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Job Title: Registered Nurse or License Practical Nurse

Reports to: Residential Coordinator

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Summary: Provides general nursing care to individuals served by the Arc in Arc facilities by performing the following duties. Provides best possible nursing care for individuals in a collaborative team effort with all involved staff.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques and the Department of Mental Health requirements.

Maintains current medication file records, including Medication Administration Record for each individual.

Observes individuals, records significant conditions and reactions, and notifies supervisor or appropriate responsible person of individual's condition and reaction to drugs, treatments, and significant incidents.

Takes temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and other vital signs to detect deviations from normal and assess condition of individuals as needed.

Performs comprehensive or focused assessment as needed or indicated

Serves on an on-call basis through a rotational schedule.

Responds to life saving situations based upon nursing standards, policies, procedures, and protocol.

Conducts training for staff in accordance with Department of Mental Health and the Nurse Delegation Program requirements

Assists with medical appointments as needed.

Refills prescriptions for all individuals.

Documents receipt and disbursement of medication as needed for all individuals.

Maintains inventory of medications for all individuals.

Assures proper storage of medications.

Maintains a professional rapport with doctors, nurses, and pharmacy staff.

Keeps all staff adequately informed about medications for all individuals.

Keeps current medication schedules of all individuals in the on call book.

Contacts physicians, pharmacies as needed and documents contact.

Completes purchases of medical supplies as needed for individuals.

Assure that nursing care complies with state, ABN and Arc standards.

Implements Nurse Delegation Program

Scheduling of call and coverage for day habilitation and residential nurse in event of absence and vacancy.

Problem solving/ encourage discussion and resolution of RN concerns regarding medical issues.

Develop guidelines for issues that should be addressed by QMRP vs. RN

Keep Residential Coordinator/ Executive Director informed of health care issues with proper documentation and verbal reports.

Strive to maintain positive morale and collaborative effort among team members as all work to achieve quality client care.

Seek immediate counsel and direction from Executive Director in the event of questions or issues that cannot be resolved by team.

Lifts, carries, assists or restrains individuals as needed

Be punctual and in attendance at work as scheduled in order to ensure required staffing ratios are met and to maintain client safety and wellbeing at all times

Build relationships with people in the community and to help people in the community become more welcoming and understanding of the people we support

Serve as an advocate for the individuals we support, especially while in the community

Be a role model for appropriate community social interactions

Serve as ambassadors for the mission and vision of the Arc

Provide support without being intrusive or unnecessarily intervening in the individual’s activities and interactions with the public

Avoid actions that single out or stigmatize the individuals we support

Treat individuals with disabilities as competent, productive and valued people to show the way for others in the community

Understand and respect cultural preferences of the individuals supported

Provides training and support to address activities of daily living and personal care as needed to include:

Mobility assistance, including transferring and positioning per prescribed plans

Toileting, including carrying out prescribed toileting plans

Eating, including carrying out prescribed dining plans

Behavioral support – including carrying out formal behavioral support plans

Has the ability to assume MAC training and record keeping for MAC (NDP) Program if necessary

CHARACTERISTICS

Self-directed and organized, innovative, having a strong personal work ethic, good communication skills, including listening, ability to engage and “draw out” others, decision-making ability, crisis management skills, professional personal presentation, committed advocate, able to teach and train in functional settings, understand how to provide support from “behind the scenes” and are connected in the community

Education and/or Experience:

Associate Degree from accredited college; active Alabama RN or LPN license, ability to lift fifty pounds and a valid Alabama's driver's license.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.