Charge Nurse - Renal Unit - Weekends

Major Responsibilities

• Operational Accountability: Supports the operational accountability for nursing unit during assigned shift.
• Remains aware of patient flow at all times and facilitates admissions, transfers and discharges of unit.
• Captures and enters daily patient charges.
• Monitors and adjusts staff assignments as required to assure patient safety and to optimize efficiency, incorporating ANA staffing guidelines.
• Makes daily rounds with RN’s to determine acuity/workload of unit.
• Recruits staff to work when needed.
• Low-census/float staff according to policy and record appropriately.
• Records call-ins and refer staff member to Unit Manager or Administrative Manager.
• Assigns breaks and lunches to staff.
• Facilitates coverage for staff to attend meetings/educational programs during shift.
• Monitor observation patients on unit and change status as warranted.
• Ensures department supply inventories are monitored carefully, replacement items are ordered to insure no interruption in patient care.
• Affirms all defective equipment is reported to appropriate department and ensures policy adherence.
• Affirms daily discharge call-backs to patients.
• Attends daily Bed-flow meetings.
• Assigns PCA duties and monitors for completion.

Leadership Accountability

• Demonstrates clinical leadership for unit during assigned shift.
• Provides report of all patients to oncoming Charge Nurse, remain aware of patient acuity, patient assignments, unit activity and unstable patients.
• Assists unit manager with 90 day and annual performance evaluations with developmental goals for staff on a timely basis.
• Coordinates with CNS to assign preceptors for new employees and students.
• Coordinates Disaster Plan specific to unit.
• Assigns admissions and transfers appropriately to staff.
• Ensures all associates are held accountable for performing their appropriate roles and responsibilities.
• Serves as a mentor/preceptor in developing new staff members.
• Ensures all associates are held accountable for performing their appropriate roles and responsibilities.
• Supports and participates in Shared Governance initiatives and goals.
• Participates in unit-based Performance Improvement initiatives of unit.
• Consistently attends staff meetings and in-service programs, encourage staff to attend.
• Attends at least 50% of Charge Nurse meetings.

Quality Patient Care and Satisfaction

• Facilitates associate critical thinking and clinical skills to optimize patient outcomes, customer satisfaction and resource management.
• Performs the principle duties and responsibilities of the RN position and serves as a role model for professional practice.
• Collaborates with the unit CNS, identifies educational needs of nursing staff and implement formal and bedside education geared toward enhancing nursing knowledge and the advancement of nursing practice.
• Serves as a clinical resource and mentors unit staff to develop critical thinking and psychomotor skills.
• Collaborates with the CNS and unit manager on processes to improve patient satisfaction.
• Monitors and communicates patient expectations and complaints to appropriate personnel to insure the highest level of care and satisfaction.
• Ensures hourly rounds are performed on all patients by unit staff.
• Responsible for first line Service Recovery of patient, family and physician complaints and effective communication of unresolved issues to Unit Manager.
• Works with Bed Board and Administrative Managers to assure proper placement of patients admitted to unit.
• Demonstrate effective time management by meeting deadlines and renegotiating timeframes as new priorities present themselves.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Strong clinical skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work cohesively with a diverse work group.
• Utilize critical thinking and timely decision making.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Organized.
• Ability to teach.
• Ability to prioritize work.
• Independent.
• Self-motivated.
• Projects a positive attitude.
• Creative, energetic and inspirational attitude toward education.
• Ability to assess skills and abilities of others.
• CPR- BLS.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to work within a rapid changing environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal / external customers.
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care.
• Ability to prioritize independently and respond to multiple simultaneous requests.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions and in difficult situations, dealing with and resolving conflict.
• Ability to perform lifting / transfer activities related to patients (up to 50 lbs. may be required).
• Ability to take over shift coverage of unit in absence of unit manager.
• Ability to transport objects from one location to another.
• Ability to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases.