Treatment Nurse

Overview

To monitor the skin condition of residents in the facility and provide appropriate wound care in accordance with current federal and state guidelines and facility policies and procedures governing the facility, and as may be directed by the Director of Nursing Services or Assistant Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

1. Direct the day-to-day functions of prevention of skin breakdown and promoting improvement in skin integrity of the residents.
2. Participate in supervision and training of direct care staff to ensure prevention techniques are implemented and maintained in accordance with written policies and procedures.
3. Participate in developing, maintaining and updating written nursing policies, procedures, forms, and reports related to wound prevention and improvement.
4. Interpret the facilities’ policies and procedures to personnel, residents, families, visitors, and government agencies as necessary.
5. Participate in data collection and implementing action plans relative to the quality assurance program.
6. Participate in surveys and inspections by government agencies.
7. Make reports and recommendations to the Director of Nursing Services concerning skin integrity management.
8. Implement recommendations received from administration, corporate staff, other departments, and/or committees as needed.

Nursing Care Functions

1. Perform total body assessment on all new admissions on the day of admission or on the next scheduled workday and document findings.
2. Perform daily wound care and topical treatments of all skin problems as ordered by the physician and document upon completion.
3. Document weekly progress notes on all wounds and skin problems.
4. Compile results of weekly skin assessments in the form of a wound report and submit to the Director of Nursing Services, Administrator, and appropriate Corporate personnel.
5. Provide written and oral reports to the Director of Nursing Services concerning the status of residents, problem areas, etc.
6. Consult with physicians and wound consultants in providing wound care, treatment, and diagnostic services and notify the physician regarding changes in the condition of wounds.
7. Notify sponsors of newly identified skin problems and provide weekly condition reports on resident skin problems.
8. Serve as chairperson of the weekly wound sub-committee meeting and submit required reports to the quality assurance committee.
9. Ensure that needed treatment supplies are available at all times.
10. Ensure cleanliness and orderliness and safety of treatment carts.
11. Administer professional services and provide direct nursing care as necessary.

Drug Administration Functions

1. Provide topical medication treatments of skin problems and prepare and administer medications as ordered by the physician.
2. Review medication and treatment records for completeness, accuracy, and adherence, and notify physicians of stop orders prior to the last dosage being administered.
3. Verify resident identities to ensure prescribed medications are administered to the proper residents.
4. Ensure that narcotic records are accurate and notify the Director of Nursing of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on the shift.
5. Ensure proper disposal of drugs and narcotics.
6. Order prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary.
7. Ensure that adequate levels of medications, supplies, and equipment are available at all times, reporting needs to the Director of Nursing.

Charting and Documentation Functions

1. Sign, date, and perform all routine charting and record keeping in accordance with established policies and procedures.
2. Complete and chart all accidents and incidents involving residents and submit to the Director of Nursing as required.
3. Encourage physicians to review treatment plans and to record and sign orders, progress notes, etc.
4. Properly record telephone orders from physicians and transfer all physician orders to resident charts, medication cards, treatment and care plans, etc.
5. Report all discrepancies noted concerning physicians’ orders, diet changes, charting errors, etc. to the Director of Nursing Services.
6. Complete transfer and discharge forms and ensure that proper documentation is recorded.
7. Complete and file all required forms, records, and charts upon resident admissions, transfers, and/or discharges.

Personnel Functions

1. Develop work assignments as necessary.
2. Participate in reviewing and evaluating the department’s staffing requirements, employee performance evaluations, and employee absenteeism.
3. Make recommendations to administration as necessary to ensure adequate staffing and to expedite work.
4. Make daily rounds and report findings to the Director of Nursing to ensure that nursing services personnel are performing duties in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.
5. Ensure that personnel, residents, and visitors follow established policies and procedures at all times.
6. Meet with nursing personnel on a regular basis to identify and correct problem areas and to improve nursing services.
7. Review and report to the Director personnel complaints and grievances and ensure that all personnel are treated consistent with policies and applicable laws.

Staff Development Functions

1. Participate in in-service training classes.
2. Implement and maintain orientation programs for new employees.
3. Provide leadership and direction concerning essential principles for nursing personnel.
4. Maintain professional competence, as well as current licenses, through participation in continuing education programs, seminars, and training programs.

Residents’ Rights Function

1. Maintain resident confidentiality and privacy.
2. Treat residents with kindness, dignity, and respect.
3. Know and comply with and ensure that all nursing services personnel know and comply with Residents’ Rights rules.
4. Monitor nursing services to ensure that residents’ rights and needs are met.
5. Review, promptly report to Administrator, and maintain written records of all resident complaints and grievances.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

1. Assist and participate in developing for each resident a preliminary and comprehensive assessment and written care plan that identifies the skin problems and/or needs of the resident and the goals to be accomplished for each problem and/or need identified.
2. Encourage residents and their families to participate in the development and review of care plans.
3. Ensure that all nursing services personnel are aware of the care plans and that care plans are used in providing daily nursing services to the residents.
4. Review nurses’ notes and monitor residents to ensure that the care plans are being followed and that residents’ needs are being met.

Planning and Inventory Functions

1. Recommend the equipment and supply needs of the Nursing Services Department.
2. Ensure that adequate and cost-effective inventory control procedures are followed.
3. Make periodic inspections of medications, supplies, and equipment to ensure that adequate levels are maintained.
4. Develop and implement procedures to ensure that trained and authorized personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner.

Safety and Sanitation Functions

1. Monitor nursing personnel to ensure established safety, fire and disaster, infection control and all other departmental policies and procedures are followed.
2. Participate in developing, implementing, and maintaining procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
3. Ensure cleanliness of nursing service work areas, stations, preparation rooms, treatment areas, and resident care rooms.

Qualifications

• Must be a Licensed Practical Nurse in good standing and currently licensed by the State of Alabama or in training to satisfactorily complete the requirements to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Completion of secondary education or otherwise show ability to read and write in a legible and understandable manner.
• Must speak and understand English.
• Positive attitude toward the elderly.
• Previous wound care experience preferred.
• Must possess good assessment skills.
• Must possess good written documentation skills.