Charge Nurse

Charge Nurse

The Charge Nurse is responsible for the assessment, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of the delivery of safe and effective patient-centered care. The Charge Nurse will facilitate and mentor others to grow professionally and advance their knowledge and skills. In addition, the Charge Nurse will continuously assess unit needs to ensure adequate resources for current and upcoming shifts by collaborating with other departments, clinical and nonclinical, to coordinate admissions, transfers, and discharges of patients in a timely manner. The Charge Nurse will act as a physician liaison for the unit. Finally, the Charge Nurse will demonstrate professionalism at all times and will uphold standards of practice by holding team members accountable for continued compliance.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Professional Practice: Adheres to organizational policies and procedures. Adheres to professional guidelines for practice such as defined by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Association (ANA) Scope and Standards of Practice. Collaborates with other departments in a professional manner as needed to provide patient-centered care. Demonstrates effective communication, conflict resolution, team building, and leadership skills. Compliance with Sheridan Memorial Hospitals Kindness First Service Standards. Participates in updating and upholding standards of practice and be a role model to others for maintaining standards of care.

Quality: Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and reassessments as per policy and specific to unit age specific populations. Ability to formulate and revise an individualized plan of care as indicated by the patients response to treatment. Evaluates overall plan daily for effectiveness. Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques including non-pharmacological techniques. Includes patient and family in all aspects of pain management through on-going education about pain, assessment, treatment and common barriers to adequate management. Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary. Formulates a teaching plan based upon identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning. Family is included in teaching as appropriate. Documentation meets current standards and policies. Demonstrates ability to perform treatments and provide services within scope of practice. Communicates appropriately and clearly to all health care team members. Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the patients needs. Provides care appropriate to disease condition and age of the patient. Demonstrates an ability to assist physicians with procedures and performs services requiring technical and manual skills. Reports significant events such as near misses, adverse events, patient/family complaints, and any situation that affects the safe delivery of patient-centered care in a timely manner. Is proactive, rounds with team members on the unit, and identifies opportunities for improvement. Ensures that handoff communication occurs any time there is a change in caregivers on the unit during shift and at start/end of shifts. Assigns and delegates patient care tasks as appropriate, considering staff members level of nursing experience, competency, and knowledge. Delegate tasks to unlicensed support staff as outlined by state board regulations and facility policies as appropriate to the clinical situation. Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and make recommendations when appropriate. Assists in monitoring staff performance, behaviors, and competency for performance reviews. Ensures that all infection control precautions and procedures are followed in the department. Participates in process improvement activities. Attends and actively participates in departmental staff meetings. Assists other team members by providing direct patient care as needed. Assigns and coordinates patient flow to deliver safe and effective patient-centered care. Performs other specific department tasks as assigned by members of the departments leadership team. Rounds with patients and family members to ensure that needs are met and identifies opportunities for improvement. Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families. Functions as liaison between the patient/family, physicians, other healthcare providers and administration. Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care. Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments. Identifies and addresses psychosocial needs of patients and family; communicates with social service/discharge planner regarding both in hospital and post discharge needs. Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function well under stressful situations.

Professional Development: Participates in continuing education activities within the department and organization. Promotes, facilitates, and educates team members on new practice changes, regulatory requirements, and organizational practice changes in a timely manner. Monitors and supervises training and education for team members on the unit. Attends and actively participates in departmental staff meetings. Keeps up to date with clinical practice and evidence-based practice guidelines. Stays abreast of organizational policies and procedures and is a resource to others in the department.

Position Qualifications:

Education/Experience/License and Certifications:

Current unrestricted Wyoming Registered Nurse Licensure or unrestricted compact nurse license. Nursing degree, required. BSN, preferred. BLS certification, required. ACLS certification, required within 1 year of position start date. PALS certification, required within 1 year of position start date. Behavioral De-escalation Training, required within 1 year position start date. Minimum 1 year experience in department-specific area, preferred.

Additional Requirements:

Precepts other Charge RNs to the position as needed.

Additional Skills:

Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. Basic computer knowledge. Organizational skills. Participates in continuing education activities within the department and organization.

Specific demands not listed: Possible exposure to blood and or body fluids / infectious disease / hazardous waste requiring the use of Personal Protective Equipment. Exposure to odorous chemicals / specimens and Latex products.

Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening is required. Sheridan Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.