Charge Nurse; RN), Nights - Oncology

Job Summary

The RN Clinical Charge Nurse is responsible for directing and overseeing the daily activities of the unit on an assigned shift to assure successful safe delivery of care. The Charge Nurse is a caregiver and often takes modified patient care assignment. They practice in a clinical environment that is administered by Nurse Managers and other leaders and is supported through the Well Star Shared Governance Model.

The framework for practice is steered by the Well Star Professional Nursing Practice Model and evidence based practice and research. RN competencies are derived from these models and supported by the Well Star Core Competencies.

Expectations of practice include accountability; responsibility and authority for the practice of nursing; effective teamwork; delegation; communication; respect; personal development; and development of team members.

It is expected that all RN Clinical Charge Nurses are licensed, knowledgeable and uphold the practice of nursing as outlined by the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics Standards put forth by the American Nurses Association. As a member of the patient services team, it is expected the individual upholds the voice of the patient, system policies and procedures while supporting service excellence goals.

• Monitor equipment inventory, location and utilization to ensure staff have tools and equipment needed to perform their job.
• Participate in planning and requesting resources for providing high quality care and assist in acquiring appropriate staffing during unexpected staffing shortages or surges in census.
• Proactively plan for the care of patients across the care continuum in the course of giving direct patient care. Participate in the development of protocols and procedures when called upon or through self‑initiation in collaboration with care managers and other members of the healthcare team to achieve best practice outcomes.

• Make Patient Assignments.
• Consideration for new grads, float and type of patient.
• Daily Discharge/Length of Stay Review.
• Round with Physicians/Surgeons.
• Assign Surgery Beds in conjunction with Surgery Schedule.
• Consult with Supervisor Nursing Administration (House Supervisor) on Bed Flow and Availability.
• Emergency Services:
  Assignments for sections, manage waiting room, multiple areas open at different times.

• Rounds on every patient daily to evaluate quality and appropriateness of patient care including corrective action when needed utilizing peer coaching and accountability.
• Provides oversight for the Nursing Process (assessment; diagnosis; identification of outcomes; planning; implementation and evaluation) using evidence‑based practice.
• Provides oversight for relationship‑based care delivery patient‑centered care by partnering with the patient and significant others using comprehensive hand‑off communication processes.
• Practices using current clinical practice standards with a focus on safety and quality.
• Within the Emergency Department Setting:
  Charge Nurse rounds on patients in a modified method in conjunction with nurses to focus on patient safety concerns and patient care.

• Communicates with nurse manager and/or assistant nurse manager any needs or concerns pertaining to care delivery or employee performance.
• Coordinates the delivery and documentation of safe quality patient care which includes promotion of interdisciplinary communication.
• Demonstrates teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a manner that is fiscally responsible and promotes the recruitment and retention of all healthcare team members.
• Participates and supports performance improvement inclusive of all stakeholders, research and research utilization to promote safe, quality patient care.

• Ensures patient/family/staff confidentiality and corporate compliance for self (and accountability for team members) requirements including completing all required mandatory education and proficiencies.
• Serves as a preceptor (or mentor) for other professional nurses (and staff or students for all disciplines).

• Promotes evidence‑based practice, nursing research and performance improvement in nursing. Participates in activities such as value analysis as part of the decision‑making process in evaluating patient care products.
• Upholds excellent standards of patient care and quality improvement.