Head of Nursing-The Maples

The position RN, Department Head shall be held by a registered nurse,licensed in the state of Louisiana, as appointed by the Administrator. The Head of Nursing shall have the education and experience necessary to oversee all nursing services.

• Bachelor's or Associate's degree from an accredited school of nursing.
• Maintains a current valid license to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Louisiana
• At least 5 years of full-time clinical experience as a nurse, with at least 3 years of which were providing care to the mentally ill.
• Certification in Basic Life Support
• Certification in non-violent crisis intervention
• Prior leadership experience preferred

• Supports and implements the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of The Maples
• Responsible for providing nurse leadership in the 24-hour nursing care delivery system and clinical programming of the facility. The facility's model for nursing care will be compatible and reflect the ANA standards for psychiatric-mental health service provision.
• Works collaboratively with the Clinical Director in the development and implementation of a high-quality treatment program, overall management of the facility, and supervision of nursing staff.
• Functions as the liaison between the program staff and medical staff of the facility.
• Works with Administrator in budget formulation and staffing guidelines to ensure provision of professional nursing services to meet patient needs.
• Has a firm understanding of nursing and regulatory standards and ensures important processes and activities are measured, assessed, improved, and reported.
• Ensures nursing participates in the development of the Master Treatment Plan in coordination with the multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Interprets and facilitates appropriate nursing action in response to administrative directives and a changing healthcare environment.
• Ensures the nursing staff documents thorough and accurate Nursing Assessments on all new patients admitted.
• Ensures that nursing staff administers individual nursing care as ordered by the physician.
• Ensures nursing staff facilitates nursing psycho-education groups as needed and ordered by the physician.
• Ensures that nursing staff provides individual patient education as ordered by the physician.
• Ensures nursing staff completes timely and accurate clinical documentation for all nursing services provided.
• Ensures nursing staff effectively manages medication administration, monitoring and storage daily.
• Ensures nursing staff assess medical issues and make appropriate referrals.
• Ensures nursing staff representative attends weekly treatment team meetings with input into patient treatment planning.
• Ensures nursing staff effectively coordinates with ancillary support services such as dietary, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and psychological services etc.
• Ensures nursing staff assists multidisciplinary team members with obtaining needed resources, medications, medical treatment, etc.
• Accountable for determining qualifications, hiring, assessing competence, and utilization of all nurses and change agents within the facility.
• Responsible for coordinating with any agencies providing contract nursing and integration of patient care services with the facility's primary functions, in a manner that contributes to the provision of comprehensive care and achievement of quality cost effective outcomes.
• Responsible for training and educating all new nurses and change agent hires.
• Provides or obtains resources for on-going nursing education within the facility.
• Supports employee and patient education to enhance knowledge, skills, and necessary behaviors to achieve quality outcomes.
• Responsible for complying with facility P&Ps and is actively involved in updating P&Ps annually or as needed.
• Responsible for all infection control policies and implementation (serves as the infection control nurse).
• Responsible for internal QAPI monitoring and staff education.
• Ensures all shifts are covered to ensure adequate and safe care.
• Performs direct care for clients during staff shortages.
• Performs other duties and special projects as required.

The Head RN reports to and is accountable to the Administrator on an administrative level. On a clinical basis, he/she has accountability to the Medical Director, commensurate to the specific issue.