Director of Nurses Requirements for the State of Tennessee
(4) Nursing Services.
(b) The facility must have a
well-organized nursing service with a plan of
administrative authority and delineation of
responsibilities for resident care. The Director of Nursing
(DON) must be a licensed registered nurse who has no current
disciplinary actions against his/her license. The DON is
responsible for the operation of the service,
including determining the types and numbers
of nursing personnel and staff necessary to provide nursing care
for all areas of the facility.
(c) The Director of Nursing shall have the
following responsibilities:
1. Develop, maintain and periodically
update:
(i) Nursing service objectives and
standards of practice;
(ii) Nursing service policy and procedure
manuals;
(iii) Written job descriptions for each
level of nursing personnel;
(iv) Methods for coordination of nursing
service with other resident services; and,
(v) Mechanisms for monitoring quality of
nursing care, including the periodic review of medical records.
2. Participate in selecting prospective
residents in terms of the nursing services they need and nursing
competencies available.
3. Make daily rounds to see residents.
4. Notify the resident’s physician when
medically indicated.
5. Review each resident’s medications
periodically and notify the physician where changes are
indicated.
6. Supervise the administration of
medications.
7. Supervise assignments of the nursing
staff for the direct care of all residents.
8. Plan, develop and conduct monthly
in-service education programs for nursing personnel and other
employees of the nursing home where indicated. An organized
orientation program shall be developed and implemented for all
nursing personnel.
9. Supervise and coordinate the feeding of
all residents who need assistance.
10. Coordinate the dietary requirements of
residents with the staff responsible for the dietary service.
11. Coordinate housekeeping personnel.
12. Assure that discharge planning is
initiated in a timely manner.
13. Assure that residents, along with their
necessary medical information, are transferred or referred to
appropriate facilities, agencies or outpatient services, as
needed, for follow-up or ancillary care.
(h) Non-employee licensed nurses who are
working in the nursing home must adhere to the policies and
procedures of the facility. The director of the nursing service
must provide for the adequate supervision and evaluation of the
clinical activities of non-employee nursing personnel which
occur within the responsibility of the nursing service. |
