Director of Nursing (DON)

NeuLife•Hammond, LA

20h•$68,000 - $90,000

About The Position

NeuLife Rehabilitation of Louisiana is seeking a dedicated, experienced, and compassionate Registered Nurse to lead and oversee nursing services at its Hammond, Louisiana location. The Director of Nursing oversees nursing operations, medication management, staff training, clinical documentation, regulatory compliance, infection prevention, and clients’ overall health and safety. The role collaborates with the Program Administrator, Director of Rehabilitation, Case Management, and other interdisciplinary team members to support client wellness, rehabilitation, and individualized treatment goals. The Director provides leadership, supervision, mentoring, and training to nursing personnel and designated staff; oversees nursing services and clinical care; conducts nursing assessments; and helps develop, implement, review, and update individualized assessments, care plans, treatment goals, and discharge plans. The role monitors client health and coordinates care with physicians, healthcare providers, rehabilitation professionals, and the interdisciplinary team. It also provides on-call nursing support for medication management and nursing-related concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the established coverage and backup rotation schedule. The Director oversees medication administration systems and records, ensures clinical documentation is accurate and timely, and maintains confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and applicable privacy requirements. The position is responsible for compliance with applicable Louisiana Department of Health requirements, state licensing rules, federal regulations, CARF standards where applicable, and company policies. Other duties include infection prevention, safety and quality initiatives, staff education, emergency preparedness, incident reporting, and coordination of care during emergencies. The role may require reporting to and remaining at the program during hurricanes, disasters, or other crises when directed by management and when client health or safety may be at risk.

Requirements

Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license valid for practice in Louisiana.
Knowledge of medication management, clinical documentation, infection prevention, client safety, and quality assurance.
Familiarity with HIPAA, Louisiana healthcare regulations, and applicable CARF accreditation standards.
Strong leadership, communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Ability to train, supervise, and motivate staff while maintaining professional boundaries and accountability.
Ability to respond to nursing-related concerns and participate in an established on-call rotation.
Ability to support emergency preparedness and meet the essential requirements of the position, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Previous nursing leadership, supervisory, or management experience.
Experience in rehabilitation, behavioral health, residential care, long-term care, or a related healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

Uphold NeuLife Rehabilitation of Louisiana’s vision, mission, values, and objectives.
Provide professional leadership, supervision, mentoring, and training to nursing personnel and other designated staff.
Maintain knowledge of company programs, services, and ancillary resources.
Oversee nursing services and ensure staff follow job descriptions, policies, procedures, and professional standards.
Provide on-call nursing support for medication management and nursing-related concerns 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the established coverage and backup rotation schedule.
Conduct initial nursing assessments upon admission and subsequent assessments based on each client’s needs, including monthly assessments where required by regulations and company policy.
Participate in developing, implementing, reviewing, and updating individualized assessments, treatment goals, care plans, and discharge plans.
Monitor clients’ health status and coordinate with physicians, healthcare providers, rehabilitation professionals, and the interdisciplinary team.
Oversee medication administration systems, medication records, treatment schedules, medication cards, medication storage, inventory, and medication control procedures.
Ensure medications and treatments comply with Louisiana laws and regulations, provider orders, professional nursing standards, and company policies.
Ensure physician orders, progress notes, and other required medical documentation are completed, signed, and maintained within applicable timeframes.
Review client records daily with the Program Administrator to identify deficiencies and promote compliance with documentation and care requirements.
Complete and maintain nursing notes, assessments, incident reports, clinical forms, charting, studies, and other required records accurately and promptly.
Monitor clinical documentation for accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and confidentiality; disclose client information only to authorized individuals in accordance with HIPAA and applicable privacy requirements.
Ensure compliance with applicable Louisiana Department of Health requirements, state licensing rules, federal regulations, HIPAA, CARF accreditation standards where applicable, and company policies and procedures.
Monitor nursing personnel, client care practices, and facility conditions to maintain a clean, sanitary, orderly, and safe environment.
Conduct periodic inspections of client equipment to verify proper operation, cleanliness, and safety.
Assist in developing, implementing, and evaluating quality improvement initiatives, safety programs, and clinical policies.
Implement and monitor infection prevention and control procedures, including surveillance and reporting of communicable diseases and hazardous conditions.
Conduct or coordinate safety, fire, and elopement drills across all shifts with Life Skills Supervisors and the Program Administrator.
Submit incident reports to the Program Administrator immediately, with timely documentation and notification to the designated management representative when the Administrator is unavailable.
Participate in clinical meetings, team conferences, utilization reviews, infection control activities, audits, trainings, and quality assurance initiatives.
Collaborate with the Program Administrator and Director of Rehabilitation to develop and deliver new employee orientation and ongoing staff education.
Provide ongoing training, guidance, and support to Life Skills Supervisors and Life Skills Technicians on health, wellness, safety, and related client care responsibilities.
Work with management and supervisory personnel to provide operational backup when staffing shortages, absences, or other program needs arise.
Promote effective communication, teamwork, accountability, and professional conduct throughout the organization.
Participate in professional and family tours as requested and help train staff to conduct tours appropriately.
Follow the established chain of command and maintain professional working relationships with clients, families, staff, and community partners.
Serve on the Emergency Preparedness Team and fulfill assigned emergency response responsibilities.
Participate in emergency preparedness planning, training, drills, and implementation of emergency procedures.
Report to and remain at the program during hurricanes, disasters, or other crises when directed by management and when clients’ health or safety may be at risk, subject to applicable procedures and management instructions.
Assist with client transportation during emergencies when directed and authorized by management, consistent with company policy, applicable law, vehicle insurance requirements, and safe transportation procedures.
Coordinate with management and other team members to protect client health, safety, and continuity of care during emergencies.