Charge Nurse

Overview

In collaboration with patients, families (as defined by the patient) and staff across all disciplines and departments is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the clinical support staff assigned to a unit in a community healthcare center.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties

• Oversee assigned staff, including but not limited to, establishing work assignments and priorities in relationship to nursing services available, weekly review and adjustment of timecard, weekly review of time off requests, input for performance evaluations, monitoring orientation of new hires, and coaching and counseling staff in conjunction with NMO,PL, and HR.
• Performs Nurse Manager-Operation (NMO) duties in absence of NMO.
• Actively participates in Process Improvement strategies.
• Provide coaching/mentor of Staff Development of Charge Nurse I and clinical staff.
• Supports and guides Charge Nurses through administrative and organizational growth.
• Oversee flow of unit and staffing within the unit and oversees patient scheduling as appropriate.
• Assess the physical, social and emotional needs of patients and families in clinics.
• Teach and counsel patients and families concerning health assessment and care including prevention of disease, disability, hygiene, and health maintenance.
• Participate in the identification of patient needs for referral to resources that facilitate the continuity of care in conjunction with care management team.
• Provide direct nursing care to patients and distribute medications and treatments according to accepted standards of care.
• Complete all direct and indirect care documentation in timely manner and ensure patient records are current and complete.
• Ensure daily patient care (unit) huddles are taking place along with weekly clinic staff informational huddles, disseminate information from charge nurse meetings, patient conferences, or planning sessions. These may be related to quality assurance, patient care and other related topics within the clinic.
• Maintains all licensure and/or certification requirements for continuing education and best practices.
• Along with Triad team, participates in quality strategies to evaluate compliance with evidence-based guidelines, standards, and to identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes.
• Ensure all tasks provided and associated with patient care, patient administrative processes and related duties comply with all regulatory and accreditation standards including The Joint Commission and CommUnityCare Standard Operating Procedures and CommUnityCare Policies and Procedures.
• Act as the site lead in the absence of the Nurse Manager Operations and/or Practice Leader.
• Daily/weekly quality assurance checklist to include delegation of tasks as appropriate to staff (Rider report, class D, McKesson, CLIA, AED, equipment checks)
• Ensures state vaccine (VFC/ASN) policies are being followed. Delegates’ weekly vaccine count as deemed necessary.
• Attends all clinic codes.
• Patient triage as needed.
• Performs periodic chart audits.
• De-escalation of crisis situations by seeking guidance of supportive personnel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Teach and counsel patients and families concerning health assessment and care including prevention of disease, disability, hygiene, and health maintenance

People Management/ Department Management/Business Unit Management:

• Develops communication processes to support quality of care and patient experience.
• Ability to develop and manage professional relationships in a complex healthcare environment including capability to collaborate with providers and other members of the healthcare team in meeting the needs of CUC patients.
• Develop and maintain favorable internal relationships, partnerships with team members, including nurse managers, clinical support staff, providers and business office staff.
• Interacts respectfully and collaboratively with patients and their families, striving to develop favorable relationships with families.
• Collaborates with all members of the care team in providing patient-centered care

Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of one year experience in the nursing field.
• Demonstrate success in providing clinical care and nursing support within an organization of comparable pace and complexity.
• Experience managing difficult patient/customer situations.
• Demonstrate success in directing staff in order to achieve a common goal.
• Significant knowledge of medical practices and procedures in a healthcare environment.
• Demonstrate success and experience with direct patient services and the proper knowledge and use of medical devices and equipment.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSURE

• Unrestricted Registered Nurse License in the State of Texas
• Current healthcare provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) course completion card obtained through approved American Heart Association or American Red Cross