GENERAL ACUTE CARE DON

Pay: $52.00 - $88.18 per hour

Job description:

Job Title: General Acute Care Hospital Director of Nursing (DON)
 Department: General Acute Care
 Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or designee
 FLSA Status: Exempt/Salaried, Executive Exemption
 Work Location: Southern Inyo Healthcare District General Acute Care Hospital, 501 East Locust Street, Lone Pine, CA
 Schedule: Full-Time Salaried Schedule, Primarily Weekdays, with On-Call Availability and Occasional Weekend, Evening, and Holiday Coverage as Operations Require. Serves Only this Facility (2,080 Hours Per Year)

Job Summary

The General Acute Care Hospital Director of Nursing (DON) plans, organizes, directs, and coordinates nursing and health services in the acute care hospital including inpatient, swing bed, outpatient nursing services, infusion and and emergency department. The DON is accountable for compliance with federal and California requirements as well as for management responsibilities that include staffing, staff morale, patient and family satisfaction, quality, organization operations and leads collaboration with partner departments.

The DON is responsible for establishing Southern Inyo Healthcare District (SIHD) as a preferred referral location for Swing Bed patients and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) rehabilitation patients.

The DON is the designated full-time Registered Nurse responsible for nursing services. The DON leads the nursing leadership team, works with the District Quality Department and participates with hospital committees. Ensures District strategy is operationalized and is responsible for success in achieving district strategic goals as well as adherence to budget.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

•     Directs general acute care hospital (GACH) Nursing Services and Keeps GACH Policies and Procedures Current, and
•     Serves as the Designated Full-Time Director of Nursing for the GACH Only
•     Ensures Compliance with State and Federal Regulations, and Investigates and Corrects Problems and Concerns

Leads Nursing Participation in QAPI, Reviews Clinical Outcome Indicators Monthly/Quarterly, and Implements and Directs Quality Improvement 

•     Ensures all nursing policies and procedures are current, and leads nursing’s part in rolling out District-wide policies that affect nursing staff and patient care

•     Takes part in recruitment, retention, evaluation, discipline, and grievances in partnership with Human Resources.
•     Accountable for ensuring all licensed and certified staff keep current licensure/certification and finish mandatory training.
•     Supports the Clinical Educator in creating and maintaining an annual nursing training program.
•     Serve as a liaison between patients/families and external providers, specialists, and community resources to facilitate continuity of care
•     Assist patients and families in navigating available community resources, home health agencies, durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, and social support services
•     Schedule, organize, and facilitate daily Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings for Acute Care and Swing Bed patients, ensuring all required participants are notified and present.
•     Coordinate attendance by required IDT participants, including but not limited to: attending physician or designee, nursing staff, therapy (PT/OT/ST as applicable), dietary/nutrition, social services
•     Initiate and coordinate the discharge planning process for Acute and Swing Bed patients from the time of admission, in collaboration with nursing, therapy, social services, and the attending physician.
•     Identify and address patient and family needs related to post-discharge care, including home health, hospice, skilled nursing placement, durable medical equipment, medication management, and follow-up appointments.
•     Coordinate Swing Bed discharge needs including communication with receiving facilities, family members, and transport vendors to ensure safe and timely transitions.
•     Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to assess psychosocial barriers to discharge, including housing instability, lack of caregiver support, financial concerns, or mental health needs.
•     Facilitate timely referrals to home health agencies, hospice providers, rehabilitation facilities, and other post-acute care settings.
•     Ensure all discharge documentation, instructions, and follow-up plans are completed accurately and communicated to the patient, family, and receiving care providers prior to discharge.
•     Monitor and track patients post-discharge as directed, including follow-up phone calls to confirm receipt of services and reduce avoidable readmissions.
•     Serve as the primary point of contact for hospital discharge plans, case managers, and social workers at referring facilities to facilitate smooth transfers and admissions.
•     Maintain organized and accurate records of insurance verifications, authorizations, clinical reviews, and admission decisions.
•     Track payer-specific requirements (e.g., Medicare qualifying hospital days, Medi-Cal spend-down, managed care day limits) and communicate proactively to the clinical and administrative team
•      Run and verify insurance eligibility and benefits for all prospective SNF and Swing Bed admissions, including Medicare, Medi-Cal, managed care, and commercial insurance plans.
•     Obtain and track prior authorizations and insurance approvals required for SNF or Swing Bed admission.
•     Coordinate and facilitate the clinical review process for incoming patients by ensuring clinical information (physician orders, nursing assessments, therapy evaluations, hospital record
•     Performs Other Duties Reasonably Related to the Position and Consistent with the Incumbent’s License, Qualifications, and Department Needs

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of

•     Nursing Administration Practices and the Laws and Regulations that Govern Nursing Administration in Skilled Nursing Facilities

•     42 CFR Part 483, California Title 22, and Health and Safety Code Staffing Requirements
•     Geriatric and Post-Acute Care, MDS and Care Planning, Infection Prevention, and Medication Safety
•     Budgeting, Staffing, Labor Relations, and Employment Law as they Apply to Nursing Leadership
•     Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Methods and Survey Readiness

Ability To

•     Lead, Motivate, and Hold a Nursing Team Accountable
•     Make Independent Decisions and Use Sound Judgment Under Pressure
•     Communicate Effectively with Physicians, patients, Families, Regulators, and Other Leaders
•     Collect and Analyze Data and Use it to Drive Improvement
•     Manage Multiple Priorities in a Small Rural Facility
•     Perform the Physical Work of the Role, Including Lifting Patients Occasionally and Moving Intermittently through the Workday

Minimum Qualifications

a. Certificate, Experience, and Development

•     Current, Valid, and Unrestricted California Registered Nurse License, in Good Standing
•     Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

•     Eligible to Serve as the Designated Full-Time Director of Nursing Under 42 CFR §483.35(B), Health & Safety Code §1250(C), and 22 CCR §72103

•     Current BLS (CPR) Certification at Hire or During Orientation, and Kept Current
•     In-Depth Knowledge of Legal Policies and Regulations in the Healthcare Industry

B. Other Requirements

•     Satisfactory Completion of the Conditions of Employment Under HR-032, Including Background Clearance as Required by California Law for the Position, Health Clearance, and Satisfactory References
•     Ability to Meet the Immunization and Health-Clearance Requirements
•     Ability to Communicate Clearly, Orally and in Writing, in English

Preferred Qualifications

The following are not required but will be given favorable consideration in selection:

•     Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, or A Related Field
•     At Least Two Years of Experience in a Nursing Leadership Role
•     Experience with Regulatory Surveys, Plans of Correction, and QAPI
•     Experience in A Rural or Small-Facility Setting
•     Bilingual English and Spanish Communication Skills

Work Conditions

The position is performed in the general acute care hospital and administrative offices. It involves frequent interruptions and on-call availability, contact with patients, families, visitors, and regulators, and work with upset patients or family members. Work may extend beyond regular hours, including weekends and holidays. The work includes occasional lifting of patients (up to 50 pounds, more with a lift or team) and exposure to infectious disease and bloodborne pathogens. The District considers reasonable accommodation as the law requires.

Role Authority

The Director of Nursing directs GACH nursing services and exercises independent clinical and managerial judgment within District policy and the authority delegated by the CEO or CEO designee. The DON makes or recommends hiring, discipline, and separation decisions under District policy and with Human Resources review. The DON does not independently approve compensation changes or act outside delegated authority.

The DON escalates patient-safety events, suspected abuse or neglect, survey and compliance concerns, staffing shortfalls, significant outcomes, and privacy concerns promptly to the CEO (or CEO designee) and, as applicable, the Medical Director, Compliance, or Human Resources.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Southern Inyo Healthcare District (SIHD) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, California state, or local law.

SIHD is committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by applicable law.

All employment decisions, including recruitment, selection, hiring, promotion, compensation, training, and separation, are based on legitimate job-related qualifications, business needs, and applicable employment requirements.

Southern Inyo Healthcare District is committed to fostering a professional, respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where employees are valued and have the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of quality healthcare services to the communities we serve.

Qualified applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment or selection process may contact Human Resources for assistance.

Benefits:

•     Dental insurance
•     Flexible schedule
•     Health insurance
•     Life insurance

•     Paid time off
•     Vision insurance

Work Location: In person.