Charge Nurse Clinical Decision Unit

Job Description

Working with the department manager, the RN Charge Nurse provides leadership and clinical expertise on their respective shift and department. They coordinate unit resources to ensure appropriate staffing levels based on the unique needs of patients on the unit, both clinically and financially. They function as clinical support for staff and are a role model of competency and professionalism.

• Perform appropriate assessment of physical, social, and psychological status (including cognitive, communicative and developmental skills as appropriate).
• Seek and evaluate information acquired from other members of interdisciplinary team: patient, family, physician, non‑nursing disciplines, support staff, others.
• Use assessment information and critical thinking skills to collaboratively develop individualized plan of care.
• Actively seek patient, family, team, and physician involvement to develop plan of care including needed education.
• Collaboratively plan and prepare patients for further support needs once the current episode of care outcomes are met (i.e., teaching, referrals, and follow‑up).
• Direct the interdisciplinary care team via delegation, coordination, and collaboration.
• Provide or delegate care consistent with plan of care, guidelines of care, and professional licensure provisions.
• Demonstrate the ability to set priorities and to coordinate and organize patient care delivery through managing time, supplies, and resources.
• Evaluate patient response to interventions through review of achievement of goals, clinical outcomes, and patient and family satisfaction. Revise plan of care as indicated and reassess changes as appropriate.
• Demonstrate professional behavior; ensure staff accountability to the same standards; encourage nursing professionalism by coaching and developing others.
• Integrate legal and ethical standards into practice, comply with regulatory standards, practice within scope of licensure, provide accurate & timely documentation, and understand legal implications of care delivery.
• Estimate current and next shift staffing needs to deliver optimal patient care; match nurse skill levels with patient requirements.
• Manage premium pay and overtime efficiently for cost‑effectiveness and allocate resources appropriately.
• Be accountable for operational and clinical leadership of the unit or department including setting clear expectations and holding staff accountable for outcomes and behaviors.
• Mediates conflicts between staff, families, physicians, and other departments.
• Act as a resource for setting clear expectations related to hourly rounds, communication boards, and joint bedside report.
• Guide others and initiate conversations using appropriate tools to resolve problems and to encourage accountability and professional growth.
• Support and enforce Intermountain and unit policies and procedures to ensure safety, quality, compliance, and patient care.
• Activate chain of command, rapid response, or code alerts when appropriate to facilitate patient and staff safety.
• Actively participate in and facilitate continuous quality improvement in areas of clinical care, service experience, and operational effectiveness.
• Complete Charge Nurse training.

Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, Collaboration, Leadership, Communication.

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in state of practice.
• Valid compact licenses must be transferred to the state of practice within 60 days of the start of employment.
• BLS certification for Healthcare Providers.
• Unit Specific Certification as required (i.e., ACLS, PALS, etc.).
• Experience in assigned clinical area.
• Mentoring experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution (degree will be verified).
• Registered Nurses (RNs) hired or promoted into this role must obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within four years of their hire or promotion date. If there is an existing education agreement, that agreement will take precedence.

One year of clinical nursing experience.

• Ongoing need for employee to see and read information, labels,…