Charge Nurse - Acute Psychiatric Unit (Departmental Promotional Only

Charge Nurse

San Mateo Medical Center is seeking one experienced full-time Charge Nurse for its Acute Psychiatric Unit, day shift! Unit 3AB is a 34 bed, 24-hour unit. It is staffed by registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, licensed psychiatric technicians, and MSA2 staff, hospital unit coordinators, and a full interdisciplinary psychiatric team. Patients present multiple problems ranging from crisis intervention needs and drug-related issues to chronic medical conditions.

Under general supervision, the Charge Nurse for the Acute Psychiatric Unit coordinates the functioning of the nursing unit for all three shifts; supervises 10 to 18 licensed and non-licensed nursing staff and may perform all aspects of patient care; and participates in the development and implementation of unit goals. The day shift charge nurse participates in the daily treatment team meeting and facilitates communication of the treatment plan to nursing staff.

The daytime charge nurse coordinates admissions and discharges and participates in performance activity improvement on the unit. The daytime charge nurse is responsible for ensuring the staff has completed their assignments and that important safety information is communicated to staff. The ideal candidate has several years of acute psychiatric nursing experience and at least one year of supervisory experience, or experience as an acting charge nurse.

The ideal candidate is also experienced in providing education and updates to staff, as well as in scheduling for multiple shifts, review of timecards, and excellent communication skills. Knowledge of quality improvement processes is strongly preferred. A Crisis Prevention Institute certification is strongly preferred. Current BLS certification is a must.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Strong clinical background in high-acuity psych care, crisis intervention, and de-escalation protocols.
• Proven ability to supervise diverse nursing teams (RNs, LVNs, LPTs) and translate daily treatment plans into actionable staff assignments.
• Experience managing fast-paced admissions/discharges and executing detailed safety pass-offs between shifts.
• Proficient in shift scheduling, timecard review, and managing staffing ratios across multiple shifts.
• Familiarity with Quality Improvement processes to drive performance metrics, safety standards, and operational improvements on the unit.
• Strong communication skills with a track record of educating, updating, and mentoring unit staff.

Note:

The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.