ORGANIZATION SUMMARY

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Director of Nursing, the Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for

the overall oversight and supervision of the healthcare needs of the people we support in FREE’s Day Program. The RN will work in conjunction with Residential and Community based individuals to ensure the delivery of the highest quality of integrated health and continuity of care to the people supported across the FREE network.

DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures staff are trained on individuals’ health care needs.
• Ensures all documentation is accurate and complete, including, but not limited to Medication Administration Record, Narcotic Count.
• Checks medication inventory and medical supplies monthly.
• Ensures supplies of medication and first aid equipment are adequate and not expired, that
• medication is stored and disposed of according to agency policy.
• Ensures individual-specific formulary is present for all medication administered to each individual with current prescriptions.
• Validates the Medication Administration Record on a weekly basis for required information: medication given as ordered and started in a timely fashion; no blank signatures, record is initialed on front and signed on back, PRN symptoms are charted and result stated, note reason for any discontinued medications.
• Checks that doctor’s orders and prescriptions are current, medication formularies are in place for each medication, and MARs are printed and completed correctly.
• Ensures that procedures for new medication orders are accurately completed
• Checks that all medication administered has a matching label, order and medication sheet administered record.
• Monitors effects of medication; document as needed.
• Tracks and documents all illness or accident; current medication; medication changes; current diet and all charts required by the individual’s nursing care.
• Ensures that all emergency room/hospital discharge instructions are followed up and documented upon return to day program.
• Completes all necessary nursing assessments per agency policy including, but not limited to, Fall Risk Assessment and Self- Administration of Medication Evaluation
• Performs physical observation of individuals and documents assessment.
• Assists/reviews incident reports and occurrences; counsel and/or re-train staff as needed to ensure accurate reports.
• Validates accuracy and timeliness of entries in all required individual’s medicine charts.
• Conducts Nursing In-service training of Day Service staff to include: recognition of illness or dysfunction, disease, infestation and indicators of injury that warrant medical or nursing intervention; taking vital signs; addressing change in health status needs; administering any necessary treatment; performing first-aid; following proper emergency procedures. Add topics as necessary.
• Maintains a record of dates when required in-service sessions for day program staff/ were conducted.
• Completes and supervises AMAP/G TUBE Certification & Recertification.
• Assists with ensuring Medical to Go packets are up to date.
• Participates in meetings regarding the care and concerns of the individuals, including ISP’s and Interdisciplinary Team Meetings
• Maintains communication with physicians, Residential providers and family members regarding the individual’s care as needed.
• Reports possible violations of individual’s rights promptly, and complete and submit incident reports in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency policy.
• Participates in any investigation into incidents occurring within the program as requested and maintain confidentiality in regard to such investigations.
• Maintains the confidentiality of any information relating to the individual’s in the program as per HIPAA guidelines.
• Completes required documentation (paper and/or electronic) in a timely, accurate fashion and as per compliance regulations.
• Ensures all required documentation is maintained in records in the prescribed manner.
• Reports ongoing problems and suggest solutions to improve working/environment conditions.
• Handles program equipment, consumable materials and resources in a cost-conscious manner.
• Updates and reviews any regulation changes in State or Federal policy and/or Agency procedures.
• Provides projected weekly schedule to supervisor.
• Obtains/maintains in CPR and SCIP.
• Attends and completes training in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency Policy, including, but not limited to OPWDD Training and SMLS Training.
• Assists in maintaining Agency property in a neat, orderly and safe manner and reports all repair needs in a timely manner as per site-specific needs.
• Observes agency policy and procedures for building security and identification of authorized personnel.
• Follows HIPAA and OSHA regulations, including universal precautions.
• Checks that the following are posted and used correctly: Poison Control number, emergency numbers, and nursing “on call” information.
• Reports all violations and/or accidents in Agency or personal vehicle in accordance with New York State regulations and Agency policy.
• Addresses emergency situations as they occur in the program according to established policies and procedures, and ensure communication of such situations in a timely manner.
• Provides coverage in emergency situations until relieved of the responsibility.
• Ensures the physical safety and security of the individual by taking precautionary and preventative measures against conditions in the environment which might cause physical harm.

• Ensures that the individual’s needs are met and intercede on the individual’s behalf as necessary.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Utilizes information acquired through training, meetings, education and experience to benefit individuals.
• RN on Call- telephone triage during program hours for assigned programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education:
  • Associate Degree in Nursing required, Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Experience:
  • Experience working with ID/DD population preferred
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications:
  • Valid Current NYS RN License
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities:
  • Must have an ability to establish positive working relationships with colleagues, management, clinicians, external providers and all other valued stakeholders
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential
  • Must be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills
  • Knowledge of OPWDD and OMH preferred
• Other Requirements:
  • Valid NYS Driver’s License and satisfy criteria to be a driver for FREE

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is performed in-person. The noise level in the work environment varies. Some travel between  FREE Network locations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.

Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.