The Director of Nursing (DON) is a key leadership position within a healthcare organization, responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of nursing services and patient care. The DON plays a critical role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective nursing care, while also contributing to the overall strategic goals and objectives of the healthcare facility. This position requires strong leadership, clinical expertise, and administrative skills.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage all nursing services and patient care within the healthcare facility.
• Develop and implement nursing policies, procedures, and standards to ensure high-quality care.
• Lead and mentor a team of nurses and healthcare staff to promote a positive work environment.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care and treatment plans.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and standards of nursing practice.
• Participate in strategic planning and decision-making processes to achieve organizational goals.

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:   

• Ensure infection control and prevention. Implement, develop and assess effectiveness of infection prevention principles and requirements for the facility and staff.
• Manage facility wound program for all residents and assist nursing staff with wound care and provide education, including assessment, logging, and communication regarding wounds.
• Support and practice the mission, philosophy and objectives of the nursing department to ensure quality care to all residents.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable Medicare, managed care, and state Medicaid regulations, reimbursement systems and methodologies.
• Assess, develop, and provide education to meet the needs of all clinical staff based on facility assessment, quality assurance audits, federal and state law and requirements.
• Provide education to ensure that all clinical staff are competent in their practice and skills set to promote the admission of increasingly complex residents and promote effective clinical outcomes of all residents.
• Provide clinical expertise to facilitate and support the nursing process in resident interventions/care provided.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Required to actively persuade and/or direct others toward the achievement of expected outcomes.
• Make decisions by interpreting and applying department policies and practices with general managerial direction as needed.
• In relation to established procedures, protocols and policies of the County, challenges and problems occurring in this position must be addressed within broader, department-wide procedures and practices.

WORKING CONDITIONS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently or occasionally exposed to:

• Fumes or airborne particles.
• Moving mechanical parts.
• Wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, risk of electrical shock, and risk of radiation.
• Moderate noise level.
• Use hands to finger, handle and feel, and talk and hear.
• Frequently is required to walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, and taste or smell.
• Occasionally required to stand; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.