FACILITY ADVISORY NURSE III

DEFINITION

This is senior-level professional and supervisory nursing work for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services inspecting, investigating, and/or consulting in surveying long-term care facilities, including facilities for the mentally retarded and mentally ill, to determine compliance with state and federal laws, regulations, certification, and licensure requirements.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Plans, supervises, reviews, and participates, as necessary, in surveys, inspections, and on-site investigations of complaints filed by the public and others.

Plans, coordinates, supervises, or manages inspections, investigations, quality assurance reviews, and surveys to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and agency policies.

Performs specialized nursing or managerial inspection and/or investigative work.

Provides survey findings which may result in recommendations for enforcement actions against deficient facilities or service providers.

Assigns and/or supervises the work of others or serves as an assistant to a program manager.

Communicates frequently with state agency staff and others.

Provides information to state agency staff, providers, and the public in the areas of regulations, policies, adult day care, employee disqualification list, nurse assistant registry, and complaints.

Shares delegated responsibility, with the Facility Surveyor III, for the long-term care survey program including follow-up visits; reviews of corrective action plans; makes recommendations for state and/or federal penalty assessments and/or federal remedies in situations where state licensing and/or federal regulations are not met within specified time limits; reviews facility and/or provider informal disputes of issued violations; and participates in exit conferences on findings.

Assists in planning and implementing federal surveys and state licensure inspections on a statewide basis.

Assigns and coordinates special studies and participates in evaluating programs, nursing care, and other procedures for the purpose of improving operational efficiency.

Implements and oversees quality control systems to ensure program standardization and consistency among long-term care facilities and service providers.

Assists in developing and implementing improvements in training programs and corresponding operating procedures.

Performs quality assurance evaluations of work performed by other supervisors and staff.

Provides technical assistance and consultation to facility staff in areas such as nursing care; dietetic services and nutrition; physical, occupational, speech, recreational, or music therapy; geriatrics; social services; mental retardation and/or mental illness.

Reviews medical charts of selected residents and each Medicaid recipient of a facility to examine medical orders, doctor's and nurses' notes, laboratory work, drug prescriptions, physical examinations, diagnoses, treatment plans, and other similar information in order to note any deficiencies or inconsistencies in standards and practices.

Assists in recruiting and training survey staff.

Provides technical supervision to multidisciplinary team members including informing subordinates of changes in procedures and/or laws affecting their duties and responsibilities, and assisting with decisions related to the priorities and methods for securing evidence.

Explains licensure or certification requirements and discusses the programs with providers; consults on methods to improve the quality of services and the ability of providers to meet requirements and/or standards.

Presents evidence or participates in hearings and other administrative proceedings related to institutions not meeting standards for licensure and/or certification.

Presents evidence or participates in hearings and other administrative proceedings, including but not limited to those related to individuals recommended for placement on the employee disqualification list.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, and other concerned individuals or groups.

Travels, which may include overnight stays, to facilities to conduct surveys, inspections, complaint investigations, and provide technical assistance.

Exercises significant independence and initiative in the performance of responsibilities; receives general administrative direction.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Comprehensive knowledge of professional nursing principles and practices.

Comprehensive knowledge of gerontology, mental health, and mental retardation treatment and care.

Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and codes applicable to the licensure and certification of facilities.

Comprehensive knowledge of various federal, state and facility guidelines, and regulations concerning care for the aged and disabled including mental disabilities.

Comprehensive knowledge of the functions, services, needs, and operating procedures of long-term care facilities.

Comprehensive knowledge of pharmacology, therapeutic diets and nutrition, and infection control as related to quality of resident care.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and techniques of supervision, mentoring, training, and evaluation of employees.

Intermediate knowledge of social and emotional effects of various mental and physical disabilities and the provisions of active treatment for the mentally disabled.

Intermediate knowledge of the theory, nature, and objectives of the licensure and certification programs.

Ability to investigate facilities and analyze findings.

Ability to express ideas in an effective and concise manner.

Ability to supervise, mentor, coach, and train other professionals and function effectively as a multidisciplinary team member.

Ability to travel as required by work assignments.

Ability to compile, present, and interpret reports and related data concerning facility operations.

Ability to interpret federal and state laws, regulations, and codes applicable to the licensure and certification of facilities.

Ability to use computer programs and applications effectively.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and with staff of facilities under the licensing and certification programs.

Ability to use instruments and tools, including personal computers, to perform surveys, inspections, and/or investigations.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (assignment by position)

Successful completion of the Federal Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test within two years of the date of appointment for all positions, except those that exclusively survey intermediate-care facilities for the mentally retarded and/or mentally ill.

Possession of a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Missouri at the time of appointment.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers. When practical and possible, the Division of Personnel will accept substitution of experience and education on a year-for-year basis.)

One or more years of experience as a Facility Advisory Nurse II with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing; and,

Four or more years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN), of which two years must have been in surveying health care facilities.

(Earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in Nursing may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience at a rate of 24 earned credit hours for one year of experience.)

(Additional qualifying experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis for deficiencies in the required education.)

(Minor Revision 10/18/06 )