditions
- Conduct daily nursing rounds to confirm census, staffing, and monitor patient environment
- Take all calls-off Monday – Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and recruit and replace staff call-off for improved and more concentrated patient care
- Handle supportive documentation from doctors for team members with frequent call-offs or developing patterns
- Initiate disciplinary action for tardiness and lateness
- Write daily flow sheets that are accurate and well-staffed
- Write the schedule biweekly, considering vacations, requested days off, quality points, birthdays, and personal days
- Hold daily absentee slips until the team member calls back and confirms their return to work, documenting communication and action taken
- Initial personal request forms, birthday, vacation, leave of absence, change of status, and change of data for staffing monitoring system (SMS), making notations for the schedule if necessary
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
