Hours: 35 Hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm.

Position Summary:

The House of John Registered Nurse provides comprehensive medical assistance to participants as required, lifts and positions individuals who require use of a wheelchair and/or stander and assists participants with basic life skills and personal hygiene with the assistance of non-medical program staff.  This role participates in the design and implementation of daily, weekly, and monthly program activities that provides participants the opportunity to be independent and productive according to their individual capabilities with opportunities for choice, physical, and social integration.  The House of John Registered Nurse participates in family meetings and in-service programs, maintains accurate and complete medical documentation to assist in the designing of Individual Habilitation Plans (IHPs) and/or Essential Lifestyle Plans (ELPs) of Person-Centered programming, and ensures ongoing communication with families/guardians or home representatives about participant’s activities, concerns, or goals.  This role works with supervisor and co-workers to grow and expand services, and participation levels and recognizes that the highest quality of service is delivered with Hospitality, Respect, Quality, Spirituality, and Responsibility, the core values of the Agency, and maintains confidentiality of departmental records, persons, and activities.

Agency Expectations of Coworkers:

Coworkers are expected to perform their duties in such a way that enhances the dignity and quality of life of all the children and clients that we serve.  St. John of God Community Services (the Agency) is a service of The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, a Religious Order of the Roman Catholic Church, whose mission is to serve the sick, poor, and needy people in over 50 countries worldwide.

St. John of God Community Services expects the following to be met by all coworkers:

• Understands and supports the Agency’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Understands and Respects the Catholic Identity of The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God and St. John of God Community Services.
• Adheres to Agency and departmental policies and procedures.
• Acts as a role model within and outside the Agency while maintaining information in a confidential and needs-to-know manner regarding persons served, families, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Performs duties as the workload necessitates by demonstrating flexibility, efficient time management, and the ability to prioritize one’s workload.
• Responds appropriately to interruptions, emergencies, and various safety and evacuation drills.
• Treats attendance and punctuality as essential components of the job.
• Communicates on a timely basis with a supervisor about departmental issues and concerns affecting the safety and well-being of all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Administers to client’s ongoing medical needs, dispenses prescribed medication to clients as directed by physician.  Performs seizure management, oral suctioning, tracheostomy, and g-tube care as needed.  Assesses ongoing physical well-being of clients and follow-up on medical reports.  
• Ensures appropriate medical practices are met and maintained.  Keeps abreast of medical protocols and guidelines concerning client’s health conditions.
• Consults with relevant staff concerning medically necessitated procedures, side effects of medical conditions of clients, and for any needed modifications in program environments.
• Properly lifts and positions participants who require use of a wheelchair and/or stander.
• Assists clients with basic life skills and personal hygiene with the assistance and/or supervision of non-medical program staff.
• Administers First Aid/CPR or other appropriate medical intervention as needed.  Provides medical opinion and/or health counseling in cases of accidents, injuries, or exposed incidents.  Completes detailed accident/incident reports and notifies program supervisor and administrators in a timely manner.  
• Maintains accurate and confidential medical records of clients according to NJ Division of Development Disabilities guidelines and within HIPAA guidelines.  Documents issues relating to client health, family/guardian contact and Program activities.  Assists in the development of Individualized Service plans for clients. 
• Accompanies clients to and from home and various program activity sites on agency vehicle.
• Assists participants with basic life skills and personal hygiene.
• Provides personal care assistance to both ambulatory and non-ambulatory clients.
• Participates in daily program activities with clients and reinforces goals and objectives.
• Assesses and assists clients with social and personal issues related to their goal attainment; provides instruction on issues surrounding independent living skills, behavior management, community inclusion activities, etc.
• Seeks community groups and businesses to develop integration opportunities.
• Conducts regular family education and support programs, as well as program in-services.
• Completes Individual Habilitation Plans, and other goal planning documents, case entries and incident reports.  Maintains contact with families/guardians and/or other home representatives.
• Attends ISP meetings with families/guardians and Agency staff.
• Complies with standards set forth in the DDD Supports and Community Care Manuals.
• Complies with HCBS standards and guidelines.
• Coordinates with Human Resources regarding required staff training. 
• Participates in planning and implementing cross-training/cross utilization for various department functions.       
• Observes Agency and departmental procedures concerning safety, emergencies, behavior management, and professional conduct.
• Monitors client areas for safety and ease of access.
• Participates in all Safeguarding Trainings related to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
• Participates in departmental meetings, information sharing and in-service training.  Offers ideas for improved services and operations.
• Develops professional competencies; keeps abreast of related literature, enhances technical skills and knowledge. 
• Promotes teamwork.
• Work flexible hours as needed based on program needs. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications for the Position:

• High School diploma: Associate’s degree preferred.  Valid NJ Registered Nurse license.
• Maintains valid and current First Aid certification and Providers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification from the American Heart Association or the equivalent from the American Red Cross. Continues education to maintain certification and licensure.
• One (1) year as a registered nurse working with developmentally disabled people with a range of special medical needs.  Knowledge of treatments and medications associated with special medical needs and conditions. 
• Proficient using Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Required skills, knowledge, and ability to perform job.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) Specifications:

The demands described herein below are representative of those that must be met by a coworker to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Proficiency Rating Legend:

                O = Occasionally – May be called upon to perform from time-to-time.

                R = Regularly – Commonly call upon to perform.

                F = Frequently – Repeatedly called upon to perform; cannot perform job without this function.

• Lifting unassisted: Up to 25 pounds, from the floor level to the at waist level. (F)
• Lifting assisted: Up to 100 pounds, from any level. (F)
• Standing/Walking: Remaining on one’s feet in an upright position or moving about a work area. (F)
• Sitting: Remaining in a normal, seated position. (R)
• Bending/Stooping: Continual, intermittent flexing of the spine; bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. (F)
• Crouching/Kneeling: Bending legs at knees; coming to rest on knees. (F)
• Crawling: Moving about a surface on hands and knees. (O)
• Pushing/Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from or toward the force. (F)
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. (F)
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like, using feet and legs, and hands and arms. (F)
• Repetitive finger/hand movements: Usage or other special equipment operated. (F)
• Precise finger/hand movements: Seizing, grasping, turning, or otherwise performing precision work with hand or hands. (F)
• Close vision: Clear vision at 20 inches or less. (F)
• Distance vision: Clear vision at 20 feet or more. (F)
• Color Vision: The ability to identify and distinguish colors. (F)
• Peripheral vision: To observe an area that can be seen up/down or to the left/right, while the eyes are fixed on a given point. (F)
• Depth perception: The ability to judge distance and spatial relationships. (F)
• Focus adjustment/ability: To adjust eyes to bring an object into sharp focus. (F)
• Distinguish foreground/background sounds. (F)
• Hear high/low frequencies. (R)
• Hear/process for conversation speech. (F)
• Effective articulation. (F)
• Voice Projection. (R)
• Read and write at a college level. (F)
• Taste: The ability to distinguish different flavors. (R)
• Smell: The ability to distinguish different scents. (R)
• Touch: The ability to distinguish tactually. (R)