RN Registered Nurse Charge Nurse Full Time Days

About the Role

Responsible for the overall direction and supervision of all nursing department personnel during an assigned shift. Ensures patient assignments are correct, assists with treatments or administration of medications as necessary, informs physicians of changes in patient's condition, reviews care of all patients, and acts as the overall leader and resource person for the staff.

Provides care for adult or geriatric patients, ages 18 years and over, demonstrating and understanding the importance of and respect for the rights, dignity, and individuality of each patient in all interactions.

Responsibilities

• Make equitable patient assignments for staff based on the nurse's ability and patient needs.
• Effectively delegate necessary unit and/or patient-related tasks to Nurse Aides, LPNs, and/or staff RNs, ensuring assignments are completed promptly and efficiently.
• Monitor and ensure completion of assigned tasks by staff members.
• Make rounds during the assigned shift and respond to emergency situations.
• Respond to patients’ and families’ concerns, ensuring each concern is documented and a resolution is initiated.
• Coordinate admission, discharge, and transfer of patients.
• Oversee and coordinate the acquisition of supplies and equipment from Central Supply as needed by the unit per policy and procedure, in collaboration with the materials department.
• Review the schedule for adequate staffing on a daily basis, coordinate staffing issues as needed, and utilize staffing cost-effectively by adhering to the staffing matrix.
• Complete shift reports at designated times, relaying all pertinent patient information concisely and efficiently to the oncoming charge nurse.
• Supervise complete, timely, and accurate documentation of patient care.
• Demonstrate competence in basic and advanced skills required for delivery of appropriate care on the assigned unit.
• Provide appropriate clinical assistance to staff members requiring help.
• Ensure emergency equipment is operational by checking it during the assigned shift and documenting checks without omissions.
• Act as Team Leader in Code situations.
• Perform iSTAT instrument testing as outlined in the technical procedures for each test as approved by the laboratory director.
• Ensure the unit and patient rooms are clean and well-organized.
• Initiate nursing orders for any isolation type on new admissions and maintain up-to-date isolation precautions, ensuring applicable signage is posted.
• Monitor and follow all procedures regarding patient telemetry, notify nurses of all telemetry alarms, document alarms, give shift reports, and report any malfunctions or equipment failure.
• Ensure all IV tubing, feeding bags, catheters, dressings, etc., are changed and labeled by staff members per hospital policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in the development, review, and/or revision of policies and procedures, keeping staff informed of new/revised policies and reviewing their proper utilization.
• Participate in monitoring assigned QA activities.
• Attend monthly Charge Nurse and staff meetings, as well as unit in-service programs.
• Actively participate in the Unit Performance Improvement Plan by coordinating all necessary review/monitoring assigned activities on the unit and involving other staff members.
• Serve as team leader on Process Improvement teams while soliciting additional appropriate team members.
• Ensure safe, effective, and cost-effective patient care practices and report to the supervisor.
• Effectively utilize the chain-of-command to secure assistance and guidance for problems related to patient care, staff, and/or unit issues.
• Review dietary log forms for correct information.
• Complete daily census.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Cerner, STAR, and Healthland, including ordering or canceling physician orders.
• Resolve Omnicell discrepancies according to policy and procedure.
• Ensure completeness of forms (e.g., EMTALA, Incident Reports, ROI, Lifeshare, Record of Death).
• Coordinate and plan nursing interventions with Therapies.
• Communicate with the host hospital nursing supervisor when necessary (e.g., bed arrangements, dietary).
• Demonstrate procedures related to the use of nursing equipment and supplies.
• Adhere to all components of the Hospital Compliance Plan and report any violations or suspected violations.
• Demonstrate professional conduct and comply with hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Adhere to hospital attendance policy as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Comply with measures for preventing exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Participate in the Hazardous Material Program, complying with established safety and patient safety practices.
• Develop an understanding of responsibilities for recognizing patient abuse and follow policy for making appropriate referrals/interventions.
• Limit access to protected health information (PHI) to the information reasonably necessary to do the job, sharing such information only on a need-to-know basis for work purposes.

Requirements

• Current RN license to practice in the state of employment.
• Basic computer skills and knowledge of word processing.
• BLS certification upon hire or within 6 weeks of hire date.
• ACLS certification within 90 days of employment.
• Maintain all required licenses and certifications for the duration of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises nursing staff, including LPNs, CNAs or PCTs, Unit Assistants, and Telemetry Techs.