Nursing Team Leader - 4S - Renal Unit

About the role

The Renal Unit is a 36-bed unit caring for patients with kidney-related conditions such as acute or chronic kidney disease, including those requiring renal replacement therapy. Nurses in this area maintain a 1:6 staffing ratio and specialize in post-hemodialysis and ongoing peritoneal dialysis. The unit emphasizes collaboration with community nephrologists, family practice providers, and hospitalists to deliver comprehensive care. The team supports patients from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.

Responsibilities

• Functions as the unit-based clinical supervisor, providing staff direction, managing patient flow, ensuring patient safety, and overseeing resource utilization.
• Coordinates shift assignments and overall quality of care delivered.
• Provides and coordinates in-services, continuing education programs, and mentoring for clinical staff, with a focus on recent hires.
• Actively participates in performance improvement (PI) activities, collects data to assess employee performance, and contributes to staff evaluations.
• Must be available to work weekend and holiday shifts based on unit needs.
• Coordinates unit activities, leads staffing and patient assignments, and provides leadership during crisis and emergency situations.
• Supervises and evaluates nursing care for each patient in the assigned clinical department.
• Evaluates care for each LPN-assigned patient upon admission and as appropriate on an ongoing basis in accordance with accepted standards of nursing practice and hospital policy.
• Promotes efficient patient flow, including timely discharges and admissions.
• Encourages a safe environment by promoting adherence to established protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Serves as a clinical resource and subject matter expert for staff.
• Provides timely feedback with appropriate accountability as needed.
• Implements evidence-based practices.
• Rounds on patients, physicians, and employees.
• Leads unit-based daily huddle and represents the unit at house-wide daily huddles.
• Maintains records related to orientation, in-service, and unit competency assessments.
• Adheres to productivity, revenue, and expense goals.
• Displays sound judgment and critical thinking in decision-making and problem-solving.
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships to define and work toward common goals.
• Ensures compliance with quality standards and regulatory agency requirements.
• May take management call as directed.
• Facilitates bidirectional communication to ensure timely exchange of information among stakeholders.
• Treats all people fairly and with respect, fostering an environment that supports employee recruitment and retention.
• For Relief Team Leaders: does not hold key responsibilities/essential functions #5, #9, #13, and #14.
• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction, and financial standards as outlined in performance evaluations.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Adheres to DCH Behavioral Standards, including creating positive relationships with patients, families, coworkers, and colleagues.
• Performs essential job functions to ensure the safety of patients, visitors, and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors, and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety.
• Uses electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software, and intranet.
• Adheres to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse with current Alabama or Multistate License required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience as a registered nurse required.
• Specialty nursing experience preferred in the applied area.
• Must obtain within 6 months: American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted Cardiac/Critical Care ACLS (Emergency Department—both campuses), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) (Emergency Department—Regional Campus only), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), Perioperative ACLS (PACU), PACU—PALS, ACLS Women’s/Children NICU—Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP), Labor & Delivery—ACLS, NRP, and Intermediate Fetal Monitoring, Mother Baby Unit—NRP, Pediatrics—PALS, Clinical Support Cardiac Monitoring Unit—ACLS, Dialysis ACLS.
• International RNs: Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multistate license required or ability to obtain prior to start.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required or obtain within 30 days of start date.
• BSN preferred; minimum Associates degree required.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.
• TNCC must be completed within 12 months of hire date.