Description

The Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea, a dedicated long-term care facility committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to our nation's veterans, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director of Nursing. 

The successful candidate will lead our nursing department, ensuring the highest standards of care and compliance with all regulatory requirements. This executive level position is integral to maintaining the exceptional quality of service that our veterans deserve. Join our dedicated team and contribute to a supportive and rewarding environment where our veterans receive the care and respect they deserve.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Direct and supervise the nursing department through designated supervisors and Veteran Care Coordinators.
• Develop and maintain the nursing service philosophy, objectives, and standards of nursing practice.
• Develop nursing department policies and procedures.
• Organize, develop, and direct necessary administration and veteran care.
• Regularly inspect the facility and nursing practices for compliance with federal, state, and local standards and regulations.
• Develop nursing job descriptions specific to the Massachusetts Veterans Home.
• Maintain adequate staffing patterns and written staffing plans.
• Monitor the nursing budget process and handle labor management issues.
• Focus on the recruitment and retention of staff on all shifts.
• Oversee nursing Quality Assurance programs and ensure compliance with accreditation standards.
• Serve as a liaison with contracted services such as Hospice, dental, geri-psychiatric, and pharmacy services.
• Meet with the Executive Director/Superintendent and leadership team regarding problems and updates.
• Communicate facility wide on events, departmental updates, policy and procedure changes, and activities.
• Meet daily with the Assistant Director of Nurses (ADON) and Veteran Care Coordinators (VCC).
• Develop action plans, discuss admissions, transfers, and hospice evaluations.
• Review attendance and disciplinary actions, and discuss the 24-hour report.
• Conduct monthly nursing administrative staff group meetings to solicit feedback and discuss quality care concerns.
• Advise teams on policy and performance improvement measures.
• Ensure detailed records of all policy, procedure, and process changes, and committee meetings are maintained.
• Prepare for and manage the Joint Commission Survey, Veterans Administration Annual Survey,
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health Periodic Inspections, Annual Survey, and CMS Survey.
• Ensure the facility meets state and national standards for quality veteran care.
• Update, review, and revise various manuals, such as Personnel Policies Manual, Nursing Policies and
• Procedures, Veteran Care Policies, and Infection Control Policies.
• Operate as Incident Commander in the Emergency Operations Center in conjunction with Mass Map.
• Respond to all codes and make decisions regarding infection control, biohazard materials, and psychiatric situations.
• Maintain CPR certification and make first responder decisions in emergency situations.
• Make decisions on staffing, hiring, and discharging personnel.
• Serve as a consultant to nursing administrative staff and VCC/supervisors.
• Handle veteran pre-admission interviews and address veteran and family complaints.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Propose new equipment needs and in-service education programs.
• Collaborate on medical staff policies and procedures and operational guidelines.
• Delegate care planning, daily staff assignments, and input into policy and procedure development to staff.
• All other duties as assigned. 

About the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea:

The Veterans Home at Chelsea is a multidimensional health care and housing facility first established in 1882. Our mission is to serve eligible Massachusetts veterans with dignity, honor and respect by providing long term and skilled nursing care in our long-term care facility and delivering comprehensive housing services in our domiciliary facility. Chelsea proudly serves veterans from all eras; from World War II though the Global War on Terror. Learn more about our important work: http://www.mass.gov/che

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

PRE-OFFER PROCESS:

For BU and MI-MIV

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

For Management MV-MXII

A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Requirements

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.