Registered Nurse (RN) Memory Care

The role of the Memory Care RN is to ensure that the health and safety of all residents are met through assessments and reassessment, development and implementation of appropriate service plans and plans of care, monitoring of resident’s services, supervision of staff and on-going training of staff and determining they are competent prior to delegating tasks to them. The RN will also ensure that the facility is in compliance with current regulations and standards. This position reports directly to the Director of Health Services. MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES • Ensures residents have up-to-date care plans that address their needs and preferences, including interventions to address any areas of vulnerability and individualized medication management or treatment or therapy management plans. Reassesses the resident and modifies the service plan if necessary whenever the resident has a fall or other incident, whenever there is a significant change in the resident's condition or if the resident or the resident's representative requests a change in services. • Responsible for educating residents and their representatives about advance directives, medications, safety of side rails or assistive devices, potential hazards in the facility and other relevant information. • Monitors and maintains resident’s clinical charts and clinical progress notes. • Communicates with physicians and other personnel (e.g., case manager or care coordinator) regarding changes in resident’s needs or conditions. • For any resident receiving assistance with medications, the RN is responsible for medication management services identified in the individualized plan, such as setting up or ordering medications as well as any necessary follow-up with physicians regarding medications and/or medical conditions. • Ensures all physicians’ orders are signed and implemented on a timely basis consistent with the resident's needs and condition. • Ensures that proper systems, policies and procedures are developed and implemented correctly by licensed and unlicensed staff regarding the storage, set up, administration and disposal of medications, including systems to control controlled medications. • Ensures that residents' medication records are up to date, ensures that medication administration procedures are followed properly, investigates and discusses errors and issues with staff, and implements corrective action plans as needed. • Reviews each resident's medication record regularly for consistency with medication orders and with the facilities documentation policies. • Communicates in resident's record any information that staff needs to know and reviews staff communications (written, voice mail or other) on a timely basis each work day. • Ensures new medication sheets are in place by the first of each month. • Reviews each resident’s medication sheet monthly and ensures accuracy and appropriate signatures. • Documents disposal of medication per facility procedure and the resident's individualized medication management plan. • Is responsible for implementing the facilities’ infection control plan, universal precautions, and TB prevention plan, and for implementing and documenting TB screening of staff and other vaccinations. • Addresses resident and family concerns or complaints to the extent possible and follows up with appropriate staff to resolve the issue. Document complaints and report complaints to the Executive Director. • Ensures that documentation of resident services and orders is properly filed and conduct periodic chart audits and coordinate with the Executive Director regarding the storage and security of resident records. • Completes all required paperwork in a timely manner. • Works with manager to ensure emergency procedures are in place. • Is available for on-call medical questions and/or emergencies via phone as assigned. On-call duty may require the RN to come to the facility to handle a medical emergency. • Ensures compliance with regulations and is available for federal and state licensure surveys. • Monitors the delivery of services provided to the residents. This includes public relations, marketing and oversight of the community and its programs. • Assumes the responsibility, under the direction of the Executive Director, for the development and facilitation of programming to meet the assessed needs, interests, and capabilities of the residents in the memory care program. • Trains and manages staff, and ensures quality of memory care programming. • Promotes a positive image of the community internally/externally through special programs and community events to ensure exposure and visibility. • Develops and implements marketing plan in conjunction with the Executive Director to increase census per established quarterly goals. • Conducts tours and is responsible for all follow-up correspondence with prospective residents and/or families who have visited or contacted the community for information. • Tracks and achieves established census metrics (inquiries, referrals, tours, etc.). • Maintains inquiry/referral database. Builds contacts and prospects for new residents in the community in a professional manner. • Promotes a team atmosphere within the community to ensure teamwork efforts are emphasized in marketing, leasing, evaluating prospective and appropriate retention of residents. • Monitors and adheres to budgets as established by the Executive Director. Assists with development of staffing levels along with monitoring staffing hours. • Provides proper and timely communications and correspondence requested by the Executive Director. • Routinely inspects building, grounds and equipment for updates and conditions. In coordination with maintenance, implements routine and preventative maintenance and housekeeping programs. • Assists with hiring of new staff in the memory care community. Trains new staff and assists with continuing education of memory care staff. • Assists with the development of policy and procedures, and safety and security audits. Admission, Transfer, and Discharge Functions • Completes initial, face-to-face comprehensive assessment of prospective/new residents and develop a proposed service plan. The assessment must be completed within five days of initiation of our services, and prior to the initiation of any delegated nursing tasks. • Monitors and reassess resident no more than 14 days after initiation of services. Thereafter, monitors and reassesses resident as needed based on changes in the resident’s needs, with the monitoring and reassessment not to exceed 90 days from the date of the previous monitoring/reassessment. • Develops, reviews and implements service agreements with all new residents. Reviews and revises service plans as needed due to changes in resident’s needs and at a minimum will review the plan once every 12 months with the resident and/or the resident's representative. • Facilitates coordination of resident services with other service providers, such as hospice, and transitions to the hospital or nursing home. • Performs supervisory visits 14 days after admission and at least every 62 days thereafter. • Complete and close resident charts upon discharge or death Supervisory Functions • Provides direct supervision of new licensed and unlicensed staff within 30 days of date the staff person begins work and thereafter provides direct supervision on a schedule consistent with the staff person's experience and performance to assure that procedures are followed accurately and that the resident's needs are being met. • Directly supervises LPNs' and unlicensed staffs performance of delegated nursing services. • Conducts evaluation of staff performance of delegated nursing services in coordination with the Executive Director through appropriate documentation, and consistent with facility personnel policies for performance reviews. • Re-train or discipline staff as needed for non-compliance with job performance or agency policies and procedures. • Works with other management staff to orient new staff members to the organization's policies and procedures. • Provides all new unlicensed staff with training required according to state law and training on all delegated nursing tasks that the staff will perform. Determines the staff’s competency to provide all delegated tasks according to the procedures for the resident. Develops and assures that all staff have at least 8 hours of in-service training on required topics for every 12 months of work. • Develops and maintains a system to track the training and competencies of all unlicensed staff, including all delegated tasks to be performed and provides continuing education for all staff and documents such training to ensure compliance with state, federal and local regulations. • Assures that each staff person is oriented to the individual needs of each resident the person will serve and ensures that staff clearly understands and follows all resident care procedures. • Supervises medication practices and medical equipment being used in the building • Creates the service schedule and assignments for licensed and unlicensed staff and assists other staff with daily responsibilities as needed. Education and Experience • Must be registered and licensed with the State of Minnesota as an RN, and must maintain current unencumbered license with the Board of Nursing. Specific Requirements • Working knowledge of state, federal and local regulations. • Must be knowledgeable about validation techniques, reality orientation and/or appropriate diversional activities for clients with dementia. • Must receive a "not disqualified" criminal background result from Department of Human Services and may not be on the OIG exclusions list. • Must be a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age. Required Skills and Abilities • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. • Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, and the general public. • Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing service practices. • Must possess a desire to work with aged, infirm, and handicapped persons. • Must be knowledgeable on current policies and procedures; including the ability to write procedures. • Must be able to relate to and work with the elderly, emotionally upset, and, at times, hostile people, dementia residents and occasionally challenging behaviors. • Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to connect and communicate effectively with diverse populations. • Ability to work in a fast paced environment and to prioritize, organize and manage multiple priorities. • Ability to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions, when necessary. • Some travel to meetings and seminars required. Work Environment • Primary responsibilities will be conducted in clean, well-lit, climate controlled areas such as office space, resident rooms, hallways, work rooms, and resident dining area and meeting rooms. • The noise is usually moderate. • Is subject to exposure to blood-borne pathogens and infectious diseases. • Is subject to exposure to chemical and respiratory hazards. • Some travel to meetings and seminars may be required. Working Conditions • Is involved with residents, personnel, families, visitors, etc. under all conditions and circumstances. • Communicates frequently with other personnel. • Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions when necessary. • Attends and participates in continuing education programs. Physical and Sensory Requirements (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices) • Must be able to move intermittently throughout the working day, must be able to stand, stoop, walk, kneel and crouch. • Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read. • Frequently required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. • Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability. • Must be able to lift, push, pull, and move a minimum of 20 pounds. • Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents. Please apply on our website: Vista Prairie Communities is an equal opportunity employer. Vista Prairie Communities is a fast-paced and quickly-growing nonprofit senior housing and health care corporation that uses affiliated organizations to serve persons of diverse incomes by providing nurturing and homelike properties in the lifelong communities of its residents. We engage staff, residents, the local community and service providers to create the quality of life we all hope to experience.