Charge Nurse

About the Role

The Charge Nurse focuses on day-to-day clinical operations, emphasizing immediate patient care, staff oversight, and operational stability. This role aims to enhance nurse retention, bolster teamwork, improve patient safety, and raise overall quality of care. The Charge Nurse serves as a role model and educator while providing guidance to the team.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Nurse Manager to function as an operational lead and assume accountability for the operation of all areas within the role.
• Serve as the operational lead for the nursing team to ensure clinics run smoothly and patient care needs are met in a coordinated, timely manner.
• Lead staff by coordinating care, supporting staff, and responding quickly to unexpected challenges.
• Contribute to the establishment and implementation of evidence-based nursing standards of practice.
• Adhere to established policies, standards of care, and standards of practice, demonstrating leadership in improving nursing care.
• Provide direct patient care by assessing patient needs, making clinical decisions, monitoring patient conditions, and responding to changes.
• Coordinate treatment plans and ensure correct execution while collaborating with physicians and other care team members to refine care strategies.
• Administer medications and perform procedures as needed.
• Assign clinic duties to nursing staff based on acuity and staff skill levels.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to newer or less experienced staff.
• Act as a liaison between the nursing team and other departments.
• Resolve conflicts or clarify orders when delays occur.
• Inform Veterans and their families about unit procedures or status changes.
• Report staffing changes or concerns, manage supplies, and ensure necessary equipment is available.
• Respond to documentation needs, including chart audits to ensure accuracy and compliance with evidence-based practice for infection control and safety standards.
• Report incidents or quality concerns to leadership and follow through with steps to resolve and ensure safe, quality care.
• Champion the Peer to Peer Chart Audit process.
• Inspect clinics for environmental safety and cleanliness compliance; maintain a list of work orders from entry to resolution.
• Participate in and/or lead process improvement initiatives.
• Provide first-line intervention for customer complaints/concerns.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English, in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Graduation from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by either:
  • The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or
  • The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s level degree in Nursing may have the opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program (Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6).
• For graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree/entry-level Nursing education program.
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher than associate degree/entry-level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA, such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Grade Determinations: The following scope, education, and dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates.

• Nurse I - Level I: Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies.
  • Education: Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing experience required.
• Nurse I - Level II: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex needs.
  • Education: ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1, OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required.
• Nurse I - Level III: Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations.
  • Education: ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2, OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2, OR a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) with no additional professional nursing experience, OR a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.
• Nurse II: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others.
  • Education: BSN with 2 years of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3, OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3, OR a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3, OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience, OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.
• Nurse III: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting.
  • Education: MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III, OR a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III, OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III, OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III.

Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.

Preferred Qualifications

• BSN preferred.
• Maintain certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS).
• 2-3 years of successful nursing practice in a specialty clinic environment (preferably Cardiology, Nephrology, and/or Wound/Ostomy).
• Cardiology, Nephrology, and/or Wound/Ostomy experience with an approved National Certification in either specialty.
• Prior leadership experience or demonstrated ability to lead.
• Advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in outpatient ambulatory care operations.

Physical Requirements

• Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.
• Exposure to infected patients and contaminated materials; may require wearing protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.
• Occasional exposure to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 07:30 AM - 04:00 PM.