Charge Nurse - Med/Surg

Night shift position At Houston Methodist, the Charge Nurse is a licensed professional Registered Nurse (RN) who functions at the Competent to Proficient stage of Benner's model of clinical practice. The role creates an environment for the management and delivery of safe patient care. In addition to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a clinical nurse, the Charge Nurse serves as a role model and coach to department personnel and assists in developing their skills and knowledge. The Charge Nurse provides care to a diverse patient population, conducts assessments, assists with exams and treatments, maintains medical records, and mentors staff in clinical and professional practice. The Charge Nurse models compassionate communication with physicians and the interprofessional health‑care team and assumes leadership responsibilities with high‑level contributions at the bedside, unit, service line, and across the institution. Responsibilities Lead unit and shared governance activities. Assess unit needs related to practice and improvement opportunities. Serve as a clinical resource for unit and hospital staff. Coordinate unit and hospital‑wide education in partnership with management. FLSA Status Non‑exempt Qualifications Education Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section. Experience Twenty‑four months of clinical nursing experience with demonstrated progressive leadership skills. Licenses and Certifications (Required) RN – Registered Nurse – Texas State Licensure – Texas Board of Nursing PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency). BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) Licenses and Certifications (Preferred) Magnet – ANCC Recognized Certification ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) within 4 months NIHSTROKE – National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Certification (AHA) within 4 months NVCRISIS – Nonviolent Crisis Intervention or Instructor (CPI) Knowledge and Abilities Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing assessments and performance evaluations. Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English necessary for essential functions, especially affecting patient or employee safety. Effectively communicates with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers with a customer‑service focus and positive language principles. Strong assessment, organizational, and problem‑solving skills with capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components. Functions independently and exercises judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional healthcare teams, patients, and families. Uses critical thinking and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act. Demonstrates proficient time‑management skills. Contributes to policies, procedures, and protocols with highly developed assessment skills. Has knowledge of Nursing Unit’s Dashboard and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Operates the electronic medical record with expertise. Maintains professional contributions as defined in the Clinical Career Path program guide. Essential Functions People Fosters staff engagement through active listening, feedback, equitable decisions, and support of organizational goals. Model inter‑professional communication, including active listening and teaching, and assists with staff stress management. Improves departmental scores for turnover/retention on unit‑based scorecard. Demonstrates fair and consistent leadership skills for effective team dynamics. Coaches staff to use efficient communication and include patients and families in care planning. Provides input into staff performance reviews as appropriate. Functions as a mentor and resource for unit staff, overseeing students, new employees, and preceptorships. Identifies organizational conflict and applies tools to resolve concerns and complaints with patients, families, physicians, and other team members. Service Leads patient and family‑centered care standards outlined in the Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Mentors others regarding specialty populations and audits plans of care. Maintains interactions with patients, families, and staff to improve care through leader rounding. Ensures effective collaboration with other departments regarding patient process issues. Drives department service standards to improve patient satisfaction on unit‑based scorecard. Quality/ Safety Models care standards related to the nursing process and participates in meeting nurse‑sensitive quality indicators and safety goals. Creates a continuous improvement environment by promoting situational awareness and assisting with audits. Coordinates nursing care throughout the shift, considering patient acuity, staff skill level, and safety. Facilitates seamless patient flow and ensures accurate, timely plans of care. Responds to situations such as Rapid Response/CERTs and emergency codes. Participates in initiatives to improve quality and safety scores, reports near misses, and identifies solutions collaboratively. Finance Implements departmental strategies to achieve financial targets on unit‑based scorecard through timely documentation, decreased length of stay, and optimized efficiency. Attends daily care coordination rounds to facilitate patient progression. Provides input into unit resource utilization, including capital and operational budget needs. Oversight of shift‑by‑shift resource utilization. Growth / Innovation Fosters identification and implementation of innovative solutions for practice changes to improve patient care and unit operations. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes. Expands nursing knowledge and coaches staff for growth in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource and develops educational resources to improve quality and professional practice. Supplemental Requirements Work Attire – Uniform: Yes, Scrubs: Yes, Business professional: No, Other (department approved): No. On Call – Yes (employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies such as disaster or severe weather events). Travel – May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes. May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No. #J-18808-Ljbffr Houston Methodist