Charge Nurse
MAIN FUNCTION:
Assists the department director in the shift management of the department. The Charge Nurse/Clinical Coordinator is a role model for professional behavior, clinical skills and customer service and hold staff accountable for the same. Coordinates and directs activities during the shift to meet nursing care requirements and assure effective communication during the shift and with the prior and following shifts. Manages shift resources to achieve optimal clinical and financial effectiveness. Maintains visibility and communication to staff, other departments, patients, visitors and physicians. Functions as a resource to all nursing staff members and physicians. Direct patient care is required within the Charge Nurse’s scope of practice.
Provides nursing care to patients in an efficient, professional, compassionate and caring manner. Directs the activities of paraprofessional as they provide care. Responsible for implementing nursing care of assigned patients via the Nursing Process including assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation.Acts in compliance with hospital, Nursing Department policies/procedures and the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Ohio. Follows WCH Nursing Philosophy and practice model which are derived from the Synergy model and appropriate Service Standards as outlined in Employee Handbook.
RESPONSIBLE TO: Department Director
MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS:
- Licensed in Ohio
- Maintain a current AHA (American Heart Association) Healthcare Provider BLS card while in this position.
- 2 years relevant hospital experience
- Demonstrates leadership skills / abilities
- Strong teaching and mentoring skills
- Demonstrates strong customer service skills
- Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrates support of unit and hospital leadership
- Accepts change with a positive helpful attitude
- Demonstrates initiative and problem solving skills
- Demonstrates professional nursing practice and behaviors
PREFERRED ATTRIBUTES:
- BSN
- Clinical certification
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Employees in this position may be exposed to blood, body fluids and/or airborne pathogens and are required to wear barriers
- Employees in this position must be able to push, pull, lift, carry, turn, crouch, and bend as necessary to complete nursing care tasks
- Certifications as appropriate and required by the Department such as ACLS, NRP, PALS must be obtained within 1 year and maintained while in this position
- Meets all expectations, behaviors and clinical practice implementation expectations both departmental and unit specific as outlined in the Staff Nurse job description
Leadership
- Functions in a professional and thoughtful manner, demonstrating:
- Decision-making and priority setting skills
- Time management and effective use of resources
- Appropriate delegation skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Adherence to Charge RN unit responsibility list
- Professional communication that fosters a calm and orderly environment
- Demonstrate ability to lead/direct a team of caregivers in providing care for a group of patients
- Facilitates teamwork by adhering to Nursing Practice Model
- Demonstrates support of employee involvement through reward and recognition activities, both formal and informal, on a hospital wide and unit level (e-mails, gain sharing, etc.). Seeks out innovative ways to recognize and encourage staff.
- Accepts and responds to change productively, while maintaining a positive attitude
- Role models professional nursing practice and behavior
- Demonstrates basic ability to have and manage a crucial conversation
- Demonstrates clinical expertise in daily patient care and role modeling for staff
- Responds positively to change, promotes enthusiasm for change
- Effectively monitors the implementation of the nursing process for patients on assigned unit, including appropriate delegation
Communication
As directed by the Director
- Communicates changes in practice, policies, procedures, expectations, performance improvement
- Maintains awareness of verbal / non verbal communication in interactions with staff, other departments, customers, physicians, patients and families
- Maintains patient confidentiality in all communication interactions: written, verbal, electronic and digital
- Collaborates and communicates effectively with physicians and all members of the health care team
- Reports critical information to physician and others as indicated
- Properly utilizes chain of command to handle issues
- Demonstrates ability to initiate and manage crucial conversations. Coaches staff in development of the ability to have crucial conversations.
- Utilizes AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Expectations, Thank You) strategies to foster positive communication
- Interacts with clinical students in positive, productive manner
- Facilitates communication between staff members and assures huddling and rounding are taking place
Operations
- Monitors and adjusts unit staffing based on patient acuity and unit activity
- Develop and revise schedule as per departmental standards / practices
- Facilitates daily flow of the department when on duty including assignment planning, movement of staff, re-assessment of departmental needs, re-assignment of staff, facilitation of lunch / breaks.
- Evaluates and recommends the skill mix, quantity of personnel, equipment, and supplies necessary for unit function and operations
- Investigate incident reports and follow up with staff as directed
- Round on/makes clinical visits with patients:
- For the patient: evaluate care provided according to standards and evidence based practice, evaluate educational plan and its implementation, assess for gaps in care, evaluate additional / alternative care needs, patient & family satisfaction, assure safety & infection control standards are met.
- For the nurse: evaluate clinical competency, adherence to nursing practice standards of care and documentation of standards of care.
- Maintains appropriate clinical skills:
- Administers care according to WCH/unit policy/procedure, current standards of care and Ohio Nurse Practice Act
- Performs assessments/reassessments and documentation relevant to patient's condition, needs and age, per nursing documentation guidelines. Communicates changes in patient condition to physician in timely manner
- Initiates, evaluates and reviews plan of care
- Provides age appropriate health teaching related to diagnosis, identified patient/family needs and medication, using available teaching resources.
h. Administers medication safely:
- Correctly demonstrates use of CPOE(Computer Physician Order Entry)
- Demonstrates knowledge of drug purpose and effectiveness as related to diagnosis.
- Follows 6 rights of medication administration
- Demonstrates appropriate/safe medication handling/administration
- Reassesses and documents effectiveness of medication
i. Assures team members huddle and round on patients to:
- Evaluate environment to assure safety & infection control standards met
- Evaluate care provided according to standards and evidence based practice
- Evaluate educational plan and its implementation, assessing for gaps in care
- Evaluate additional /alternative care needs, and patient/family satisfaction
- Evaluate adherence to nursing practice standards of care and documentation of care by the nurse and team members
j Coordinate work to achieve maximum productivity. Able to multitask and prioritize workload. Work habits are consistently adjusted to accommodate multiple responsibilities and are prioritized and completed in a timely manner.
- Demonstrate reasonable and rational judgment in decision making
- Other duties as assigned by management team
Customer Service
- Displays positive attitude. Treats others with honesty and respect. Speaks positively in all customer interactions internal and external.
- Assess customer satisfaction when rounding on patients and use appropriate chain of command for unresolved issues or problems
- Use face to face resolutions (crucial conversations) to intervene with patients or staff in situations where customer needs have not been met to determine a positive, mutually agreeable resolution
Staff Development / Personal Growth
In conjunction with the department Director, Clinical Specialist and / or Educator:
- Function as a preceptor, seeking learning opportunities for orientee/student. Interact with Department Manager, Clinical Educator/Instructor, to evaluate orientee/student progress toward goals, identifying additional needs.
- Demonstrate professional development by attending conferences, participating in committees/unit projects and ongoing educational activities
- Demonstrate professional growth by maintaining awareness of changes in nursing practice/evidenced based nursing care.
- Assist with annual/ ongoing competency validation to assure proficiency in performing assigned tasks
- Assesses educational needs of staff and communicate identified needs to the manager
- Completes assigned performance evaluations within specific time limits
- Demonstrates initiative and responsibility to develop personal, leadership and professional goals / objectives and determines methods to meet these goals and objectives
- Accept feedback as opportunity for growth
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of new policies and procedures, practices, changes in practice, and initiatives. Obtains this knowledge via staff meeting attendance, reading of communication, required hospital education, discussion with departmental leadership and peers.
Performance Improvement
In conjunction with the Director
- Identify processes to be improved and communicate to management team. Assists in data collection/aggregation as directed.
- Facilitates changes in practice based upon PI data as determined by Nursing Leadership
- Communicate PI processes, data and changes to staff
- Participates on at least one team, project and/or committee: unit, departmental or hospital based
- Develop and maintain awareness of DNV, CMS (Centers for Medicare Services) and other required quality and safety measures
- Develop and maintain ongoing understanding of Nursing best practices for the types of patients for whom care is provided
