Job Description

Resident Care Manager/Nursing Manager

(Specific to IL/AL Independent Living/Assisted Living units)

(Minimum active LPN)

General Purpose:

Responsible for providing clinical and managerial leadership in assigned area. Holds responsibility for maintaining the standards of quality for the nursing care provided to all residents on designated unit. Serves as a clinical resource to nursing staff. Provides support for Judson Retirement Community's policies and procedures. The RCM is familiar with bargaining unit contracts and acts accordingly. Maintains day-to-day unit function within budgetary limits and ensures compliance with state and federal rules and regulations. Promotes professional nursing practices and sets leadership example for all staff on unit.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

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1. Holds general responsibility for the quality of care provided on designated unit. The RCM personally supervises the work of the nursing care staff. The RCM is accessible to all staff, residents and families/visitors. Practices and strives for quality customer services relations with staff, residents and families. Identifies unit problems, gathers information necessary for decision-making and takes an active role in problem resolution. Provides informational feedback to administrative staff. Actively supports Judson Retirement Community policies and provides interpretation and clarification to staff as needed. Develops unit goals and objectives consistent with organization goals.


2. Functions as the primary unit nurse for the designated area. Administers or assists with the administration of all types of medications in accordance with physician's orders and acceptable standards of practice. Provides clinical assessment and notifies the proper clinical team members, resident and/or POA of changes in the resident's status. Performs dressing changes in accordance with physician's orders and acceptable standards of practice. Facilitates timely conference with clinical nurse practitioner and/or medical information to the physician and/or CNP. Transcribes new orders completely and accurately.


3. Supports the resident's advance directive choice. Facilitates transfer to acute medical facility as needed. Provides the acute medical setting all necessary paperwork and information. Communicates need for emergency transfer to interested parties and medical staff.


4. Ensures the expeditious implementation of appropriate clinical interventions. Documents changes in the resident's clinical record and/or plan of care and communicates these changes to front-line staff. Monitors the resident's response to care and makes changes and referrals to others as needed. Communicates needs and changes to other inter-disciplinary team (IDT) members. Provides clinical and managerial guidance to front-line staff and ensures adequate follow-up of clinical issues.


5. Acts as primary liaison between unit staff and families. Actively listens to family concerns and effectively communicates in return. Solicits information from families regarding quality of nursing care and facilitates IDT conversations for plan of care improvements. Provides communication to staff and feedback to residents/families for effective resolution. Promotes the


best possible living experience for residents and families in accordance with Judson Retirement Community's expectations. Provides residents and families information and education regarding aging and resident-specific disease processes.


6. Uses independent judgement to provide the designated unit clinical oversight and expertise. The RCM is expected to attend educational seminars to maintain a high level of clinical and managerial knowledge. Assists staff as needed in assessment and implementation of nursing care according to standards, policies and regulatory requirements. Documents pertinent findings in the clinical record and seeks consultation and/or assistance for staff from appropriate clinical and administrative resources. Ensures a registered nurse review of new admission assessments. Assigns aspects of care to ancillary nursing personnel consistent with level of education and experience.


7. Assures that required documentation and assessments are completed within the required timeframes i.e. admission, annually, quarterly:


a. History and physical


b. Pain assessment


c. Falls assessment


d. IFAS


e. PPD


f. Self-medication assessment


g. Admission data base


h. Psychotropic charting


i. Care plan



8. Is responsible for the completion of unusual occurrence paperwork. This includes completion of the post-fall assessment and identification/implementation of post-fall interventions. Additional responsibilities include reporting circumstances related to injuries of unknown origin and allegations of abuse/neglect/misappropriation to Administration for further investigation


9. Attends weekly Social Service case conference meetings. Offers input related to changes in resident care needs and informs the IDT of proposed level of care changes. Attends nursing leadership meetings and offers input related to management challenges. Participates in other Judson committees and projects as assigned.


10. Provides managerial oversight to unit. Has responsibility to direct staff assigned to the floor along with ancillary staff. Interacts with residents, staff and families with regard to quality of care. Periodically conducts staff meetings to share information and elicit suggestions from front line staff. Is responsible for smooth operation of unit by establishing proper unit milieu, consistent routines and equitable workload. Monitors the unit acuity and workload and acts as the staff's primary advocate to administration.


11. Works effectively with all members of the extended Judson community. Coordinates referrals and care of residents with psychological services, dental services, physician services and podiatry services. Ensures smooth communication and promotes good working relationships with therapy services, environmental/maintenance, laundry, dietary and administration. Promotes customer service with outside services including radiology, lab services, pharmacy and hospice. Informs administration of issues with any external services or internal departments.


12. Promotes and participates in facility Quality Improvement initiatives when requested. Performs unit-based quality control checks as needed.


13. Provides feedback to administration related to educational needs of residents, families and staff. Promotes scheduled educational opportunities and participates in the development, evaluation and/or provision of educational program. Participates in and supports nursing research programs as established by the research committee.


14. Maintains reasonable flexibility in work schedule. The RCM is expected to attend and participate in special Judson community functions when requested.


15. The RCM will provide clinical and managerial coverage as needed. The RCM may be required to cover additional AL nursing areas and /or units for temporary absence, call-offs, vacations and personal leaves. Participates in weekend on-call pool for AL nurses.


16. Provides human resource support. Has authority to discharge, suspend, or transfer employees. Is held responsible for the completion of 90-day evaluations for all new unit employees. Offers input, guidance and feedback to new unit employees as needed. Completes annual performance appraisals for unit employees and offers feedback for float employees. Provides disciplinary actions in accordance with bargaining unit contracts and Judson Retirement Community's employee handbook. Confers with administrative staff (VP of Human Resources and/or Administrator) when employee problems become evident. Strives to educate and improve the performance of unit employees as needed. Communicates staffing issues and concerns to appropriate team members (VP of Human Resources, Administrator, and/or Staffing Utilization Manager). Participates in the new employee orientation program as directed.


17. Miscellaneous: Maintains a record of acceptable attendance and punctuality. Observes all company rules and safety procedures. Performs other duties as assigned by the VP.

Behavior Skills:

This position requires incumbents to exhibit the following behavioral skills:


1. Respectfulness: Having regard for other people's feelings; courteous; conveying a sense of understanding; being mindful of others' wishes; acting with concern and esteem; offering and being appreciative of assistance.


2. Trustworthiness and Integrity: Shows consistency among principles, values and behaviors; demonstrates sound business ethics; builds trust with others through own actions and authenticity.


3. High Standards: Having the highest regard for personal and professional conduct; expecting and delivering nothing less than "first class" services; consistently providing the highest level of care, facilities and technology; being highly regarded by outsiders as setting the mark of excellence.


4. Responsiveness: Is persistent, proactive, and results-oriented; responds to resident and co-worker needs with a sense of urgency and importance; adapts to and facilitates change.


5. Teamwork and Collaboration: Actively seeks input from key management and peers in conducting one's own work; sees oneself as part of the large organizational team and works toward common goals; proactively communicates necessary information to others; works toward "win-win" solutions; brings disagreements into the open and attempts to resolve them collaboratively.


6. Leadership: Provides direction by clearly and effectively setting course of action for department and subordinates; manages performance by providing regular feedback and reinforcement to subordinates.

Minimum Qualifications, Education and Certifications:

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Minimum of an active LPN certification and Nursing management experience. Prefer a graduate of an accredited school of nursing with a clear and active license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Ohio. Three years of clinical experience and one-year of supervisory experience, preferably in long-term care, is required. Should have a current working knowledge of state and federal rules and regulations related to long-term care. Computer literacy required. Must be able to produce standard job-related reports for the Quality Improvement Committee. Must maintain a current RN license and practice nursing in accordance with the Nurse Practice Active for Registered Nurses.

Physical Requirements.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:


Physical demands may include kneeling, climbing ladders, reaching, pushing, manipulating, talking, hearing, standing or sitting for extended periods, crouching, stooping, walking, lifting up to 75 pounds, transferring up to 150 pounds and repetitive motion. Must possess the dexterity to prepare medications and apply treatments. The RCM must be able to use the telephone, computer and communicate effectively in English.

Working Conditions.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.


Office environment: The RCM is exposed to general office equipment including computers, printers, copy machines and fax machines.


Clinical environment: The RCM is exposed to the general clinical environment including; resident units, resident rooms and care areas. May have exposure to resident waste and blood products and will use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and universal precautions accordingly. May be exposed to infections pathogens and will follow prescribed isolations. May be exposed to combative residents and/or residents with delirium/confusion.