Position Description

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING
Position Number: 00078794	Description Activated On: 4/10/2026 9:38:19 AM

Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively.

Registered Nurse Supervisor directs the care provided by professional and paraprofessional nursing department personnel under the direction of the Nurse Manager 1(NM1). This position maintains continuity of all phases of nursing care and treatment services and ensures that individuals are provided with care and treatment consistent with the facilities policies and procedures, governing bodies and standards of professional nursing practice.

This position is designated as an Essential Employee of the Department of Human Services.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

The Registered Nurse Supervisor (RNS) under the direct supervision of a Nurse Manager 1 (NM1) supervises professional, paraprofessional and non-professional nursing services which is provided in multiple patient care and treatment areas/units on an assigned shift. The RNS establishes and maintains communications with previous shift nursing personnel to ensure continuity of nursing care and treatment and to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for patients and staff. The RNS directs nursing personnel in the identification and assessment of the physical, psychosocial and/or mental health nursing care needs, problems and goals of facility patients. The RNS may participate in the administration of direct nursing care and treatment as needed and in accordance with the prescriber’s orders. The RNS ensures quality nursing care and treatment services, maintains continuity in all phases of nursing care and treatment services and ensures that individuals are provided with care and treatment consistent with the facility’s policies and procedures, and standards of professional nursing practices through communication and collaboration with the Chief Nurse Executive, Nurse Manager 1, other RNSs, Human Resources and other departments to assure consistent continuity of care and supervision. The RNS serves as a resource person to nursing department direct care staff, other discipline staff and members of the interdisciplinary treatment team. The RNS assures completion of staff development programs, identifies educational needs, and provides ongoing orientation/education and on the job training to professional, paraprofessional and non-professional nursing department staff. The RNS applies knowledge and critical thinking, follows hospital/nursing policies and procedures, participates in performance improvement actives and infection control strategies, participates in nursing and facility committees/activities; serves as an administrative investigator as assigned, provides knowledgeable daily communication with peers, patients, all departments, and executive staff. Maintains records, prepares reports, accepts, and performs other related duties as assigned. Work direction is received in the form of oral or written instructions and employees exercise independent judgment in performing supervisory duties. Work is reviewed by a NM1 and/or another administrator through reports, conferences, meetings and observation for effectiveness and compliance with standards. Acts as a patient advocate and does not commit any acts of patient abuse. Works mandatory overtime as assigned. Accepts and performs other duties as assigned.

SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES:
1. This position is responsible for the supervision and guidance of nursing department personnel. Duties associated with this include but are not limited to:
a. Supervises professional, paraprofessional and non-professional nursing department personnel including Cosmetology, Infection Control, Central Supply and Clinic Services to ensure compliance with established standards/policies through observation, discussion and review of charts, records, and reports.
b. Formulates, implements, and maintains corrective action plans and performance improvement initiatives for subordinate nursing department personnel.
c. Systematically appraises work performance, completes employee performance reviews at designated timeframes including probationary, mid-point and annual.
d. Provides instruction, guidance, and counseling to nursing department personnel.
e. Recommends, documents, and implements disciplinary actions.
f. Provides ongoing orientation and evaluates competency in the performance of nursing duties and skills for professional, paraprofessional and non-professional nursing personnel within their scope of practice.
g. Evaluates nursing department personnel in their implementation of nursing care and treatment plans and overall abilities in professional nursing.
h. Audits and monitors the quality of nursing care and treatment and initiates action to correct deficiencies as appropriate.
i. Encourages and recommends appropriate actions to sustain or improve work performance as necessary.
j. Receives employee grievances and complaints.
k. Conducts initial grievance investigation into causes and conditions, discusses with employee and resolves complaints or recommends solutions.
l. Communicates contractual and administrative rights and obligations to nursing department personnel.
m. Promotes safe and sanitary environments and therapeutic milieu.
n. Completes all required patient documentation utilizing only facility approved abbreviations at the frequency and in the form (paper and/or electronic) within the timeframes dictated by facility policy and procedures in a thorough yet concise manner to accurately portray patient events, needs and status.
o. Administers medications utilizing facility selected medication dispensing system.

2. This position is responsible for the staffing and scheduling of nursing department personnel. Duties associated with this include but are not limited to:
a. Completes all duties related to nursing department personnel scheduling.
b. Receives, reviews, and approves or disapproves leave requests.
c. Monitors leave usage of subordinate staff.
d. Evaluates the staffing needs of assigned units and modifies unit staffing to conform to the unit’s needs.
e. Attempts to maintain minimum nursing department staffing guidelines by utilizing the overtime equalization process.
f. Interviews prospective employees and recommends job applicant selection or ranks applicants in terms of preferability for employment.
g. May work as a Unit/Staff RN and execute the duties of same if needed to support staffing resources.

3. This position is responsible for the control of absenteeism and use of leave. Duties associated with this include but are not limited to:
a. Monitors the utilization of sick and other types of unscheduled earned leave of subordinate staff.
b. Investigates nursing employee injuries and assures that they are reported accurately and in a timely manner.
c. Reviews and approves/disapproves subordinate personnels leave requests.

4. This position promotes quality patient care. Duties associated with this include but are not limited to:
a. Promotes and facilitates the provision of quality psychiatric and medical nursing care and treatment within the nursing scope of practice and the most recent regulatory, medical, psychiatric, and nursing standards.
b. Coordinates nursing care and treatment services with resources from other departments/disciplines to meet the needs of the patient.
c. Supervises, assesses, and coordinates the implementation of nursing care and active programming for individual patients and ensures that nursing care is within the individualized treatment plan; ensures the consistency of the nursing care plan with the individual’s comprehensive treatment program plan.
d. Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the administration of nursing care and treatment services.
e. Monitors the direct delivery of nursing care and the need for specialized psychiatric nursing therapies such as increased levels of observations, the utilization of physical restraints and protective devices.
f. Contributes to reviews, evaluations and coordination for planning for future admissions and pre-discharge planning to promote continuity of care in the community.
g. Contributes to the development and review of facility nursing department policy and procedures.
h. Participates in committees that affect the quality of patient care and overall quality and functioning of the facility.
i. Participates in and conducts meetings to promote quality patient care, functionality of the nursing department, safety of patients and employees and overall functioning of the facility.
j. Identifies the training needs of subordinate nursing department personnel.
k. Scheduling of nursing department personnel to attend in-service sessions, seminars, and trainings.
l. Evaluates the effects of training on work performance of nursing department personnel.
m. Performs related work as assigned.

Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

Makes independent decisions of a routine nature based upon professional training, job knowledge and competency. Communicates and collaborates with prescribers, NM1, Chief Nurse Executive, CEO and/or Administrator on call. Escalates unusual and/or critical situations and information through proper chain of command.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, OR CERTIFICATIONS:
1. Maintains current, active Pennsylvania Registered Nurse License
2. Obtains/maintains current Basic Life Support through the American Heart Association
3. Obtains/maintains current Commonwealth’s approved crisis intervention technique
certification through the contracted vendor.

Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1.   Registered Nurse

2.   Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificate

3.   OTHER

4.   N/A

5.   N/A

6.   N/A

Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.

1.	Ability to coordination, direct, instruct and evaluate the quality of and effectiveness of nursing care being delivered by professional, parap
2.	Ability to identify actual/potential health and safety hazards.
3.	Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both verbal and written reports.
4.	Moderate computer skills including Microsoft word, outlook and excel.
5.	Ability to plan/conduct on the job training and orientation to subordinate staff.
6.	Ability to make independent judgments in relation to nursing practices and supervisory functions.
7.	Ability to identify nursing department personnel training needs, evaluate and initiate training recommendations and evaluate work performance
8.	Ability to identify/evaluate patterns and trends of nursing care within the facility.
9.	Ability to develop and maintain effective working relations.
10.	Ability to audit and monitor nursing care for compliance with the facilities policies and procedures, and the certification requirements, and f