Restorative Care Nurse

The primary purpose of your job position is perform restorative nursing procedures that maximize the resident’s existing abilities, emphasize independence instead of dependence, and minimize the negative effects of disability with an attitude of realistic optimism under the supervision of a restorative nurse.

As a Restorative Care Nurse, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct restorative care services, as well as its programs and activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.
• Meet with administration, medical and nursing staff, therapy department, as well as other related departments in planning restorative care.
• Develop and maintain restorative care standards.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which restorative care will be accomplished.
• Maintain a reference library of written restorative care material, laws, etc., necessary for complying with current standards and regulations and that will provide assistance in maintaining quality resident care.
• Review restorative care policies, procedures, manual, job descriptions, etc., at least annually, and participate in making recommended changes.
• Interpret restorative care policies and procedures to personnel, residents, family members, etc., as necessary.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of resident care plans, resident assessments, etc., as necessary.
• Assist the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement in developing, implementing and maintaining an ongoing quality assurance program for restorative care services.
• Assist the QAPI in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
• Assume the authority, responsibility and accountability of directing restorative care services.
• Maintain a current file of residents treated.
• Maintain treatment records, resident files, and progress notes as required.
• Work with the facility’s consultants as necessary and implement recommended changes as required.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the administrator, as necessary/required, concerning restorative care services.
• Maintain an adequate liaison with families and residents.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
• Others as deemed necessary and appropriate, or as may be directed by the administrator.
• Serve on, participate in and/or attend various committees of the facility as required.
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the restorative care programs and activities as required.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to restorative care.
• Assist the Administrator and or the HR Director in the recruitment and selection of competent restorative care personnel.
• Provide guidance and training for new and/or less experienced personnel.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
• Make appropriate reports to the administrator as required or as may be necessary, including departmental performance evaluations.
• Maintain an excellent working relationship with the medical profession and other health related facilities and organizations.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the department.
• Meet with and solicit advices from other department supervisors concerning restorative care; assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and/or the improvement of services.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals to the Director of Nursing Services.
• Review request for restorative care and physician’s orders.
• Interview resident to determine type of treatment and schedule therapy.
• Select rehabilitative and therapeutic activities and exercises based on medical and social history of residents.
• Evaluate type of therapy most desirable after consulting with the physician and therapy personnel.
• Participate in the development and implementation of resident assessments (MDS) and care plans, including quarterly reviews, as they relate to restorative care.
• Brief resident of procedures involved in restorative care and prepare necessary equipment.
• Assist in transporting resident to and from therapy room/area.
• Demonstrate to residents and staff personnel, as necessary, the procedures involved in the treatment process.
• Perform restorative care treatments in resident’s room as necessary.
• Reassure resident before and during therapy treatment.
• Prepare resident for treatment by dress/position and administer restorative care in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Encourage residents to perform or participate in ADL functions.
• Encourage residents to perform range of motion exercises.
• Instruct and supervise resident during therapy.
• Assist residents in ambulatory training as necessary.
• Recommend modifications and changes in the resident’s restorative care as indicated.
• Ensure that all restorative care notes are informative and descriptive of the treatment provided and of the resident’s response to the care.
• Develop and participate in programs designed for in-service education, on the job training and orientation classes for newly assigned personnel. (Includes maintaining appropriate recordkeeping requirements of when classes were held, subject matter, attendance, etc.)
• Develop, implement and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to the facility, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.
• Participate and assist in departmental studies and projects as assigned or that may become necessary.
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, etc., to keep abreast of current changes in the healthcare field, as well as to maintain a professional status.
• Ensure that therapy personnel attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-services training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Assist in developing safety standards for restorative care.
• Ensure that staff personnel, residents, visitors, etc., follow established safety policies and procedures at all times, including appropriate dress codes.
• Be alert for resident safety during any/all therapy or treatments.
• Comply with established safety precautions at all times.
• Ensure that therapy personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g. back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in the development, implementation, and revising of written aseptic and isolation techniques, as directed.
• Assist in identifying and classifying departmental procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids. Update as necessary.
• Ensure that therapy personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing duties.
• Follow established policies and procedures governing the exposure to blood or body fluids.
• Ensure that the therapy area is maintained in a clean and safe manner for resident comfort and convenience by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained to perform such duties/services.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.
• Recommend to the administrator the equipment and supply needs of the department.
• Provide necessary material/equipment for resident to perform required therapy or treatment.
• Develop and implement procedures for the safe operation of all restorative care equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel operate equipment in a safe manner.
• Develop and implement procedures that ensure supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Ensure that MSDSs are on file for hazardous chemicals used in the nursing service department.
• Assist in developing restorative care plans for individual residents in coordination and conjunction with the resident assessment (MDS)
• Review the restorative care requirements of each resident admitted to the facility and assist the attending physician in planning for the resident’s care and/or treatment.
• Ensure that care plans indicate restorative care when such therapy is ordered.
• Participate in the development and implementation of care plans, including quarterly reviews.
• Prepare and plan the restorative care budget and submit to the administrator for his/her review, recommendations, and/or approval.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations, and recommend to the administrator adjustments in restorative care that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Ensure that resident’s rights to fair and equitable treatment, self determination, individuality, privacy, property and civil rights, including the right to wage a complaint, are well established and maintained at all times.
• Ensure that therapy personnel knock before entering the resident’s room.
• Ensure that all restorative care personnel are knowledgeable of the resident’s responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
• Ensure that therapy personnel honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Report such requests to the Director of Nursing Services.
• Abide by the resident’s participation in treatment decision.
• Inform the resident of consequences of not participating in prescribed therapy and document such action in the resident’s clinical record.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident, families, and/or visitors and make oral/written reports to the administrator indication what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.
• Maintain a written record of the resident’s complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.
• Allow the resident to participate in the planning and scheduling of his or her treatment.

Educational and Experience Requirements

• Must possess, as a minimum, a a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/LNV program.
• Must have experience in restorative care.
• Must have training in rehabilitative and restorative therapy practices.

Certification and other Specific Requirements

• Must possess a current, unencumbered license to practice as a RN, LPN, or LVN in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of restorative care procedures.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, etc., of restorative care.
• Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., and maintain the appearance of treatment areas.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever maturity level in which they are currently functioning.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing restorative care practices.
• Must be able to use preventive measures to ensure quality of life and to maintain functional levels.
• Must be able to recognize resident’s needs such as ROM exercise, ambulation limitations, etc.
• Must be able to instruct certified nursing assistants in continuing preventive restorative care.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.