Community Registered Nurse

The Community RN is a responsible professional position assisting the administrative, supervisory and direct support staff in providing for the medical needs and care of individuals with developmental disabilities in the residential program.

Work includes responsibility for monitoring the health and safety of the persons receiving residential services, teaching medication aid training classes and providing appropriate delegation and supervision of direct support staff who perform such duties as medication administration and other nursing tasks when applicable.

General supervision is received from the Lead Community RN, or Vice President of Program Services. Community RN is to work closely with Program Directors, communicating as appropriate. An individual in this position is expected to exercise independent judgement and initiative within the limit of established guidelines and procedures.

Essential Job Functions

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks which may be found in positions of this class.)

1. Provides direction, training, and oversight of all medical practices and procedures conducted by the staff of the Arc.

2. Responsible for educating about health care and the prevention of illness to the staff, persons served, and his or her family.

3. Provides assessment, nursing diagnosis, nursing care, and counsel of persons who are ill, injured, or experiencing alterations in normal health processes.

4. Oversees all functions of medication administration by certified Medication Aides, including but not limited to monthly review of physicians orders, medication administration record, staff documentation, and periodic inspection of technique

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Essential Job Functions (Cont.)

and skill of each certified aide delegated to pass medications, procedures, and medication storage.

4. Oversees all functions of delegated nursing tasks to direct support staff.

5. For each task delegated, the nurse assures the person performing the task has been educated/trained and demonstrates competency; the nurse provides necessary documentation and periodic inspection of the assigned task as recommended by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

6. Responsible for the coordination and assistance in the delivery of a plan of health care with all members of the team of the persons served.

7. Provides a monthly assessment of each person served to evaluate health concerns and identify changes in their health status.

8. Monitors the application of all physicians' orders including but not limited to treatments, procedures, labs, appointments, specialized diets, and adaptive equipment for each person served.

9. Maintains communication with agency management and habilitation teams, reporting and documenting all changes in the health status, needs, and identified deficiencies in the standard of care provided to persons served.

10. Provides an average of 1.25 hours of nursing time to each person served in residential services. Documents monthly expended time and activity for auditing purposes.

11. Acts as a liaison between physicians, other medical personnel, parents and guardians of persons served by the Arc, persons served, and Arc program staff regarding the medical needs and appropriate treatment required for persons served.

12. Provides medication administration instruction to employees and others assigned in medication administration classes according to the guidelines and content prescribed, and approved, by the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

13. Conducts specialized training classes and certifications for direct support staff such as insulin, catheter, feeding tube, etc. according to the medical needs of persons served.

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Essential Job Functions (Cont.)

14. Conducts periodic visits to facilities and programs conducted by the Arc in order to

review the medical records of persons served as well as to monitor the medical practices of the facility or program.

15. Inspects and evaluates all adaptive equipment and protective devices prescribed for the persons served to ensure that this equipment is in proper working order and is adjusted properly.

16. Provides education to the Arc staff regarding communicable diseases and illnesses and proper precautions to limit exposure.

17. Provides periodic screenings for tardive dyskinesia and other observed side effects as a result of psychotropic medication.

18. Works in collaboration with the Quality Management Nurses at the Regional Center for the promotion of the health and safety of each person served.

19. Participates as a member of the organization's Health and Safety Committee.

20. Performs other related work as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to exercise good judgement and discretion.

2. Ability to work with and respect persons with disabilities.

3. Ability to work varied and flexible hours, accept and adapt to changes in assignments, methods, policies, etc.

4. Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of nursing.

5. Extensive knowledge of medications commonly prescribed in the care and treatment of persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Such knowledge shall include the intended and unintended consequences derived from the use of such medications by persons served by the Arc.

6. Ability to effectively communicate with medical personnel, pharmacists, mental health professionals, and other health care professionals in the community.

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7. Ability to provide instruction concerning the administration of medications first aid, and delegated nursing tasks to Arc staff in a clear, concise, and understandable manner.

8. A working knowledge of the medical community in the Springfield and surrounding areas including what medical services are available to persons served by the organization.

9. Ability to collect and analyze information in making decisions concerning medical treatment and progress for each individual resident.

10. Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.

11. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals served, co-workers, direct support staff, other health care professionals, parents, guardians, etc.

12. Ability to answer phone when needed.

13. Ability to ask questions of non-medical staff to get the necessary information needed to make a medical decision.

14. Confidence to extract information to make a clinical decision.

15. Licensed and insured driver with a vehicle available for work.

Minimum Experience and Training Qualifications

Possession of a current license and registration as a registered nurse issued by the State of Missouri. Prefer at least three years of experience in the provision of nursing services in one or more of the following settings: hospital, long-term nursing home, community health facility or similar setting.