Glossary of Nursing Home and Related Health Care Personnel

Many people are involved in the operations of a nursing home. Staffing can vary considerably among nursing homes. Some of these people are employees of the nursing home; others might work as independent contractors with the nursing home. Not all facilities have all of these positions, and some facilities might have staff that is not listed in this glossary. Below are some of the professionals that work in a nursing home.

Activities Director

The activities director is trained in social, recreational, or therapeutic programming. The director provides an ongoing program of meaningful activities to promote self-care and the physical, social, and mental well being of residents.

Administrator

An administrator is licensed by the state to supervise a nursing home. This person is ultimately responsible for all nursing home activities.

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)

In addition to professional nursing, the ARNP may perform acts of medical diagnosis and treatment, prescription, and operation, which are identified and approved in their identified protocols as signed by the physician and by their license in the state of Florida.

Attending Physician

A physician is the person responsible for the residents' medical care. A physician must visit residents in a skilled nursing facility once a month for the first three months, then every 60 days, and then every 90 days.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

A certified nursing assistant is usually responsible for the personal care of the residents such as assistance with bathing, feeding, eating, walking, turning in bed, etc. CNAs must be trained to do each task.

Charge Nurse

A charge nurse is the registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse in charge of care in a given unit of the nursing home or in charge of nursing care in the absence of the director of nursing.

Dietary Supervisor

A dietary supervisor is trained in planning menus for regular and special diets and in establishing dietary procedures. A dietary supervisor is not necessarily a licensed dietitian.

Director of Nursing (DON)

The director of nursing is a registered nurse who oversees the nursing department, including nursing supervisors, licensed practical nurses, and CNAs. The director of nursing writes and executes procedures and policies for nursing practice. Consultations with residents' families, physicians, committees, and community groups are also important aspects of the job. The director of nursing is responsible for the overall medical quality and safety of patient care.

Discharge Planner

A discharge planner is the professional staff member of a hospital or nursing home who locates the necessary services that a patient will need after discharge.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

A licensed practical nurse administers treatment and medication under the direction of a registered nurse or a licensed physician. LPNs must complete coursework in a nursing school or vocational training school before they can be licensed by the state.

Medical Director

The medical director is the physician licensed in Florida, who is responsible for implementation of resident care policies and coordination of medical care in the facility.

Occupational Therapist (OT)

The occupational therapist is a licensed professional therapist who helps a person relearn activities of daily living (ADLs). The therapist uses adaptations and devices for the home environment to help the person function more independently.

Pharmacist

Nursing homes may have a pharmacy on the premises with a pharmacist on staff or may contract with a community pharmacy and a pharmacist to provide services. The pharmacist is responsible for supervising the pharmacy program in the home and for reviewing each resident's drug regimen at least monthly. The law allows residents to use a pharmacist, other than the one designated by the nursing facility. The law also allows residents to have their own pharmacist repackage bulk medications into unit doses.

Physical Therapist (PT)

A physical therapist is a licensed professional who is trained to restore functioning in the legs, hands, feet, back, and neck. The therapist treats the resident through exercise, massage, hydrotherapy, or mechanical devices to improve physical mobility.

Physician Assistant (PA)

A physician assistant is certified to perform medical services delegated by the attending physician.

Registered Nurse (RN)

A Registered Nurse must complete more extensive coursework than an LPN. An RN has a broader range of permitted tasks and responsibilities than an LPN, but less so than an ARNP.

Social Service Director

The social service director identifies medically related social and emotional needs of residents and arranges services necessary to meet them. If the social service director is not licensed or trained, this person might work in consultation with a licensed health care professional. Full-time social service directors are required in nursing homes with more than 120 beds.

Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)

A speech and language pathologist is a licensed professional who applies the principals, methods and procedures of the prevention, identification, evaluation, treatment, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation, instruction and research relative to the development and disorders of human communication.