The Charge Nurse, under the direct and indirect supervision of the Nursing Unit Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator and/or Hospital Supervisor facilitates and assists with all levels of nursing care being provided to a group of patients within one nursing unit during the period of one working shift. In addition to these responsibilities, the Charge Nurse frequently assumes all or partial staff nurse responsibilities. The Charge Nurses are directly accountable to the Nursing Coordinator for the unit. The Charge Nurses assist the staff nurses with day to day problem solving, communication between shifts, and may serve as a link between staff nurse and the Nursing Coordinator.
Essential Functions
- Assist in the interviewing process of applicants for posted positions and makes recommendations to the Coordinator.
- Support organizational goals and objectives.
- Provide input into staff evaluations.
- Monitor performance of staff and provide documentation of performance problems to the Coordinator.
- Provide input into the development and maintenance of staffing patterns for the patient care unit and helps to monitor day-to-day staffing and utilization of nursing resources.
- Coordinate staff meetings under the direction of the Coordinator.
- Identify and communicate to the Coordinator systems problems that interfere with effective client care and convey risk situations to the Coordinator.
- Participate and give input into trend analysis for the operational budget.
- Assist with materials management, ensuring availability of supplies needed.
- Provide direction during emergency situations as delegated.
- Participate in the development and implementation of standards of client care, policies and procedures and protocols.
- Coordinate and participate in the delivery of patient care on a specific unit.
- Utilizing the nursing process: Assess need and priorities of patient, assist in the implementation of nursing care, and evaluate effectiveness of nursing care.
- Participate in the development and ongoing monitoring of quality assurance activities.
- Provide input into and participate in development and achievement of departmental goals and objectives.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary patient care conferences and discharge planning activities as appropriate.
- Identify and assist in problem-solving both intrashift and intershift. Keep Coordinators Hospital Supervisors informed of problems/resolutions.
- Function within expected behavior standards of Staff Nurse as participating in role.
- Assists in development and presentation of inservice programs.
- Participates in clinical orientation to the nursing unit.
- Participate in the planning and provision of education/teaching to patients and their families.
- Able to recognize cardiac rhythms and dysrhythmias and 12-lead EKG recognition, including infarct and ischemia.
- Demonstrate competency in the care of complex critically ill patients use and management of PA/hemodynamic monitoring and mechanical ventilation.
- Competent in care of S/P cardiac surgery patient and IABP management.
- Competent in administration, preparation and calculation of high risk medications and drips, such as vasopressors, paralytics, etc.
- Competent in procedural sedation and recovery of patient with general anesthesia.
- Respond to CAT calls when the Critical Resource Nurse is not available.
- Designates Code responder when Code 99 called in the hospital.
- This job description is not all encompassing.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications
- Three (3) years of registered nurse experience, one (1) year in clinical specialty.
- At least two (2) years of ICU nursing experience.
- Two (2) or more years of recent CVICU nursing experience (recent within three (3) years) preferred.
- Dialysis, IABP, SLED or CVVH experience preferred.
- High school diploma or GED.
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing preferred.
- Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
- Current RN License as a Registered Nurse.
- Current BLS w/AED certification.
- ACLS.
- Sedation certification-preferred
- CCRN preferred.
- Competent in cardiac rhythm and arrhythmia recognition, 12-lead recognition of infarct and ischemia.
- Hemodynamic monitoring and management.
- Administration, preparation and calculation of high risk medications and drips, including neuromuscular blockade therapy.
- Competent in accurately obtaining a stat 12-lead EKG.
- Competent in transcutaneous, epicardial pacing.
- Competent in care of mechanically ventilated patient.
- Competent in care of cardiovascular and cardiovascular surgery patient with or without IABP.
Salary Range: $34.75 - $49.25
External hires must pass a background check/drug screen.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.