Charge Nurse Perioperative

Department 37703 – Full-time position, 40 hours per week, benefits eligible. Schedule: Monday - Friday with call rotation.

Responsibilities

• Unit Management
  • Facilitates the organization and management of the unit to provide safe, quality patient care.
  • Prepares shift assignments based on staff education, experience, job description, and patient acuity (per Patient Classification System).
  • Monitors unit activities to ensure timely, neat, and appropriate completion of assignments.
  • Collaborates with Patient Care Supervisor and/or Director of Patient Care to adjust schedules/assignments for safe and smooth unit functioning (e.g., calling in additional staff, sending staff home, reassigning staff).
  • Receives and records absence calls in the absence of staff.
  • Supervises and delegates patient care as needed; maintains awareness of physician notifications for changes in patient condition.
  • Notifies Director of Patient Care or Patient Care Supervisor of unusual occurrences or changes in patient condition.
  • Evaluates, monitors, and documents patient/situation; intervenes to prevent or minimize crises.
  • Observes all patients at least twice per shift; makes rounds with physicians or delegates to staff nurse.
  • Assists in coordinating patient admissions, transfers, and discharges.
  • Initiates corrective action for disciplinary problems; documents and communicates actions to Director of Patient Care.
  • Assists Director of Patient Care with employee performance evaluations.
  • Conducts monthly meetings with shift employees from a prepared agenda; submits minutes to Director of Patient Care.
  • Directs staff during emergencies or drills; reviews safety and emergency procedures with staff at least twice yearly and documents.
  • Participates in developing/revising Rehabilitation Nursing Standards and Nursing Policies and Procedures.
  • Attends and participates in at least 80% of Nurse Management and Performance Improvement Meetings.
  • Voluntarily accepts additional responsibilities.
• Patient Care
  • Assessment
    • Performs and documents patient assessments on admission and throughout stay, including patient/family goals and response to rehabilitation program.
    • Formulates nursing diagnoses based on data collection, overt/covert needs, and anticipated/predicted needs.
    • Utilizes lab, radiologic, medical, and departmental reports to anticipate/predict changes in patient health status.
  • Plan of Care
    • Develops, reviews, and revises individualized Rehabilitation Nursing Plan of Care from admission through hospitalization, congruent with interdisciplinary treatment plan (including goals and discharge plans).
  • Implementation of Patient Care
    • Utilizes nursing care plans to prevent complications and maintain/restore patient physical and psychosocial function at realistic and optimal levels.
    • Ensures nursing actions align with interdisciplinary care plans and Rehabilitation Nursing Standards to achieve patient goals.
    • Demonstrates ability to set priorities and knowledge of complex health problems, diagnoses, symptoms, and potential issues based on pathophysiology.
    • Trained and competent to treat patients of any diagnosis, age, and able to demonstrate age-appropriate knowledge and skills.
  • Evaluation
    • Documents achievement of mutual goals identified by patient, family, and primary nurse.
    • Reviews, revises, and prioritizes interventions as patient needs change.
    • Utilizes appropriate resources to resolve difficult problems; documents objective solutions.
    • Documents patient/family understanding of post-discharge procedures on Education Form and Discharge Summary.
• Safety
  • Complies with hospital safety policies for self, patients, visitors, and staff; adheres to Universal Precautions/Body Substance Isolation.
  • Instructs patients/families on safety rules (e.g., side rails, wheelchair brakes, smoking) during admission and as needed; documents instructions and responses.
  • Identifies high-risk factors through observation and assessment; intervenes to minimize risks.
  • Utilizes principles of body mechanics; seeks assistance for heavy, agitated, or impulsive patients; wears/monitors Back Savers braces.
  • Instructs staff, patients, families, and visitors on infection control/Body Substance Isolation principles.
  • Identifies and reports equipment needing repair/replacement; initiates work requests.
  • Identifies and reports environmental factors non-compliant with fire codes.
  • Attends annual mandatory in-services (fire, safety, disaster, infection control, body mechanics, guest relations); maintains current CPR certification.
  • Demonstrates knowledge and competence in emergency response (e.g., codes); documents properly (code sheet, variance report, patient chart).
  • Initiates and completes variance reports and employee injury forms; documents incidents in patient charts as appropriate.
• Performance Improvement
  • Participates in Performance Improvement as scheduled; recognizes and reports deviations from standards.
  • Monitors and audits medication and crash carts; reports discrepancies to Director of Patient Care.
  • Initiates and completes at least one additional PI study per year.
  • Documents patient use of chargeable items.
• Education
  • Provides teaching to patients, families, and staff to facilitate learning.
  • Prioritizes and documents knowledge deficits of actual, potential, or possible health problems.
  • Evaluates and documents effectiveness of patient/family learning.
  • Serves as a professional role model and mentor to nursing staff.
  • Practices within the scope defined by the Georgia or North Carolina Nurse Practice Act.

Requirements

• Current licensure as a professional registered nurse by the State of Georgia or North Carolina.
• Current CPR certification.
• Certification in rehabilitation nursing (CRRN) preferred.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing (baccalaureate, associate degree, or diploma).
• Skill and proficiency in nursing and management principles, concepts, and techniques.
• Knowledge of rehabilitation nursing preferred.
• Two to four years of progressive nursing experience in a healthcare environment.
• Demonstrated clinical competency as a professional nurse.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and/or advanced education in leadership.

Skills & Abilities

• Verbal ability and communication skills for interpersonal relations (patients, visitors, employees, medical staff) and presenting information.
• Ability to objectively assess and analyze situations and employees in job duties.
• Ability to function effectively under stress and make sound judgments in critical situations.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Must be able to use visual near and distance acuity.
• Must have verbal ability to communicate in person and over the phone or radio.
• Must assist co-workers in transfers and transport supplies, patients, or equipment using good body mechanics.
• Must have functional range of motion of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines, upper and lower extremities with a grip strength of 60-80 pounds.
• Must be able to forward reach, overhead reach, bend, squat, kneel, and change positions rapidly.
• Must be able to lift 25-60 lbs. and carry 25-50 pounds.
• Must tolerate high noise, busy atmospheres, and noxious odors.
• Must work in noisy environments and remain self-directed to complete tasks as ordered.
• Must remain calm under stressful situations and assess/respond to multiple situations simultaneously.
• Must assist co-workers in overlapping tasks and prioritize job tasks efficiently.
• If job class is identified as POPE C, must pass the cardiac recovery test.

Pay

Pay range: $32.70 - $49.05 per hour.

Benefits

• Compensation
  • Base compensation within listed pay range based on qualifications, skills, experience, and training.
  • Premium pay (e.g., shift differential, on-call pay).
  • Incentive pay for select positions.
  • Annual increases based on performance.
• Paid Time Off (eligibility may vary by FTE/status).
• Health and Welfare Benefits
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Family Benefits
  • Adoption assistance.
  • Paid parental leave.
• Retirement
  • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match.
  • Other financial wellness programs.
• Education and Career Development
  • Educational Assistance Program.