Job Summary
The Registered Nurse is an essential care team member in The Green House model and strives
to build a human habitat where elders and staff members are living rich and meaningful lives.
RNs evaluate and meet the clinical needs of the elders while supporting the quality of life as
determined by each elder. Scope of Practice. The RN can perform a wide range of nursing
duties, including assessing patients, developing care plans, administering medications, starting
intravenous (IV) lines and providing more complex care.
Accountabilities
1. General
a) Model the Culture Change Principles of the Eden Alternative.
b) Understand and adhere to Resident Confidentiality and HIPPA regulations.
c) Attend in-service training, educational classes, and meetings as required.
d) Read and comprehend instructions, correspondence and memos.
e) Communicate and function in an interdisciplinary team.
f) Maintain a thorough working knowledge of Community Electronic Health Record
software.
g) Maintain a thorough working knowledge of Community policies and procedures.
h) Solve basic mathematical procedures.
i) Maintain the highest degree of personal and professional integrity.
j) Know and honor Resident Rights.
k) Communicate with residents in a respectful manner.
l) Respond to resident family/visitor requests in a timely and appropriate manner.
m) Make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
n) Provide effective and courteous service to all residents, guests and co-workers.
2. Resident Care
a) Champion the Green House Core Values: Real Home, Meaningful Life, and
Empowered Staff.
b) Develop relationships with the Shahbazim and other Clinical Support Team
members in the Green House home.
c) Address clinical and healthcare needs in the context of the Elder’s living their life.
d) Honor elders’ wishes for care
e) Provide education to Elders about treatment options and risks associated with
either accepting or rejecting the physician’s recommendations so they can make
an informed decision.
f) Provide clinical assessment, treatment, and evaluation for the Elders within the
scope of practice of the nurse.
g) Document care provided to Elders, observations and action taken.
h) Obtain an update on each Elder from the Shahbazim during each shift.
i) Visit each Elder during each shift to monitor clinical status, and to determine if the
clinical care needs of the Elder are being met. Clinical assessments should be Elderspecific and consider the primary diagnosis and risks specific to the individual elder.
j) Assess each Elder for unresolved/untreated pain. Plan and implement pain
management interventions when appropriate.
k) Assess, plan, and implement interventions related to skin integrity, bowel and
bladder status, including continence and bowel movement monitoring, mentation,
ambulation status, nutrition and hydration, and the effects of medication.
l) Identify any clinical teaching needs of the Shahbazim, Elder or family. Provide
teaching and complete documentation.
m) Identify ways to support Shahbazim in their clinical competency and skills.
n) Monitor standard precautions (i.e. presence of gloves, soap, towels, etc.)
o) Administer treatments and medications.
p) Monitor overall adequacy of the care plan.
q) Attend care plan meetings.
r) Review compliance with the care plan.
s) Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the
community’s quality assurance program.
t) Maintain emergency supplies and equipment.
u) Conduct physical assessment of each Elder.
v) Conduct MDS assessments, monitor infection control, and care planning activities.
w) Provide regular verbal report regarding the clinical status of the Elders in The Green
House homes to the oncoming shift personnel and to the Director of Nursing.
x) Place issues/items for team discussion on the team meeting agenda, initial the
entry, and seek feedback regarding the issues/items from the Team Coordinator
after the meeting.
y) Attend team meetings to provide support and guidance when invited by the team
or by requesting to attend for a specific reason.
z) Review the minutes of the team meeting each week.
aa) Participate in meals and meaningful engagement activities.
bb) Communicate with families on a regular basis to determine their level of
satisfaction.
cc) Interact with all staff in a manner that is respectful and collaborative.
dd) Act as a mentor and facilitate individual growth in all staff.
ee) Agree not to disclose elder’s protected health information and promptly report
suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
3. Roles
Nurses in The Green House model are core members of the Clinical Support Team (CST). Their
roles on the CST include assessing and monitoring the clinical status of the elders and delivery
evidence-based clinical care, both directly and through the Shahbazim and other CST
members. The CST nurses report directly to the Director of Nursing but work in collaboration with
the Guide and Shahbazim. Nurses serve as:
• Care Role Model – recognizing the strengths and abilities of each elder, supporting these
strengths to minimize excess disability and ensuring that care approaches are persondirected and promote the elder’s maximum control over his/her care and life.
• Gerontological Nurse – bringing one’s skills, expertise and specialized training in
assessment, care and treatment of aging people to bear on care and services provided
in the Green House home. As specialists and experts, nurses ensure that care and
treatment meets the highest standards of practice and incorporates the most current
evidence-based approaches.
• Care Team Partner – knowing and respecting the contributions of each individual on the
care team – the elders, the Shahbazim as well as other Clinical Support Team members.
As care team partners, all individuals involved in care must share information, listen to
one another, share power and foster creativity by gathering multiple perspectives on any
issue or situation.
• Mentor and Teacher – acting as trusted guides and advisors to the Shahbazim, as well as
imparting knowledge and teaching skills. Nurses have the opportunity and the obligation
to share their clinical knowledge and skills in order to enhance the skills and
competencies of the Shahbazim to provide the highest possible quality of care.
4. Physical Demands/Working Conditions
a) Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
b) Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
c) Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to
function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully
met.
d) Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability
to work effectively with elders, personnel, and support agencies.
e) Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this
community, which include a medical and physical examination, annual influenza
vaccine, and TB testing.
f) Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disables, elderly, emotionally upset,
and, at times, hostile people within the community.
g) Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 25 pounds to a minimum
height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move and/or carry such weight a
minimum distance of 50 feet.
h) May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of elders during emergency situations.
i) Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area.
j) Moves intermittently during working hours.
k) Is subject to frequent interruptions.
l) Is involved with elders, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc.,
under all conditions and circumstances.
m) Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset elders, family members, personnel, and
visitors.
n) Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department
directors.
o) Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when
necessary.
p) Is subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., sever weather,
evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
q) Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
r) Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the
workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other
air contaminants.
s) Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB
and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
t) May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
u) Maintains a liaison with the elders, their families, support departments, etc., to
adequately plan for the elder’s needs.
5. Qualifications and Educational Requirements
a) Must have an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in nursing
(BSN).
b) Must have passed the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain an RN license.
c) Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a registered
nurse in the state of Colorado.
d) Must be BLS or CPR certified.
e) Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
f) Must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to
the age-related needs of the elders served.
g) Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of
teamwork and team concept.
h) Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances
warrant such action.
i) Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, elders, family members,
visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
j) Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well
as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to nursing care facilities.
k) Must possess leadership ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with other
team members.
l) Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the
programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures that are necessary for
providing quality care.
m) Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the
willingness to handle difficult elders.
n) Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to
incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
o) Must be able to relate information concerning an elder’s condition.
p) Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the
workplace.
q) Must be flexible in practice to support the rhythms and preferences of the elders.
Benefits