Attendant Care Nurse

Participates in planning, implementing, and evaluating health services in specialized nursing care areas for training and certification for the Attendant Care Project with the Center for Disability Resources, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina. Independently assesses, determines, and certifies participants or representatives for self-directed care or representative-directed care and evaluates attendants’ ability to provide safe and participant-specific care. Provide training as appropriate. Demonstrates commitment to conducting business lawfully and ethically by consistently adhering to USC/DHHS compliance policies, procedures, and regulations. This position is established in support of service/training activities.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 2 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials:

• Licensure as a registered nurse by the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
• Requires a Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) tuberculin skin test unless a previously positive reaction can be documented, no more than 90 days prior to employment (or documented annual testing)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in nursing, or Bachelor’s degree in nursing and 2 years’ experience. Or a diploma from an accredited school of nursing and 3 years’ experience.
• Experience as a registered nurse in a public health, hospital, or long-term care setting working with people with disabilities, children with chronic physical health conditions, and/or who are aging/elderly.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of professional nursing principles, clinical assessment, and safe patient care practices in community-based settings
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and program regulations (e.g., SCDHHS and related programs)
• Skill in independently assessing participant needs and determining appropriate care and service arrangements
• Skill in developing and delivering individualized and group training based on participant-specific conditions
• Ability to interpret and apply policies and clinical standards to complex situations using independent judgment
• Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple priorities, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders

Job Duties:

• Observes participants and designated attendants in the actual performance of care and confirms the suitability of the participant-attendant match to ensure effective and safe care delivery. Certifies participants/representatives’ capability to supervise the attendant, the attendant’s ability to perform, and the participant’s specific services. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 30
• Receives client referrals, and according to specified timelines. makes telephone contact. training and certifications of participants, representatives, and attendants. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 20
• Makes phone calls and/or home visits upon request to re-evaluate participant/representative and attendant match. Assists with problem resolution as needed. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10
• Establishes an effective work environment and maintains an adequate working file system, specifically, a file for each participant documenting all contacts, home visits, evaluations, certifications completed or denied, and follow-ups in accordance with contract and project procedures. Provides complete and accurate information to the ACP Central Office in Columbia, where the master files are maintained. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10
• Maintains effective communication with Community Long Term Care (CLTC), Head and Spinal Cord Injury (HASCI), Intellectual Disability and Related Disability (ID/RD), and Medically Complex Children (MCC) area offices (using email, telephone, or mail as required). Provides all required notifications to CLTC/HASCl/ID/RD and MCC personnel within specified timelines, and other communications as needed to provide services. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 10
• Maintains effective communication with the ACP Project Director. Provides administrative documentation, performance data, reimbursement, and other materials to ACP Central Office according to specified timeframes. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 5
• Assists the Licensed Practical Nurses within the Attendant Care program with the transition to the Medically Complex Children initiative. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 5
• Recruits potential attendants in geographical areas served. Develops training materials and provides training to attendants. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 5
• Develops educational handouts on specific diagnoses for participants/representatives and attendant providers. Essential Function: Yes Percentage of Time: 5