Director of Nursing

Job Summary:
The primary purpose of Director of Nursing (DON) is to plan, organize, develop and direct the
overall operation of our Nursing Service Department in accordance with current federal, state,
and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility. And as may be directed
by the Administrator and the Medical Director, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is
maintained at all times.

Supervisory Responsibilities:
• The Director of Nursing Services is delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and
accountability necessary for carrying out assigned duties. In the absence of the Medical
Director, the DON is responsible for carrying out the resident care policies established by this
facility.
• Supervises the Nursing Department
• Has the ability to hire, discipline, assign, apprise, and terminate assigned employees

Duties/Responsibilities:
CUSTOMER SERVICE
• Demonstrates positive customer service when performing the role of the Director of Nursing,
with residents, family members, facility staff and medical staff.
• Displays flexibility, team spirit, compassion. respect honesty, politeness and accountability
when dealing with residents, family members and facility staff.
• Demonstrates an awareness of and sensitivity for resident's rights in all interfaces with
residents and family members.
• Communicates effectively via open, straightforward communication, including use of listening
skills and by accessing the appropriate chain of command.
• Seeks validation of knowledge base, quality, decision-making and skill level by actively
questioning when necessary.
• Participates in interdisciplinary communication activities; actively listens and actively
contributes.

Administrative Functions:
• Plan, develop, organize, implement evaluate, and direct the nursing service department, as
well as its programs and activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and
guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update written policies and procedures that govern the
day-to-day functions of the nursing service department through the Facility Leadership
Council (QA&A/ QAPI Committee).
• Maintain a reference library of written nursing material (i. e. ,PDR'S, Federal and State
Regulations, etc. ) that will assist the
• nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the resident.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the Nursing Service Procedures Manual and
nursing service objectives and philosophies.
• Develop and implement a nursing service organization structure.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Administrator, as necessary/required,
concerning the operation of the nursing service department.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update written job descriptions for each level of nursing
personnel in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, OSHA, and other pertinent
laws and regulations.
• Develop methods for coordination of nursing services with other resident services to ensure
the continuity of the residents' total regimen of care.
• Develop, implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance program for the nursing
service department
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Assist the Quality Assessment & Assurance Committee in developing and implementing
appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
• Assist the Discharge Planning Coordinator in developing, implementing and periodically
updating the written procedures for the Discharge Planning Program.
• Assist the resident and Discharge Planning Coordinator in planning the nursing service
portion of the resident's discharge plan.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations,
studies, charting, etc. , as necessary.

Committee Functions:
• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i. e. , Infection Control,
Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc. ) as
required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the nursing service programs and activities as required,
or as may be directed by such committee(s).
• Assist the Pharmaceutical Services Committee in developing, maintaining, implementing, and
periodically updating written policies and procedures for the administration, storage, and
control of medications and supplies.
• Schedule, attend, and participate in developing the agenda for Care Plan Committee
meetings as necessary.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the Discharge Plans and make such plans
available to the Care Plan Committee as required or as may be necessary.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain
to nursing services.
Personnel Functions:
• Determine the staffing needs of the nursing service department necessary to meet the total
nursing needs of the residents.
• Recommend the number and level of nursing personnel to be employed.
• Assist the Administrator and/or the Personnel Director in the recruitment and selection of
nursing service personnel.
• Ensure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved training
program.
• Assign a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses for each tour of duty
to ensure that quality care is maintained.
• Assign a sufficient number of certified nursing assistants for each tour of duty to ensure that
routine nursing care is provided to meet the daily nursing care needs of each resident.
• Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Develop work assignments and schedule duty hours, and/or assist nursing supervisory staff
in completing and performing such tasks.
• Delegate to nursing service supervisory personnel the administrative authority, responsibility,
and accountability necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Assist the Personnel Director in developing performance evaluation schedules, criteria, and
annual reviews for the nursing service department (e. g. , RNs, LPNs, CNAs, medication
aides, etc. ).
• Make daily rounds of the nursing service department to ensure that all nursing service
personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing
standards .
• Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing care personnel are on
duty at all times.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the written procedure for ensuring that
professional nursing personnel, including private duty nurses, have valid and current licenses
as required by this State.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
• Provide complaint/grievance reports to the Administrator as required or as may be necessary.
• Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race,
color,.