Nurse Consultant (Nursing Home Surveyor)

Agency

Dept of Health and Human Services

Division

Health Service Regulation

Job Classification Title

Nurse Consultant I (NS)

Position Number

60054155

Grade

MH16

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

Description of Work

The Nurse Consultant I serves as a Nursing Home Surveyor responsible for conducting regulatory inspections to determine compliance with federal and state requirements for licensed nursing homes. This position performs independent, specialized nursing consultation through onsite surveys, complaint investigations, and review of facility practices across assigned counties.

Work includes preparing comprehensive survey documents, assessing quality of care, and evaluating facility adherence to resident rights, safety, and program standards. The role requires applying technical expertise in nursing practice, regulatory guidelines, and performance improvement principles.

This is a home-based position servicing Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties region. The Nursing Home Surveyor spends an average of three days per week in nursing homes conducting inspections. Occasionally inspections are required on weekends and night shift. Although management attempts to schedule inspections within a region, the consultant needs to expect overnight stays when the nursing home is greater than 60 miles from their home-base.



Key Duties Include:
- Conduct routine and complaint‑driven nursing home inspections to assess compliance with federal and state regulations.

- Evaluate resident care, safety practices, quality of life indicators, and facility performance using established survey protocols.

- Review nursing services, clinical assessments, care planning processes, and interdisciplinary care delivery for regulatory compliance.

- Examine facility operations including infection control, emergency preparedness, staffing, administrative practices, and quality assurance programs.

- Interview residents, staff, and families and conduct detailed observations to verify adherence to resident rights and standards of care.

- Compile survey findings and prepare formal Statements of Deficiency and investigation reports following federal documentation requirements.

- Validate facility correction plans and conduct follow‑up visits to ensure deficiencies are fully resolved.

- Analyze clinical and operational data to support findings, identify trends, and inform regulatory determinations.

- Collaborate with pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and other survey team members during multi‑disciplinary inspections.

- Maintain required federal surveyor credentials, including successful completion of the Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT), and participate in ongoing training.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Salary Grade Range: $62,044.00 - $102,371.00

Recruitment Range: $62,044.00 - $78,367.00

Candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. 
 
The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)/ Management Preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following skills are preferred: 

• Expert proficiency in conducting clinical assessments, developing resident care plans, and evaluating care delivery within regulated long‑term care environments, demonstrated through direct experience in facility reviews and documentation.

• Advanced skill in composing concise, technically accurate regulatory reports, including inspection summaries and deficiency statements, with demonstrated experience applying federal documentation standards and grammar conventions.

• Intermediate proficiency in evaluating facility quality improvement processes by reviewing operational data, identifying performance gaps, and validating corrective actions during follow‑up inspections.

• Demonstrated capability in delivering clear, structured communication to multidisciplinary teams, residents, and facility staff during survey activities, supported by experience in both verbal briefings and written documentation.

• Strong experience utilizing observational, interviewing, and evidence‑verification techniques during onsite investigations to determine compliance with federal and state nursing home requirements.

The Posting Will Close At 11:59 P.M. The Night Before The End Date

This Position Is Eligible For A Fully Remote Work Option In The Following Counties: Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin

Must pass the Federal Surveyor Minimum Qualifications Test (SMQT) after training

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit/stand/walk for prolonged periods

• Ability to finger/talk/hear/smell

• Ability to lift luggage (20 – 50 pounds)

• Close visual acuity.

About the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR):
The Division of Health Service Regulation oversees medical, mental health and adult care facilities, emergency medical services, and local jails. We check to see that people receiving care in these facilities are safe and receive appropriate care. We make certain that medical buildings are built only when there is a need for them.

About the Nursing Home Licensure and Certification Section:
The Nursing Home Licensure and Certification Section of DHSR regulates nursing homes in North Carolina, including combination homes that have both adult care and nursing home beds. Those receiving Medicare/Medicaid undergo routine federal inspections every nine to fifteen months, conducted by trained healthcare professionals. Surveys review many areas of care and operations, including resident rights, quality of care, staffing, safety, infection control, and emergency preparedness.

The section investigates roughly 3,000 complaints each year, notifying complainants of the findings. When inspectors identify issues, they issue a Statement of Deficiency. The nursing home must submit a correction plan and may face penalties. Inspectors return to ensure all problems are resolved.
 

Compensation and Benefits: 

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit the website for State Benefits. 

Supplemental Contact Information: 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy, which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws, and Executive Orders.  We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.  For more information about DHHS:  https://www.ncdhhs.gov/. 

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals.  Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. 

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 303, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved.  We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified. 

               

Application Process 

Be sure to complete the application in its entirety.   Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. 

• Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information. 

• Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the "Work Experience" section of the application to support your answers. 

• If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received prior to the closing date will be accepted.  Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date. 

• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check. 

• Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account.  Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for qualified applicants. The hiring process may take several weeks. 

• Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.  Transcripts and degree evaluations may be uploaded with your application. The State of North Carolina/Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. 

• For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members. 

Degree/College Credit Verification 

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations, and cover letters may be uploaded with your application. 

Veterans’ and National Guard Preference 

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications. 

• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach an NGB 23A (RPAS), along with the state application, if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing.  

• Applicants who are former members of either the NC Army National Guard or the NC Air National Guard, with honorable discharge and six years of creditable service, must attach a copy of the DD 256 or NGB 22, along with the state application. 

ADA Accommodations 

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), DHHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, DHHS will ensure that people with disabilities, or known limitations covered by the PWFA, are provided with reasonable accommodation.  If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the person indicated below. 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

If there are any questions about this posting, please contact Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. 

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of North Carolina and one year of experience in the area of specialization.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Tresha Walker

Email:

talentacquisition@dhhs.nc.gov