Registered Nurses serve as the clinical leaders for our agency, providing advanced oversight, comprehensive assessments, and skilled nursing care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this role, you will act as the primary clinical authority in both medical and community-based settings, ensuring that all care meets state and agency standards.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a current, valid Georgia RN License and meet specific experience requirements based on their education level:

• Associate Degree or Diploma: Requires three years of nursing experience, with at least two years specifically treating individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Bachelor’s Degree: Requires one year of experience treating individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Beyond licensure, you must demonstrate the ability to perform comprehensive health screenings, develop individualized protocols, and communicate complex medical information to families and guardians. You must be able to organize caseloads, apply behavior-support techniques, and act as a functioning member of the Quality Assurance committee.

Additional compliance requirements include:

• Competence in assessing and updating HRST (Health Risk Screening Tool) records.
• Annual TB test with negative results and annual physical confirming freedom from communicable disease.
• Required criminal background checks by GCHEXS.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving history (no more than two chargeable accidents or moving violations).

Responsibilities

Medication and Protocol Management RNs supervise the self-administration of medication, ensuring that all direct support professionals follow written procedures and that the proper method, time, and dosage are administered according to the Medication Administration Record (MAR). You are responsible for monitoring and ensuring an adequate supply of necessary medications, observing and recording the individual’s response and side effects, and explaining medications or treatments to the individual or guardian.

You must develop and monitor individualized healthcare protocols, reporting, and preventative maintenance for a wide range of needs. This includes specific protocols for bowel elimination (constipation and diarrhea), hypertension, weight management, skin care, seizures, fluid intake (hydration), aspirations, falls, and diabetes. You are also responsible for establishing protocols for medication schedules, distinguishing between critical and non-critical timings, and updating HRST records to reflect these interventions.

Medical Care and Screenings You will conduct thorough interviews with individuals and family members to obtain complete medical histories. Daily clinical duties include taking vital signs, performing required tests, and conducting ongoing assessments of health status to ensure timely interventions. You are expected to participate in emergency healthcare situations and refer individuals to other healthcare services whenever appropriate.

Records and Care Planning You are responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Nursing Care Plans as written in the Individualized Program Plans (IPP). You must maintain medical records that are timely, concise, accurate, legible, and complete. This involves the continued evaluation of all medical and health-related records, as well as implementing physician’s orders and updating medical care plans as necessary.

Quality Assurance and Team Participation As a member of the Quality Assurance committee, you will attend Individual Service Plan (ISP) meetings for high-risk individuals as assigned. You will participate in team conferences to share knowledge and ideas with other members, and assist in the pre-admission evaluation of proposed individuals, chart reviews, and the development of discharge plans.

Transportation and Training

Transportation duties may include driving clients to medical appointments using personal or family vehicles. You will assist individuals in arranging medical care and ensure strict adherence to healthcare recommendations.

RNs are required to complete at least 40 hours of continuing education annually. You must also attend training, seminars, and workshops as required by your Supervisor, the Office of Regulatory Services (ORS), and DHR. Additionally, you will conduct training in your field of expertise when assessed as needed, submitting verification records to your supervisor within 48 hours. You are expected to participate positively in all staff training activities to improve your own competencies.

Expectations

We expect RNs to work flexible hours based on individual and program needs and to drive a passenger vehicle when applicable. You must maintain all regulatory clearances, including purchasing your own required trainings (CPR, CPI, GCHEXS report, etc.). You must always provide respectful support during community interactions.