SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM NURSE MANAGER

Position Summary

To maintain a homecare program which provides supportive services for families of the frail, physically or medically compromised members of the community of the Pueblo of Sandia.

Supervision Exercised

Reports to the Director of Health and Social Services

Supervises Homecare Attendants and Homecare Program Assistant. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provides comprehensive case management services for all patients served by the homecare program.
2. Develops and provides comprehensive new employee orientation and education training to all staff.
3. Maintains employee files and insures that all mandatory competencies are current.
4. Maintains, updates, and manages all policies and procedures for the homecare program including presenting changes/updates to the Tribal Council.
5. Collaborates with the Program Assistant to develop staffing schedules for homecare attendants.
6. Shares after hours on call phone calls if calls are medically related.
7. Ensures that patients have supplies and medications that they need.  This includes monitoring the need, ordering, and oversight of medication delivery.
8. Supervises medication management:  Fills weekly medication boxes as needed.  Instructs Homecare Attendants about responsibilities for reminding patients to take medications.  Monitors documentation for accuracy.
9. Makes regular home visits to all patients to assess physical and psychological status and to evaluate the quality of in-home care.
10. Provides direct care for treatments or procedures that exceed Homecare Attendant scope of practice.
11. Acts as a liaison between patient and family and medical, dental and other health service providers.
12. Performs other related duties as required or assigned by the Director

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Excellent management skills.
2. Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
3. Ability to be highly organized.
4. Ability to accurately assess patient status and provide direct care based on strong clinical knowledge and experience.
5. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
6. Ability to learn tribal policies and procedures.
7. Ability to interact effectively with the patients served, their families, and Homecare Program Assistant as well as the immediate supervisor.
8. Ability to act as an advocate for patients and their families with health care and community agencies.
9. Ability to revise/create application process forms, policies and procedures as rules, regulations and technology advances.
10. Ability to train employees effectively.

Minimum Qualifications, Education and Experience

Required:

1. High School Diploma, GED certification or equivalent
2. Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university. 
3. Three (3) years’ experience in homecare, chronic diseases, geriatrics or related field including two (2) years of supervisory experience. 
4. The following license and/or certifications are required prior to employment start date:
   1. Current New Mexico RN license
   2. CPR/1^st Aid certifications.
5. Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted New Mexico Driver’s License.

Licensing Status

1. Must be able to successfully pass a stringent background and character investigation in compliance with PL 101.630.
2. Will require a post-offer, pre-employment and random drug screening.

Working Conditions

1. Available by phone 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
2. Work is performed indoors and outdoors.  Outside work is subject to temperature extremes and inclement weather conditions.
3. Work hours subject to change with overtime work required.
4. Subject to hazards, which may cause personal bodily harm, smoke, diseases, cuts, bruises, burns, common cold, influenza, dust, odors, and elevated noise levels.
5. Tasks may be performed on uneven, inclined, hard and soft carpeted floors, cement structures, and surfaces.
6. Duties may involve walking, standing for long periods of time, sitting, and crouching.
7. Specific required movements include the following:
   1. Trunk – bend, twist, rotate, push, pull, and carry.
   2. Arms – reach, carry, lift, twist, and rotate.
   3. Legs – lift, push, pull, twist, and rotate.
   4. Hands – grasp, manipulate bilateral coordination, hand and eye coordination, and overall and finger dexterity.