Job Description

Ensures the delivery of quality medical services to the individuals with Intellectual Disability / Developmental Disability living within the CLS IRA program, participates in the medical on-call system, and provides supervision of unlicensed direct care staff in the performance of nursing tasks and activities. The RN acts as the primary liaison between the medical service providers and the individual.

Responsibilities

• Ensures medical care for the individuals within a designated cluster. Identifies and develops an individualized plan for nursing services for any individual who requires nursing care, including those who require medication administration for diagnosed medical conditions and updates annually
• Ensures all medical services including testing are completed at the frequency recommended by the provider. These consults will be tracked by the RN with all recommended testing completed and results obtained. Ensures prompt rescheduling of any cancelled medical appointments. Accompanies individuals on critical medical appointments in order to enhance communication and coordination of needed medical services
• Makes weekly visits to the residence for individual medical monitoring and review of all medical reports, visit forms, diagnostic tests and laboratory results. Completes a monthly site visit; including medication oversight and reconciliation. Completes nursing progress notes monthly and during an illness until resolved
• Tracks medical appointments using the agency tracking forms for each site in the residential cluster. Tracking forms must be reviewed with AD Nursing during monthly support meetings.
• Attends monthly support meetings with AD Nursing to review health status of individuals and discuss job related concerns and performance.
• Provides initial and ongoing supervision/training/support to unlicensed direct care staff on individual’s chronic medical conditions and in all nursing tasks and or functions that they perform. The RN will periodically review that the performance of unlicensed staff is consistent with standards of care and training
• Conducts annual clinical performance evaluations for unlicensed direct care staff for procedures that include but are not limited to medication administration (AMAP pouring). This evaluation will become part of the employee’s annual performance evaluation. Ensures delivery of pouring paperwork to the training department.
• Monitors and visits individuals who are hospitalized for medical or psychiatric reasons at least weekly and more if needed as determined by the RN with AD Nursing input. Coordinates the communication of all information between the hospital and the Habilitation Team. Acts as the Agency’s lead contact for all discharge planning
• Participates in a 24-hour, 7 days a week on-call system that provides direction and support to the Residential Staff including verification of new medication orders. Responsible for delivery of on-call triage paperwork to the medical secretary within one week.
• Ensures back-up nursing coverage during use of accrued agency time and or for the on call system. Assists program with nursing coverage for any coworker’s leave as needed.
• Responsible for providing supervisor with a daily nursing report regarding any change in individual’s health status including new diagnoses, hospitalizations, ER and urgent care visits.
• Ensures pharmacy reviews are completed every 6 months for IRAs and quarterly for ICFs, and ensures follow up of recommendations of pharmacy reviews.
• Leads team meetings for an individual prior to any scheduled surgery, any procedure requiring anesthesia, or any other significant medical concern (end-stage cancer, renal failure, diabetes, etc.)
• Ensures Compass and State audits are prioritized, and changes schedule if necessary to attend all.
• Contacts family members to secure consent for medical procedures, pre-sedation, pre-medication and prior to the initiation of psychotropic medication and annually thereafter.
• Coordinates and presents medical information necessary for Surrogate Decision Making Committee review
• In the event the RN is unable to perform any part of her job responsibility on a weekly basis, she/he is required to notify their supervisor immediately.
• Requests time off as per the agency handbook. In the event of sickness and or schedule changes, supervisor must be notified, and a schedule change called in/e-mailed to the medical secretary.
• Is able to drive, as is necessary to perform his/her residential nurse job responsibilities by driving from one site to another and or to travel for in person meetings during the course of the work day.
• Performs other duties as requested by supervisor.
• This position requires regular and substantial unsupervised or unrestricted physical contact with people receiving services and, therefore, is subject to successful completion of fingerprint/criminal background check.
• Ensures that work-related safety procedures are in place and are being adhered to by staff. Observance of an unsafe act or a potentially hazardous work environment must be immediately reported to supervisor and/or safety committee.
• Reports to Justice Center as a mandated reporter if there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect or a potentially hazardous work environment. Additionally, follows all agency incident policies and procedures.
• Adheres to all regulations, agency policy and procedures, the employee handbook, and agency program training requirements.
• Arrives to work by start of scheduled shift, adheres to agency policy and procedure in regard to call-offs and overtime to ensure quality support is provided to people each day.

Qualifications

• NY State licensed Registered Nurse required
• Current CPR certification required.
• One year experience working with ID/DD population is preferred.
• Ability to drive is necessary to perform his/her/their job responsibilities.
• Excellent oral/written communication and organizational skills.