SCOPE OF ROLE:

To provide and ensure nursing supervision to maintain medical/nursing standards as prescribed in Federal and State regulations and agency policy through nursing supervision.

The Developmental Disabilities Division believes that our role in supporting people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to live meaningful lives as determined by the individual.  All persons shall live a life with dignity conforming to each personal value system.  Our philosophy is for the people we serve to be part of the community, to live fulfilling lives free of pain, suffering, illness and barriers. Our mission is to ensure access to the best health care, clinical supports and well-trained staff.  

 S:US recognizes the unique needs of those we serve and promotes health equity.  Members of the organization emphasize the importance of nursing contribution and advocacy to strive for mitigating illness and injury and early detection of conditions requiring treatment.  The scope of the unique nursing practice uses the framework necessary to ensure safe and competent nursing care involving each person and their circle of support.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

           Leadership

• Manage RN’s and LPN’s in nursing activities, including scheduling, training, evaluating effective work performance.
• Provide guidance to RN’s and LPN’s being visible in the residences and programs to engage and support staff.
• Anticipates change in schedule and case load to assist the division with critical health events. Assists with day-to-day functions of the nursing department as needed.
• Report nursing gaps in service and deficits immediately to Director of Nursing Services and Senior Vice President of DD Health and Clinical Services.

Assessment

• Develops and/or revises Plan of Nursing Services- RNs are responsible for the development of an individualized Plan of Nursing Services (PONS) for any individual who requires nursing care, including those who require medication administration for diagnosed medical conditions.
• Gather data points for monthly, hospitalization, ER visits, new diagnosis, and infection control to the Senior Vice President of DD Health and Clinical Services.
• Interpret changes/revisions of all medical/nursing regulatory standards as they occur.
• Monitor Pharmacy services – identified service issues; addresses issues as needed.
• Monitor Nutritional services. Ensures annual diet and consistency orders are signed by the health care practitioner. 

Planning

• Arrange specialty services and second opinions as needed for health concerns. This includes arranging for physical therapy and speech therapy assessments and observations.
• Collaborate with BIS and clinical management teams regarding the provision of individual services.
• Ensure communication with changes in health status or plans with external providers of care.
• Follows-up and/or processes individuals hospital admission and discharge from hospital/rehab. Ensures ER or admitting hospital unit has medical history and current medication list.  Coordinates hospital discharges to ensure knowledge and implementation of medication changes, new diagnosis, plan of nursing services revisions, adaptive equipment, determine safe discharge status, review required medical follow-ups, contact with primary care practitioners with admission and discharge status.  Collaborates with the clinical team level of supervision when individual returns to the residence.
• Ensure site RN’s are updating medical diagnosis and changes in plan of care into Precision Care electronic health record. Ensures program upload of medical referrals on a weekly basis, update medical record changes, data collection completeness of multiple variables & health indicators (blood pressures, weights, medication usage, medication errors, ER use, hospitalization days, demographics, Infection Control, etc.)
• Conducts internal auditing independently through chart and precision care reviews. Submits report with any concerns to Director of Nursing and/or Senior Vice President of DD Health and Clinical Services. Chart reviews must occur at least quarterly to ensure medical follow through and appointment compliance.
• Choking prevention – ensures mealtime needs are assessed by a licensed clinician, plan changes added to plan of nursing services, ensures site nurses train program specialists and program/assistant directors.
• Communicate to supervisor any critical health concerns.
• Available 24 hrs. / 7 day via cell phone as per medical emergency procedure/protocol, Telephone Triage Protocol and for consultation as needed.
• Attend state survey inspections and provides support to the nursing department and clinical team.
• Follows HIPAA laws and ensures health information is protected.
• Any additional responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the Director of Nursing Services.

Training & Networking

• Provides orientation and continuous in-services training to RN’s and LPN’s as it relates to professional development, new-hire orientation facilitating trainings for health and safety modules, revised agency policies and/or revised agency policies and or OPWDD Regulations; leads training with staff via a variety of platforms: live training, virtual etc.
• Educate site RN’s on Precision Care electronic health record utilization.

 KEY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with persons served and team members, appreciating their social, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds, their age, gender and abilities. Provides timely, accurate and clear documentation according to established policies and procedures

• Integrity: Uphold personal and professional ethics and values, considering the values of the organization and respecting the culture, beliefs and abilities of the people we serve. Supports the missions and values of S:US.

• Critical Evaluation: Ability to generate ideas for health services improvement for those we serve.  Handles unexpected situations by responding effectively to challenges, deadlines and emergencies

• Teamwork: Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and contribute to the leadership that creates a productive work environment where the multidisciplinary team supports one another. Ability to develop long-standing relationships with colleagues, persons served and their families as well as stakeholders

• Self-Motivated: Ability to demonstrate initiative and endeavor to maintain a stable level of productivity

• Reliability: Available as needed; includes attendance and punctuality. Responds to Individual needs promptly, accurately and with courtesy and respect

• Problem Solving: Interprets relevant information to resolve problems. Effectively balances considerations and alternatives to make sound decisions. Willingness to initiate new ideas.  Consistently looks for better ways of doing things. Persists with extra effort and overcomes obstacles to get the job done.

• Time Management: work effectively within given deadlines. Carries out orders and directives.  Organizes own time and prioritizes workload effectively.  Uses resources wisely.

• Confidentiality: Maintains confidentiality of individuals and staff.  Restricts information to those who need to know.

• Quality Improvement: Ability to improve services, health status and care that is concrete and measured by outcome of stable health outcomes, internal reviews and excellent OPWDD audit outcomes.

.  REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred.
• Active RN license is required for this position.
• Experience: Five years of experience as an RN working with the I/DD population.
  • The qualified candidate must have at least five years of nursing clinical experience.
  • Possess at least five years of supervisory experience and demonstrate high energy in mobilizing the nursing team.
  • Interprets relevant information to resolve problems. Effectively balances considerations and alternatives to make sound decisions.
  • Handles unexpected situations by responding effectively to challenges, deadlines and emergencies.
  • Responds to Individual needs promptly, accurately and with courtesy and respect. Models appropriate behavior.  Represents the organization in a positive and appropriate manner to outside resources.
  • Supports the missions and values of S:US and draws attention to behavior that undermines group effectiveness or is inconsistent with core values.

S:US IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Join a team of employees who care about the wellbeing of others. We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement. From health and wellness resources to generous PTO, professional development, and more, explore all that we offer on our Benefits Page and see how S:US invests in you. 

We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information and including all other statuses protected by Federal, State and Local laws. S:US is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities, including allowance of the use of services animals. To request reasonable accommodation or if you believe such a request was improperly handled or denied, contact the Leave Team at MyMedicalLeave@sus.org.