Nurse-Clinical Director

Description

Position Summary

The Nurse / Clinical Director is responsible for the oversight of all clinical operations, clinical staff, and training programs across the facility.

This role ensures the delivery of safe, consistent, and high-quality resident care, while maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Nurse / Clinical Director serves as the clinical leader and primary authority on care practices, providing guidance, supervision, and support to all clinical staff while ensuring proper documentation, medication management, and care coordination.

Clinical Leadership

• Provide oversight of all clinical care delivery across all buildings within the facility
• Ensure consistency in care practices, standards, and expectations across departments and shifts
• Monitor resident conditions and identify changes in health status, ensuring timely intervention and follow-up
• Support staff in clinical decision-making and problem-solving
• Ensure care is delivered in accordance with:
• Individualized care plans
• Physician orders
• Facility policies and procedures
• Promote a culture of quality, safety, and resident-centered care

Staff Management

• Provide direct oversight and supervision of all clinical staff, including:
• Medication technicians
• Caregivers (from a clinical oversight perspective)
• Health & Wellness Director (if applicable within structure)
• Ensure staff are:
• Performing duties correctly
• Following clinical protocols and procedures
• Support recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of clinical staff
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback
• Address performance concerns, provide corrective action, and escalate issues as needed
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and professionalism among clinical staff

Training & Competency

• Develop, implement, and oversee clinical training programs, including:
• Medication administration training
• Resident care procedures
• Infection control practices
• Ensure all clinical staff are:
• Properly trained prior to independent work
• Competency-validated on an ongoing basis

Conduct:

• Skills assessments
• Observations of care and medication passes
• Retraining when necessary
• Maintain documentation of all training and competency validations
• Ensure staff remain up to date with required certifications and training requirements

Medication Management Oversight (Added for completeness and risk control)

• Ensure safe and compliant medication administration practices across the facility
• Monitor:
• Medication Administration Records (MARs)
• Medication error reports
• Investigate medication errors and implement corrective actions
• Provide re-training and education to prevent recurring issues
• Ensure proper medication storage, handling, and documentation

Compliance & Audits

• Ensure compliance with:
• State assisted living regulations
• Medication administration standards
• Infection control and clinical policies
• Lead and participate in:
• Clinical audits
• Chart reviews
• Documentation audits
• Prepare facility for surveys and inspections, ensuring continuous readiness
• Oversee and develop Plans of Correction (POCs) for any identified deficiencies
• Monitor implementation of corrective actions and ensure sustained compliance
• Identify compliance risks and communicate findings to leadership

Requirements

Education

• Graduate of an accredited Practical Nursing (LPN) program.
• Current, unrestricted Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license issued by the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
• Current CPR/BLS certification required; First Aid certification preferred.
• Medication Administration certification, if required by state regulations.

Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of nursing experience preferred.
• Previous experience in an Assisted Living Facility (ALF), Long-Term Care (LTC), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Memory Care, Rehabilitation, or Geriatric Nursing strongly preferred.
• Experience working with older adults, including residents with dementia or cognitive impairment, preferred.
• Experience with electronic medication administration records (eMAR) and electronic health records (EHR) preferred.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) regulations governing Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs)/Assisted Living Facilities.
• Working knowledge of nursing principles, infection prevention and control, medication administration, chronic disease management, and emergency response procedures.
• Understanding of resident rights, confidentiality requirements, and HIPAA regulations.
• Knowledge of quality assurance, documentation standards, and incident reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with physician orders, treatment documentation, and interdisciplinary care planning.

Skills

• Excellent clinical assessment and observation skills.
• Strong medication administration and documentation abilities.
• Ability to identify changes in resident condition and communicate findings promptly.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with residents, families, physicians, pharmacies, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Effective organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and provide guidance to Resident Assistants (RAs), Medication Technicians (Med Techs), and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), when applicable.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) and electronic clinical documentation systems.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, and reach for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, transfer, reposition, or assist residents weighing up to 50 pounds independently and more with assistance or mechanical lifting devices.
• Ability to push wheelchairs, medication carts, and medical equipment.
• Ability to respond quickly during emergencies.
• Adequate visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity necessary to safely perform nursing duties.

Other Requirements

• Must successfully pass all required criminal background checks, abuse registry screenings, drug screening, and employment verification in accordance with South Carolina law and company policy.
• Must maintain all required licenses and certifications throughout employment.
• Must complete all required orientation, annual competency validations, and continuing education requirements.
• Must demonstrate professionalism, integrity, compassion, patience, and sound clinical judgment.
• Must be capable of maintaining confidentiality and safeguarding protected health information (HIPAA).
• Must be available to work flexible schedules, including weekends, holidays, evenings, overnight shifts, and emergency staffing situations as needed.
• Must possess reliable transportation for work-related responsibilities when applicable.
• Must support the mission, vision, values, and person-centered philosophy of LHC Residences at Spartanburg.

Preferred Qualifications

• Geriatric nursing certification or specialized training in dementia care.
• Experience participating in state survey readiness activities and regulatory inspections.
• Experience with infection prevention programs, quality assurance/performance improvement (QAPI), and medication management.
• Experience supervising direct care staff in an assisted living or long-term care environment.
• Familiarity with pharmacy consultant recommendations, physician coordination, and interdisciplinary care conferences.