Alternate Director of Nursing (DON)

Position: Director of Nursing/Alternate Director of Nursing (DON)

Job Summary : Assume primary responsibility for clinical services provided by the Agency. Direct, coordinate and supervise all clinical functions. Maintains compliance with federal and state regulations as they apply to the provision of home visits to patients. Assure compliance with Agency Policy and Procedure. Monitor job performance and completion of evaluations and counseling of clinical staff.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements :

1. Be a registered nurse (R.N.) for at least two years.
2. Minimum of two years of management/supervisory experience.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care primarily to the geriatric population, and to a lesser degree, the pediatric and adult population.
4. Professional demeanor and appearance.
5. Excellent oral and written skills.
6. Demonstrate organizational and leadership skills.

Responsibilities/essential functions : The person in this position must be able to perform the following essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.

1. Assure compliance with company policy and all federal, state, and local regulatory bodies.
2. Supervise all clinical activities and staff related to nursing. Communicates and interacts with the Director of Rehab. 
3. Assist with recruiting, hiring, orienting and ongoing in-service education of all nursing staff.
4. Remain informed of home health regulations and standards as well as management issues.
5. Accountable for all clinical issues.
6. Provide guidance and support for supervisory, field and office staff.
7. Conduct employee performance evaluations. Assists with development of new job standards as needed.
8. Counsel staff appropriately and in a timely manner concerning areas of deficiency as well as areas of excellence and quality improvement.
9. Ensure coordination of care by all disciplines.
10. Assure that a reassessment of a client’s needs is performed by the appropriate health care professional (i.e. when there is a significant health status change in the client’s condition at the physician’s request or after hospital discharge.)
11. Ensure compliance with The Conditions of Participation.
12. Participate in review, analysis and appraisal of the effectiveness of the total agency program.
13. Participate in short and long range planning for the agency and implement specific measures for agency growth. Increase market share through education of physicians and other community and referral sources.
14. Participate in the evaluation of agency programs.
15. Participate in state, local and national organizations, meetings, seminars, workshops and activities relating to the home health profession and health care services.
16. Work with other agencies and promote good community relations through involvement in community events.
17. Assure service satisfaction through client visits and other measures, as appropriate. Investigate and resolve agency complaints related to nursing or other department if required.
18. Ensure care delivery meets the needs of the patients and follows professional practice standards.
19. Develop, implement, review and revise policies and procedures to guide care delivery.
20. Monitor compliance with applicable Federal, State and Local laws, Professional Standards and principals, established policies and procedures and the plan of care.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform to the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical Elements

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to communicate effectively;
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to review a wide variety of materials in electronic or hard copy form;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other related equipment;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to safely lift, move, or maneuver whatever may be necessary to successfully perform the duties of their position;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to efficiently function in a general office environment; and
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to enable the employee to efficiently function in a general office environment, with frequent travel to a variety of field sites.

Environmental Elements

Employee works in an office environment sometimes with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Employee will have to travel to a variety of patient homes and perform in conditions that vary greatly depending upon the client’s home environment. Some homes will be clean, neat, and maintained at a comfortable temperature. Other homes may be cluttered, dirty, with an uncomfortable temperature.

The above list reflects the essential functions and other job functions considered necessary of the job identified, and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the job, or assigned by supervisory personnel. This job description is used as a guide only and not inclusive of responsibilities and job duties.