Director of Nursing

Duties and Responsibilities 

Administrative Functions 

1. Collaborate with other health care professionals including consultants, government agencies and advocacy groups in the development and support of resident care, administrative functions and facility mission.  

2. Develop and maintain nursing policies and procedures that conform to current standards of nursing practice, facility mission and state and federal regulations.  

3. Maintain knowledge of all current state and federal regulations and facility policies.

4. Review all referrals based on facility ability to meet the needs of potential resident. 

5. Review re-hospitalization trends and implement a plan to reduce unnecessary re-hospitalizations in accordance with facility policies and regulations.  

6. Participate in the annual facility assessment. 

7. Work with the Infection Preventionist to establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. 

8. Provide fiscal oversight and management of the nursing department budget. 

9. Oversee the staff development program to ensure nursing team members have the tools, training and resources to properly care for residents in accordance with facility policies and the resident assessment. 

9. Assist in developing, implementing and periodically updating the written procedures for the discharge planning program. 

10. Develop and implement a nursing services organizational structure. 

11. Develop methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of resident care. 

12. Develop, implement and maintain an ongoing quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) program for the nursing services department. 

13. Develop, maintain and periodically update written job descriptions for each level of nursing personnel in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations. 

14. Develop, maintain and periodically update written facility policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing services department; review facility policies at least annually. 

15. Maintain a reference library of written nursing material (i.e., Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR), regulations, standards of practice, etc.) that will assist the nursing services department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the resident. 

16. Monitor the facility’s quality measure reports; develop and implement performance improvement plans. 

17. Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as necessary or as directed. 

18. Perform administrative duties such as auditing the electronic health record (EHR), completing forms, compiling reports, producing and approving evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary. 

19. Oversee and monitor the facility abuse prevention program. 

20. Ensure that competent and qualified individuals provide nursing care. 

21. Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct the nursing services department as well as its programs and activities in accordance with current rules, regulations and guidelines that govern the nursing care facilities. 

22. Participate in all team meetings as required including “triple check,” admission, discharge planning, standards of care, utilization review, QAPI, safety and risk meetings, etc. 

13. Assist with developing resident care plans. 

14. Encourage the resident and his/her family to participate in the development and review of the resident’s plan of care. 

15. Ensure that medical and nursing care are administered in accordance with the resident’s wishes including the implementation of advance directives.