Charge Nurse - Surgical Unit

Surgical Unit Nurse

Full-Time Day

72 hours bi-weekly

7am to 7:30pm

Every 3rd weekend

Every other holiday

Our surgical unit is dedicated to providing high-quality care for patients undergoing a wide range of surgical procedures. Specializing in same-day or overnight hip and knee replacements, bariatric surgeries, and spine surgeries, we also adeptly manage unexpected illnesses and surgeries. These include, but are not limited to, bowel resections, small bowel obstructions, amputations, appendicitis, cholecystectomy, and cholelithiasis. Our experienced and compassionate team is committed to delivering exceptional care, ensuring that each patient receives personalized treatment tailored to their unique needs.

Our multidisciplinary team comprises skilled nurses, nursing assistants, and clinical coordinators who work collaboratively to support patients throughout their surgical journey. From pre-operative preparation to post-operative recovery, we focus on comprehensive patient education, effective pain management, and holistic care strategies to promote quick and successful recoveries.

We take pride in our strong sense of teamwork, professionalism, and empathy. Our unit fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional development, encouraging team members to engage in educational presentations, creative projects, and other initiatives that enhance our collective knowledge and skills. This collaborative environment ensures that we provide the latest and most effective care practices.

Serving a diverse population, our unit is dedicated to creating a supportive and positive experience for patients and their families. We emphasize open communication, flexibility, and a compassionate approach, addressing the unique needs and concerns of each individual under our care.

General Summary

Provides additional supervision of daily operations on assigned unit. Oversees the successful delivery of quality patient care to a group of patients. Coordinates with the Administrative Coordinator on patient placement. Provides direct patient care at an experienced practitioner level as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with the Assistant Nurse Manager to ensure adequate staffing levels and skill mix are maintained for all shifts through the development, preparation and maintenance of staffing schedules that meet department/unit needs and apply to variable census conditions. Makes appropriate adjustments/assignments to maximize timely patient care. Looks to staffing needs into the next matrix.
• Oversees the delivery of patient care. Directs and delegates patient care assignments to staff based on acuteness of patient care needs, staff availability and patient safety.
• Prioritizes and organizes work. Actively takes part in the performance appraisal process by providing input for staff evaluations. Holds staff accountable for performance standards. Assists with interviewing. Mediates staff conflicts and provides feedback concerning performance, behavior, etc..
• Collaborates with the Nurse Manager and the Assistant Nurse Manager on areas of need on the unit (e.g., problematic flow issues, equipment and supplies issues, documentation issues, patient satisfaction issues and performance issues).
• Anticipates and resolves patient/family concerns in a timely manner. Keeps patients and families informed.
• Protects patient confidentiality by promoting professional staff communications.
• Serves as a resource and role model/mentor to charge nurses and staff.
• Provides direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with other specialists as required and adjusts nursing care processes as indicated to ensure optimal patient care.
• Requisitions supplies and equipment, maintenance and repair services and prepares related forms. Keeps stock and equipment inventories.
• Variation of duties may result based on the assigned customer care unit(s). This may include differences in the specific clinical skills required of the RN. Unit based skill lists outline expectations beyond the house wide RN requirements. SYS-NURS-L Nursing Education Requirements Policy outlines current certification(s) required for specific areas of nursing practice and is considered to be part of the job description.
• In addition to requirements specified in the license and certification section below, current BLS certification for all areas of nursing practice is required. Current certification may be required for the following areas of nursing practice: Emergency Care Center ACLS, PALS Intensive Care Center & MSCC Lead ACLS, PALSL&D ACLS, NRP, - Experienced L&D nurses will obtain within 6 months and new L&D nurses will obtain at 1 year of experience NICU NRPPEDS PALSPCC/PACU/ENDO ACLS, PALS Procedural ACLS

Common Expectations:

• Prepares and maintains written documentation as required by the profession and the department.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Associates Degree Required
• Work Experience: 2 years Relevant experience. Required and Supervisory experience. Required
• Licenses: Licensed Registered Nurse Upon Hire Required or Registered Nurse Multi State License Upon Hire Required and Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required and Appropriate specialty certification. Upon Hire Required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Fully competent Clinical Nurse III with charge nurse experience.
• Excellent communication/interpersonal, conflict resolution, problem-solving, confrontational and other leadership skills.

Benefits Offered:

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Education assistance
• Financial education and support, including DailyPay
• Expanded Paid Parental Leave

For additional details: Benefits & Incentives | WellSpan Careers (joinwellspan.org)

About Us

WellSpan Health's vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in value-based care, we encompass more than 2,300 employed providers, 250 locations, nine award-winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Our high-performing Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is the region's largest and one of the best in the nation. With a team 23,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing the highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be their healthiest.

About the Team

WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital One of eight premier hospitals in the WellSpan system, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital offers a full range of leading-edge inpatient, outpatient and emergent care services. The hospital is noted for its distinct ability to combine state-of-the-art medical technology with quality, compassionate care to meet the needs of the more than 550,000 residents of northern Lancaster County and the surrounding area. As a full-service, non-profit acute-care hospital, with a 141 licensed bed capacity, WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital admits approximately 5,500 patients annually. Nearby WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center supports the hospital as part of WellSpan's regional network of five cancer centers. WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital was one of several WellSpan Health hospitals honored by U.S. News & World Report with the High Performing recognition for 2022-23.