Registered Nurse

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

To provide direct nursing care to the residents and to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants.  Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the Merrimack County Nursing Home, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services and/or Unit Coordinator to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Examples of essential functions listed in this class specification are representative but not necessarily exhaustive or descriptive of any one position in the classification.  Management is not precluded from assigning other related functions not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment for the position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with a qualified disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

1.  Applies the nursing process by assessment, planning, implementing and evaluation of resident care on an ongoing basis.  Assist Unit Coordinator in planning and revising the MDS including implementation of raps and triggers.

2.  Participates in resident and family teaching according to care plan outlined by facility and documents the results.

3.  Works with all other nursing home departments to coordinate care and treatment of residents.

4.  Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of the total nursing regime for assigned unit.

5.  Directs and supervises Nursing Assistants in their performance by delegating to them for implementation of the therapeutic plan of care and the effective carrying out of the nursing regime.

6.  Provides emotional support and preserves resident rights and dignity while maintaining confidentiality.

7.  Ensures that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedure Manual.

8.  Meets with assigned nursing staff as well as support personnel on a regularly scheduled basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or to improve service.

9.  Participates in facility surveys made by authorized government agencies as may be requested.

10.  Responsible for contacting physician for orders, clarification, condition changes and translates the medical plan into nursing activities.

11.  Adheres to fire, safety and infection control regulations of facility.  Maintains clean and efficient work environment to prevent spread of disease and monitors assigned personnel to ensure that established safety regulations in use of equipment and supplies are followed.

12.  Responsible for admissions, transfers and discharges.

13. Accompanies physician as necessary on daily rounds.

14. Administers medication, treatments and maintains accurate count of all narcotics used within established procedure.  Orders prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary and in accordance with established policies.

15.  Maintains complete and accurate resident charts, records and reports.  Charts nursing notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the residents as well as residents response to the care.

16.  Supervises and performs evaluations on Nursing Assistants and Unit Aides.

17. Delivers nursing care to residents as directed and per facility protocol and policies that meet the standard of care that is established by Merrimack County Nursing Home and the NH Board of Nursing to promote residents quality of life.

18. Regular attendance is required.

COMPETENCIES:

1.  Ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of nursing policy, practices, and procedures.

2.  Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with nursing staff, residents and their families, and the general public.

3.  Ability to express or exchange ideas verbally and in writing.

4.  Ability to receive detailed information through oral communications.

5.  Ability to assess resident needs and ensure the delivery of appropriate services.

6.  Ability to retain confidential information pertaining to medical records.

7.  Ability to work with frequent interruptions and respond appropriately to unexpected situations.

8.  Requires skill in analyzing and interpreting data, policy, and procedures to arrive at logical conclusions and recommendations.

9. Requires logical or scientific understanding to analyze problems of a specialized or professional nature in a particular field.

10.Requires responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing agency objectives by facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other County departments.
 
11. Requires explaining facts, interpreting situations, or advising individuals of alternative or appropriate courses of action. This level also requires interviewing or eliciting information from County employees or members of the general public.

12. Requires coordinating a combination of diverse job functions in order to integrate professional and technical agency goals. This level also requires considerable judgment to implement a sequence of operations or actions.

13. Requires a range of choice in applying a number of technical or administrative policies under general direction and making routine decisions or in recommending modifications in work procedures for approval by supervisor.

14. Requires direct supervision of other employees doing work which is related or similar to he supervisor, including scheduling work, recommending leave, reviewing work for accuracy, performance appraisal or interviewing applicants for positions vacancies.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION:  Graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

EXPERIENCE:  Any combination of education and experience which demonstrate possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

CERTIFICATION: Current license as a Registered Nurse issued by the NH Board of Nursing.

OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.  Maintains professional appearance following dress code set by the facility.

2.  Performs other similar or related duties as required or directed while working for the welfare and benefit of the residents of Merrimack County Nursing Home.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: No supervision of employees or functions.

 TRAVEL: None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires performing regular job functions in an environment which includes exposure to continuous physical elements or a number of disagreeable working conditions with frequent exposure to minor injuries of health hazards.

Requires medium work, including continuous strenuous activities such as frequent reaching, bending or lifting as well as performing work activities which require fine manual dexterity or coordination in operating machines or equipment. 
 
Stooping-bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. 
 
Kneeling-Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees. 
 
Crouching-Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine. 
 
Reaching-Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. 
 
Standing-Particularly for sustained periods of time. 
 
Walking-Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another. 
 
Pushing-Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward. 
 
Pulling-using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion. 
 
Lifting-Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-­to-position. 
 
Fingering-Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.   
 
Grasping-Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm. 
 
Feeling-Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. 
 
Talking-Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.   
 
Hearing-Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.   
 
Repetitive Motion-Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. 
 
Medium work-Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
 
The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

EXPECTED WORK HOURS: First, second, or third shifts rotating schedule to include weekends and holidays. May be assigned to various units as determined by appropriate authority.  Subject to call-back during emergency conditions as established by Policies and Procedures of Merrimack County Nursing Home.
 
EEO STATEMENT:   The County of Merrimack provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, or national origin.  In addition to federal law requirements, the County of Merrimack complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which it has facilities.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.