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.
- Able to assess and care for the critical care patient following ASPAN guidelines.
- Demonstrates ability to manage an airway.
- Knowledgeable in anesthesia agents and adjuncts - able to assess and care for adult patients that are post general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, epidural patients and MAC patients.
- Knowledgeable in caring for pediatric post-anesthesia patient and their families.
- Competent in pain management and nausea/vomiting control.
- Competent in thermoregulation; familiar with Malignant Hyperthermia protocol.
- Able to identify and document cardiac rhythm changes and report to physician as appropriate.
- Able to assess patients for post-op complications, intervene appropriately and notify physician.
- A resource for staff in PACU knowledge and competence.
- This job description is not all encompassing.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
- Three (3) years of registered nurse experience, one (1) year in clinical specialty.
- Two (2) to five (5) years of critical care experience.
- Two (2) to five (5) years of PACU experience preferred.
- Two (2) to five (5) years of charge nurse 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
- Current ACLS certification.
- Current PALS certification, or required within six (6) months of hire.
- Advanced patient assessment skills.
- Able to coordinate care of up to two post anesthesia patients at a time.
- Able to respond to crisis situations calmly and appropriately.
- Able to work collaboratively with other members of the surgical team.
- Exhibits strong leadership skills - is a role model to staff.
- Able to promote teamwork and hold team members accountable to Unit agreements and code of conduct.
- Able to take direction from, and discuss unit issues with Manager.
External hires must pass a background check/drug screen.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.