ICU Charge Registered Nurse / RN

Primary duties and responsibilities

• Mentors other Registered Nurses to the role and functions of Charge Nurse.
• Leads and coordinates team behavior between staff members and actively fosters the development of leadership skills in others.
• Provides direction and guidance to less experienced staff concerning policies, scheduling, assignments, organizational skills and daily operations.
• Completes performance reviews with Nurse Manager input as appropriate.
• Incorporates Synergy model for care in nurse/patient assignments.

Operational Management and Compliance

• Evaluates the use of resources and cost containment activities.
• Captures and coordinates unit staffing to meet the needs of the department.
• Identifies one managerial problem and initiates test of change.
• Participates in preparation of regulatory agency reviews.
• Affixes administrative activities such as budget planning, identifying means of cost containment, coordinating unit staffing schedules, and ensuring communication regarding areas of concern to the Unit Director.
• Evaluates the impact of policies on daily operations.
• Supports administrative decisions and facilitates daily operational issues with the staff.
• Ensures compliance with educational requirements through scheduling, planning, and support.

Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Advocacy

• Exhibits desire to hear and understand another's point of view.
• Demonstrates and role models effective communication skills.
• Takes a leadership role in building and maintaining an environment which fosters open and candid communication.
• Serves as an arbitrator in resolution of conflicts between nursing staff.
• Takes appropriate action to correct unacceptable communication/behavior as needed.
• Takes appropriate action to counsel employees (i.e., verbal warnings for attendance & performance issues).
• Aware of and supports units and colleagues needs through supportive and non-judgmental behaviors.
• Actively empowers and advocates for nurses.
• Takes appropriate action to address customer concerns and complaints (i.e., appropriate follow-up with Unit Director and risk management).
• Addresses escalated patient issues and refers issues to Unit Director or Patient Advocate when unable to resolve.
• Maintains issues and their resolution.

Quality Improvement and Education

• Challenges and shapes systems on the unit and hospital wide to achieve best possible outcomes.
• Implements innovative approaches to meet the needs of patients and families.
• Identifies, recognizes and responds to the needs of unit staff to ensure that staff has the resources and tools available to meet patient and family needs.
• Identifies, initiates, and collaborates to provide needed educational programs.
• Develops management/ leadership focused in-service (e.g., time management, team building, conflict resolution, budget, leadership activities).
• Demonstrates current evidence-based practice and disseminates information.
• Questions management practice as it relates to research.

Commitments

• Must meet all Clinical Nurse I Employee Commitments.
• Achieves points and contact hours as defined in the PLAN (clinical lattice) point system to maintain position.

Qualifications

• Minimum Required: Education - Graduate of an accredited prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); Experience - 2 years of recent nursing experience AND a minimum of 2 years of experience in the area of concentration; Licensure - A valid, unencumbered Registered Nursing License approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing.
• Preferred Qualifications: Education - MSN or DNP.