Charge Nurse

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: Charge Nurse

REPORTS TO: Director of Nursing

DEPARTMENT: Administration

The primary purpose of your job description is to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of the facility during your tour of duty. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that every effort possible is made to provide quality of care and quality of life services to our residents.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct, evaluate and supervise all resident care and initiate corrective action.
• Make daily resident rounds and report status of nursing care to the Director of Nursing Service.
• Assist with analysis of incident and accident investigation reports to determine cause(s) and implement corrective action(s) when appropriate.
• Coordinate resident transportation between Nursing Department and Social Service Department.
• Monitor central supply ordering between the nursing department and the business office.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director of Nursing as necessary/required, concerning the operation of the nursing department.
• Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the residents' total regimen of care.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing.
• Periodically review the resident's written discharge plan. Participate in the written resident's discharge plan as required.
• Admit, transfer and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary and conduct the R.N. Assessment of any resident involved in an incident/accident requiring R.N. intervention and direction of the plan of care.
• Reviews the twenty-four (24-Hr) report routinely throughout assigned shift to ensure accuracy of information, identified resident care areas, etc. and assist charge nurse will follow-up to identified issues and concerns.
• Reviews census data on the 24-Hr report to ensure accuracy of census numbers prior to leaving tour of duty.
• Participate in the Performance Improvement Committee program in cooperation with the Administrator and Interdisciplinary Team members (IDT) as assigned.
• Serve on, participate in, and attend various other committees of the facility (i.e., psychotropic drug committee, restraint management committee, etc. as required, and as appointed by the Director of Nursing.
• Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
• Visit residents on a daily basis in order to observe and evaluate the resident's physical and emotional status.
• Provide direct nursing care as needed.
• Inspect the nursing service treatment area daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean, safe manner.
• Participate in the development and implementation of procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to nursing care facilities

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN or RN program
• Bachelor's degree in nursing preferred
• Minimum of two years' experience in long term care nursing facility
• Nursing supervisory experience preferred
• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN or RN in this state
• CPR certification required

JOB TRAINING:

• How long it usually takes to completely perform this job when the incumbent has the minimum knowledge, skills, abilities, work experience and/or education: up to 6 months

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Moves intermittently during working hours
• Is subject to frequent interruptions
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc
• Works beyond normal duty hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary
• Is subject to call back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.)
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc. throughout the workday, as well as reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile…