Nurse - Veterans Community Living Center Fitzsimons, Aurora

Job Title

This position is open only to State of Colorado residents.

This position exists to provide professional clinical services to facility residents including assessment, and specialized nursing care consistent with standards of the profession, legal and regulatory requirements and facility and division standards, protocols and policies.

Primary

Job Duties:

• Plans and coordinates basic nursing care and provides a skilled level of nursing to residents.
• Administers specialized and routine nursing services such as medication and nursing treatments as prescribed within the scope of practice and determines the most effective methods to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Performs both admission and daily assessments during residents' clinical stay. Documents current, accurate, and pertinent information regarding care and treatment provided.
• Detects abnormality in the resident's health status indicated by symptoms, vital signs, assessment, and laboratory results, and reports information to the physician.
• Participates in work teams to establish best practice protocols for common treatments or procedures.
• Explains patient care before, during, and after contacts. Provides active listening and communication, support, and encouragement to residents and families regarding their concerns by both phone and personal contact.
• Competently administers medications to residents within the scope of practice while observing the five rights of safe medication administration, resident rights, infection control standards, and appropriate nursing policies. Documents all medications given and justification for scheduled medications not given.
• Directs and implements nursing care to residents by ensuring compliance with accepted standards of nursing care, departmental and facility policies and procedures, and VA and State of Colorado regulatory requirements
• Identifies problems with medication administration, interactions, reactions, and compliance. Participates in medication/pharmacy work teams to ensure quality improvement and optimal practice, and directs subordinates to ensure these standards are met
• Provide infection control, implementing/using standard precautions, and disposal of waste. Cleans equipment, stock supplies, and completes supply forms.
• Identifies high-risk residents for falls, skin breakdown, or other potentially harmful situations and ensures appropriate interventions are initiated to correct problems. Correct use of safety/positioning devices, side rails, transfer belts, proper use of equipment, and attend ongoing staff education programs.
• Maintain updated skills, knowledge, abilities, and competencies necessary to the position through continuing education, clinical supervision, literature review, and participation in discipline and team development. Provide input and orientation for new employees.
• Provide active listening and communication, support, and encouragement to residents and families regarding their concerns by both phone and personal contact. Communicate concerns to appropriate staff to prevent further complications or to ensure timely, appropriate intervention
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Current, valid licensure as a Registered Nurse from the Colorado Board of Nursing or any state participating in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)

Special Qualifications:

• Required to obtain a CPR card and possess and maintain a Colorado RN license in good standing

Substitutions:

• NONE

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two-plus years of long-term care experience
• Prior training with dementia
• Experience with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experience working with veterans

Job-Related Competencies

• Knowledge and understanding of the Elder Justice Act
• Knowledge and understanding of the rights of medications
• Knowledge and understanding of the diabetic protocols
• Experience in electronic documentation

Conditions of Employment:

• FULL BACKGROUND CHECK: This position will have direct contact with vulnerable persons (as defined by C.R.S.27-90-111: "Direct contact" means providing face-to-face care, training,…