REGISTERED NURSE (RN)
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: CHIEF NURSING OFFICER
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer for the organization, administration, direction, supervision, and provision of resident care delivery and practice, in accordance with the standards and criteria as outlined in the Ministry of Long Term Care Fixing Long Term Care Act; the Compendium of Standards of Practice for Nurses in Ontario; and the policies and procedures of Albright Manor.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Within the established policies and procedures of Albright Manor, and the Standards of Practice as set forth by the College of Nurses of Ontario, and the Standards and Criteria as set forth by the Ministry of Long Term Care, the Registered Nurse will:
- Provide professional leadership to those staff reporting to him/her. This will include decision making as appropriate, advanced assessment of resident biopsychosocial condition, problem solving as appropriate, direction, delegation and assignment of duties/work routines, staff orientation/training, staff
- Performance evaluation; supervision of staff; and in the absence of the Nursing Scheduler and Administrative Assistant replaces staff on the schedule when call ins are made;
- Establish and maintain collegial relationships both internally and externally to promote team cohesiveness and ensure positive outcomes for residents/family, always ensuring that resident's safety and well being come first;
- Participate on internal committees including infection control, pharmacy and therapeutics, medical advisory, and health and safety, and manage and direct the residential units in accordance with the requirements of the Albright Manor established policies, procedures, and standards in these areas;
- Complete all pertinent resident charting documentation, using the electronic records documentation system;
- Complete all pertinent resident documentation related to RAI-MDS, as assigned by the RAI Coordinator and required by the Ministry of Long Term Care;
- Maintain confidentiality relating to any resident information obtained, at all times, and enforce the importance and practice of confidentiality with the staff;
- Provide advanced assessment and/or active resident care, where required by physician's orders, or where the RPN requests consultation, for those residents experiencing acute episodes of illness, or where the complexity of symptoms requires advanced assessments, and where appropriate instituting remedial health measures in accordance with the resident's health care directive.
- Provide daily monitoring and care of all residents identified as having an acute illness, or special condition, that is beyond the scope of practice of the RPN; document on the resident's chart regarding the same; consult with the doctor as needed; make decisions regarding transfer to hospital;
- Review resident's medical condition on return from hospital, and be responsible for family contact; maintain contact until resident stabilized.
- Ensure the safe and effective administration of medications to the residents, always with the resident's consent. This will include auditing of all resident charts to ensure consents have been obtained and are current; supervision of the RPN who is the primary staff member responsible for the administration, (including all related documentation and double checking of doctor's orders) of medications; investigation of all medication errors and appropriate follow up to prevent the same; review of all medication audit reports as produced by the pharmacy consultant with appropriate follow up to prevent charting errors and implement recommendations; dispensing of prescription medications from the stock cupboard as necessary; administration (including all related documentation) of medications requiring intramuscular injection or administration intravenously and in the absence of the RPN administration (including all related documentation) of all medications to the residents;
- Be responsible for all intake requirements for every new resident, from the date of admission of the resident up to and including the first multidisciplinary care conference. This will include an initial assessment of the resident to confirm the resident information received from Access Niagara; responsibility for the set up of the resident's chart ensuring that all initial resident bio phychosocial information is available and current; consultation(s) with and provision of direction(s) to the RPN concerning the resident's immediate care requirements and short term plans including any resident family issues; communication to and coordination of all applicable staff/departments to ensure that the resident's immediate biopsychosocial needs are being met in a timely manner; coordination and participation in all initial multidisciplinary care conferences; charting as required and appropriate;
- Review and monitor the effectiveness of resident care plans as developed by the RPN to ensure positive outcomes;
- Coordinate and participate in all multi-disciplinary resident care conferences where there has been a significant change in the bio physchosocial status of the resident, and in other resident care conferences at his/her discretion, and document in all cases as required and appropriate;
- Provide quality assurance activities, and in consultation with the Director of Nursing, implement continuous quality of service delivery improvements. This will include: regular frequent auditing of resident charts to ensure accuracy, timeliness, completeness, clarity, and availability of all resident required information, and further that such information in part mirrors the requirements for charting as per the Ministry of Health classification system assessment tool;
- Regular inspection(s) of the resident/staff environment including equipment and hazardous materials to ensure safe operation and storage, as well as investigation of workplace incidents/accidents;
- Review all orders prescribed by external/internal health care professionals to ensure accuracy of transcription, and relevancy of order;
- Monitor frequency, location and severity of infections and implement preventative measures and supervise staff accordingly;
- Investigate all resident incidents/accidents, implement preventive measures, and complete appropriate documentation;
- Audit wound care program for effectiveness;
- Meet with each resident and/or their power of attorney for personal care, or the substitute decision maker for residents incapable of making decisions, within the first 60 days of admission to sensitively discuss and complete their health care directives including resuscitation wishes and ensure this information is filed on each resident's chart, is kept up to date, and is communicated to the health care team;
- Maintain competency in, and perform CPR at a basic cardiac life support level, in accordance with the resident's health care directives;
- Review, approve, and monitor requests for the use of restraints. This will include collaboration with other members of the health care team; evaluation of the residents’ plan of care; consultation with the resident's physician; communication with resident's power of attorney or substitute decision maker; use of least restraint; development of plan for elimination of use of restraint; appropriate charting; on going monitoring of resident;
- Be responsible for staff training, compliance and practices identified in the following programs and policies: W.H.M.I.S., Infection Control, and No Lift Policy;
- comply with all aspects of the Manor's Health and Safety programs including: the WHMIS Program, the Infection Control Program, the Waste Management Program, the First Aid Program, the Safe Handling of Residents Program, the Early Return to Work Program, and all Safe Operating Practices specific to the Nursing/Resident Care Department; and report all unsafe or unhealthy conditions, all accidents/illness; cooperate in health care treatment(s) and in all aspects of the early return to work/modified program; seek out first aid and comply with all work safety requirements; be responsible for implementation of the Manor's fire safety plan procedures.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:
- Exposure to pets, plants, perfumes, cleaning agents, dust, etc.
- Unpredictable resident behaviour;
- Exposure to communicable diseases;
- Emotional impact in dealing with residents with deteriorating health;
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Constant (67-100%,of shift): standing; walking
- Frequent (34-66% of shift): lifting; pushing; pulling; neck motion; back motion; elbow motion; shoulder motion; gripping; twisting; bending/stooping; forward reaching.
- Occasional (0-33% of shift): carrying; wrist motion; crouching; reaching above/below shoulder, reaching backward.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
- RN with current registration with College of Nurses of Ontario;
- Completion of courses in veinapuncture, wound management,
- Conflict resolution, I.V.-therapy;
- Possess excellent interpersonal, creative problem solving, conflict
- Resolution and leadership skills;
- Read, write and understand to follow/carry out instructions in English independently;
- Able to physically perform the duties and responsibilities assigned.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
- Previous experience in working with seniors;
- Completion of a course in geriatrics;
- Completion of courses in veinapuncture wound management,
- Conflict resolution, IV therapy;
- Computer skills in resident administration/charting.
PROFICIENCY PERIOD: 450 Hours
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative sample of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
