Charge Nurse - Pediatric

POSITION SUMMARY:

To provide direction and supervision of all nursing service activities and patient care on identified unit.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The primary purpose of the RN Charge Nurse is to administer and supervise the clinical care being provided. The RN Charge Nurse is responsible for all safety, infection control, and quality of care issues that might arise while on duty, as well as, assisting with mentoring staff during orientation, and dealing with disciplinary issues.

Specific responsibilities of the RN Charge Nurse include:

• Promoting a team-like atmosphere
• Complying with educational requirements while promoting a climate of learning
• Ensures unit remains a clean and safe environment
• Serving as a clinical resource for staff members
• Ensures constant supervision of infants and ambulatory toddlers
• Timely and accurate documentation
• Ensuring medical orders are transcribed and processed accurately
• Exampling a “customer service” attitude toward patients, visitors, and other staff members at all times

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Act as a positive unit role model incorporating Parent staff interaction model of pediatric theory of nursing practice;
• Has advanced knowledge of physical disabilities and diagnosis, durable medical equipment and pediatric disorders, recognizes symptomatology and connects it to criteria. Has developed increased knowledge and expertise in the management and treatment of physical and pediatric disorders and can utilize information in making a comprehensive assessment;
• Acts as a resource person in applying the children’s community based healthcare center code;
• Completes and documents or ensures a thorough and accurate RN assessment on all patients at the time of admission and utilizes pertinent data from available resources, records, and health care personnel;
• Function as a qualified person and completes assessments in consultation with medical director when patient requires transfer to another facility;
• Documentation reflects a high level of skill and knowledge in assessing, diagnosing, implementing and evaluating nursing care;
• Ensures documentation on nursing care plan and multidisciplinary treatment plan routinely reflects the biophysical, psychosocial, self-care, age/developmental, and culturally sensitive care, educational and discharge planning needs of the patient/family system;
• Obtains and utilizes information from multidisciplinary conferences and incorporates data into the patients’ care plan;
• Participated in discussions among colleagues and encourages problem identification/resolution;
• Promotes team building for cohesiveness of care;
• Identifies the need for case conferences and collaborates with unit director / medical case manager in coordinating nursing activities with activities of other disciplines to provide comprehensive care;
• Assist the Director of Nursing (DON) in ensuring that patient/parent participates in the medical care training and equipment technical training required to facilitate a safe transition home for the patient;
• Ensures that staff have reviewed plan of care with patient / parent and ensures patient / significant other understands the problem list, goals, intervention, and discharge criteria;
• Assists the DON in directing unit staff via role modeling and feedback to maximize delivery of patient care;
• Collaborates with the Director of Nursing/Administrator and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) in reviewing, revising, implementing and evaluating policies / procedures;
• Continually ensures that patient’s questions regarding bill of rights and confidentially act are addressed. Applies knowledge of patient rights in complex or infrequent situations. Monitor staff compliance in maintaining dignity and confidentiality of patients and significant others;
• Bases interventions on the developmental stage and physical abilities of the patient and parent;
• Provides staff oversight and follow through with safety issues/concerns;
• Assists the DON in educating and monitoring staff compliance with infection control plan;
• Evaluates effectiveness of staff interventions in dealing with patients and their families;
• Participates in peer review by evaluating staff interactions and providing feedback as assigned by the DON;
• Utilizes data from quality management / evaluation studies and input from staff to continually improve quality of care;
• Utilizes patient and family satisfaction survey data to evaluate effectiveness of treatment and work with the DON/ADON to develop strategies to address problem areas;
• Reviews medical records according to quality management activities to ensure that team members’ documentation requirements are of HIGH quality;
• Evaluates the response of the patient / family to training and provide documentation necessary for licensing bodies;
• Exhibits skill in working collaboratively with the DON/ADON in evaluating current nursing care and providing alternative treatment options;
• Determines patient acuity level and staffing needs when delegated by the DON per unit specifications and reassessing patient acuity and staffing daily. Prepares or supervises preparation of weekly staffing schedules in collaboration with DON, Day Charge Nurse/ADON or when on call and ensures staffing needs are met per patent acuity needs;
• Coordinates with on-call registry nurses and/or nursing agencies when staffing needs are not able to be met with available personnel, under the direction of the DON/ADON;
• Assesses milieu throughout the shift and makes staff assignments to ensure patient care needs are met;
• Uses clinical/managerial knowledge to assign nursing care based on patient needs and clinical competency of staff;
• Holds self and staff accountable for professional conduct and delivery of quality care. Supervises staff and demonstrates expertise in directing staff and coordinating activities according to unit priorities;
• Directs staff in dealing with complex medical/clinical crisis and reviews problems/concerns competency of staff;
• Identifies potential complications or problem situations, brings them to the attention of the DON/ADON and initiates conversations of appropriate approaches to prevent complications;
• Participates in unit staff meetings led by the DON to identifying pertinent unit and patient concerns, educational needs of the staff and Q. I. Findings, and by review of Medical Executive Committee meeting minutes;
• Keeps the Administrator, Medical Director, DON and ADON informed on ethical issues, complicated / unusual situations, and unit needs;
• Collaborates with the DON/ADON addressing potential patient care problems and program, milieu, safety, and documentation issues;
• Rotates on call responsibilities with the DON and ADON;
• Responsible in planning and carrying out programs for orientation and training of new employees;
• Assures that a stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc. maintained on premises at all times. Ensures scheduled and PRN medications are ordered in a timely manner per pharmacy protocol. Report needs to the DON/ADON;
• Maintains the appearance of nursing areas, and inspects regularly nursing unit for sanitation order, and safety;
• Makes rounds to assure that nursing service personnel are performing appropriate nursing care to meet the needs of the residents. Reports problem areas to the DON/ADON;
• Creates and maintains an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm professional environment throughout the department per Maryville professional/behavioral policies;
• Assumes the responsibility for maintaining professional competence through participation in programs of continuing education (seminars, training programs, etc.) and ensures input is disseminated to staff;
• Fosters a therapeutic environment by facilitating intra/inter department, interdisciplinary communication and workflow;
• Transcribes physician orders and notifies assigned nurse of new orders. Verifies questionable orders with physician and informs nurse;
• Leads and oversees admission and discharge processes, transcribes orders for new admissions and ensures all documentation is completed;
• Performs other related duties that may become necessary in meeting the nursing needs of the patients as assigned by DON.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education/Experience:

• A graduate of certified Registered Nurse Program;
• Must be currently licensed as a R.N. in the State of Illinois;
• Must be CPR certified;
• Experience in pediatric, emergency care or hospital nursing;
• Two year of pediatric nursing experience;
• Must have a minimum of three years supervisory experience;
• Experience in the care of complex pediatric care;
• Spanish-speaking preferred.

Skills /Knowledge:

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing;
• Ability to assess, plan and evaluate patient care;
• Able to identify sudden adverse developments in patient condition;
• Strong knowledge of disease processes;
• Ability to perform various nursing procedures such as trach suctioning, GT feedings and CVL care.

Physical Demands:

• Required to frequently sit, stand, bend, stoop and walk, sometimes for extended periods;
• Required to lift/ move objects weighing in excess of 40 pounds;
• Must have visual, hearing, and learning capabilities sufficient to perform the essential functions defined above.

Environment and Scheduling:

• Work is performed in designated administrative office and clinical settings;

Pay Range: $75,000-95,000

Why Join the Maryville Family?

Maryville offers all full-time employees:

• PPO health insurance options
• Vision Insurance
• Dental insurance (after one year of service)
• FSA and HSA
• 403(b)
• Paid vacation and sick days
• 9 paid holidays a year
• Long Term Disability and Life Insurance (after one year of service)
• Tuition reimbursement (after one year of service)

For more information about all of the services that Maryville provides, please visit our website at www.maryvilleacademy.org.