Graduate Employment Opportunities

Graduate Nurse
Permitted in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, & Indiana
Not permitted in North Carolina & Ohio
Immediate Supervisor: Director of Nursing
FLSA: Non-exempt

Position Summary:
The primary purpose of your job is to assess resident’s needs, develop an individualized care plan, administer nursing care, evaluate nursing care and supervise nursing assistants and other personnel in the delivery of nursing care under the direction of a licensed nurse. You will follow all health, sanitary and infection control policies and maintain established standards of practice set forth by the community's administration and Nursing Policies and Procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education & Qualifications

• Must have completed a state approved RN or LPN nursing program and have official documentation of such.
• State specific requirements:
  • PA: Graduate Nurse must have an active Temporary Practice Permit (TPP) and practice under supervision of an RN who is physically present on the unit where practicing. 
  • DE: Must have an active Temporary Permit and practice under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. Direct supervision means the supervising RN is practicing on the assigned unit during the same time period as the temporary permit holder. The assigned patient care unit cannot exceed forty (40) patients.
  • IN: Must have an active Temporary Permit from the State of Indiana. The permit, upon issuance, is valid for the SHORTER of 6-months or until the NCLEX is taken. If unsuccessful at the exam or didn’t take the exam within the duration of the permit, the temporary will be Expired.
  • VA: A graduate who has filed a completed application for licensure in Virginia and has received an authorization letter issued by the board may practice nursing in Virginia from the date of the authorization letter. The period of practice shall not exceed 90 days between the date of successful completion of the nursing education program, as documented on the applicant's transcript, and the publication of the results of the candidate's first licensing examination. These graduate nurses shall use the designation “R.N. Applicant” or “LPN Applicant” on a name tag or when signing official records. This title shall not be used beyond the 90-day period of authorized practice or by applicants who have failed the examination in Virginia or any other state.
  • NC: not permitted
  • OH: not permitted
• Must possess an active CPR certification for healthcare providers by an American Heart Association (AHA) approved provider.
• Must be able to communicate in English and have the ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Must possess and demonstrate the ability to carry out both verbal and written directions.
• Must possess and demonstrate good interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with supervisors, co-workers and Community staff in the performance of duties.
• Ability to observe proper safety and sanitary techniques.
• Ability to work hours as scheduled based on the requirements of the position/assignment.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others in the workplace.

Experience: (Experience as Reasonably Required for the Position in Question)

• Previous experience in long-term care preferred, but not required.
• Previous experience with MatrixCare preferred, but not required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to verbally communicate with residents, families, Physicians, the public and other members of the organization. 
• Must possess basic computer skills and ability to navigate through various software programs, including electronic health record software.
• Ability to read/write English and document and communicate observations.
• Ability to safely perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must be honest, dependable and exhibit a warm, cheerful, caring manner.
• Must possess the ability and willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Must be able to cope with the mental, emotional and physical stress of the position.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the Community.

Essential Functions:

• Perform all duties under the direction of a licensed nurse (RN or LPN) at all times.
• Provide and/or assists other caregivers in providing direct care to residents including transferring, feeding, bathing, etc.
• Answer all call lights promptly.
• Notify Physicians, Responsible Parties or other necessary parties with changes in condition, change in orders or other required status updates.
• Accurately administer medication and treatment to residents per Physician orders. Follow all required protocols, policies, and regulations related to medication administration.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation on required charting, medication/treatment administration, incidents/accidents, Physician orders, admission/transfer/discharge, weights/vitals, etc.
• Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident’s refusal of treatment requests and honors resident’s preferences to the best of their ability.
• Observe and report the following immediately to Supervisor: any incidents/accidents, medication or narcotic discrepancies identified or allegations of abuse, neglect or misappropriation.
• Supervise, discipline and evaluate nursing assistants to ensure the highest degree of quality of care is maintained at all times.
• Monitor care to ensure all residents are treated with dignity and respect and in compliance with resident rights, including maintenance of patient health information as required by law. Troubleshoot resident concerns/grievances and participate in investigations, as necessary.
• Work tactfully and cooperatively with residents, families, visitors, providers and the entire staff throughout the organization.
• Complete and/or attend all training and education as assigned and as otherwise required by applicable law, rule, or regulations.
• Adhere to the Community’s Code of Conduct, Business Ethics policy, HIPAA Privacy and Security policies, Safety Policies, Infection Control policies, department and Community policies and procedures, including documentation and reporting responsibilities.
• Maintain regular attendance, unless excused under the Community’s attendance policy, and/or as required under the Family and Medical Leave Act, or as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or as excused under other applicable law, with advance notice of absence as required by Community policy to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Environmental Factors:

• Requires working under stressful conditions and, at times, irregular hours or in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, physicians, visiting government agencies, under all conditions and circumstances. This includes working with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and, at times, hostile people within the community.
• Is subject to call back during emergency circumstances (i.e. severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster).
• May be exposed to infectious waste, communicable diseases and/or body fluids per the community’s blood borne pathogen policy and as required by law.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals per the community’s hazard communication policies and as required by law.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress or fatigue of the position.
• Exposure to unpleasant smells.
• Exposure to loud sounds, including equipment, alarms, and people at times.

Physical/Sensory/Cognitive Requirements to Perform the Essential Job Functions:

Physical:

• Requires full range of body motion including frequent and sustained handling and lifting residents, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
• Use of proper body mechanics.
• Ability to transfer, lift, turn or assist a resident to or from bed, wheelchair, Hoyer lift, toilets, tubs, and shower up to 100 pounds unassisted.
• Requires the ability to push/pull medication/treatment cart, resident room furniture, oxygen concentrators and other various equipment/supplies. This requires the ability to push, pull, and lift from 100 pounds unassisted.
• Requires frequent and sustained standing, walking, kneeling, reaching, squatting, bending/stooping and lifting patients and/or equipment
• Requires the ability to deal with combative residents safely.

Manual Dexterity:

• Ability to use hands and arms to carry trays, position residents, take vitals, make adjustment of equipment utilized.
• Ability to grasp objects from 20-40 pounds frequently.
• Simple manipulative skills are required to consistently manipulate wheelchairs, through doorways, moving linen carts, moving medication/treatment carts, etc.

Sensory Requirements:

• Ability to see objects 30 feet away for identification of residents, call lights and unusual occurrences on unit with or without the use of prosthetics.
• Ability to see objects close to your eyes in order to read on computer monitor, tray tickets, medication cards, and observe changes in resident's condition with or without the use of prosthetics.
• Ability to hear and distinguish normal sounds with background noise ranging from conversational levels to high pitched sounding alarms, with or without the use of prosthetics.

Cognitive Requirements:

• Required to effectively concentrate and perform required job functions with some interruption.
• Maintain attention span necessary to attend to a task/function for 10-15 minutes related to assigned duties.
• Ability to comprehend oral and written English instruction, simple direction, and specific ideas behind actions and be able to communicate in an understandable manner.
• Ability to follow, complete and remember verbal and written daily assignments and routines over an eight-hour shift or longer.

Employee Responsibility in an Emergency:

• Expected to respond to emergency situations involving the safety of residents and other employees in the community. This includes the ability to assist with a possible evacuation of residents.
• Must participate in the community’s emergency plan as assigned.

Closing Statement:

This description has been prepared to assist in evaluating duties, responsibilities and skills of this position. It is not intended as a complete list of specific responsibilities and duties, nor is it intended to limit duties to those listed. Community management reserves the right to change job responsibilities, duties, and hours as management determines is appropriate. This document is not intended to imply a written or implied contract of employment. I understand that my employment is at-will and thereby understand that my employment may be terminated at any time for any reason by either the community or myself, (unless otherwise modified in a formal agreement executed in writing by a legally authorized representative or agent of my employer and myself) and that such termination can be made with or without notice. It is understood that the supervisor has the right to assign, direct, and modify duties and responsibilities. It is also noted that should a physical or cognitive decline be observed, an independent medical evaluation or functional capacity evaluation to determine if an employee can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat of harm to the employee or others. I also understand I may not release or disclose protected health or community information without proper authorization.