Charge Nurse

Description
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Job Summary:

Coordinates activities of personnel on assigned shift(s) to maintain continuity of care, patient flow and throughput accountability. Arranges for staffing levels according to acuities and census. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates nursing and hospital standards and unit policies and procedures for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating patient functional status.

Job Responsibilities:

-Uses the nursing process and physician orders to develop individualized patient care plans.
-Provides care/interventions based upon the individual care plan; continually assesses the effects of interventions, medication and treatments.
-Participates in discharge planning.
-Assists in guiding/directing nursing staff in utilizing these processes.
-Documents steps in the nursing process in the medical record utilizing appropriate medical terminology and hospital-approved abbreviations.
-Reports observations and findings regarding patients to the appropriate person and records those observations accurately and concisely.
-Complies with all health systems, hospital and unit safety guidelines.
-Coordinates maintenance of safe and satisfactory environmental conditions for staff and patients through continuous monitoring of units for compliance with safety and infection control programs, policies, and procedures.
-Verbalizes understanding of patient safety goals as applicable to unit.
-Responds effectively to patient emergencies.
-Applies teaching/learning principles in the promotion of patient health education based upon identified goals.
-Provides patient/family education throughout hospital stay and at time of discharge to address learning needs associated with tests, procedures, hospital routine, medications post-discharge care, etc.
-Assists in guiding/directing nursing staff in utilizing these processes.
-Investigate patient and staff complaints; investigate patient care incidents and reports to nurse manager; functions as a patient and family advocate at all times.
-Completes variance reports according to established guidelines to document unusual occurrences.
-Meets system, hospital and unit-specific competencies annually.
-Supports system/hospital/unit goals by attending staff meetings, in-services and educational offerings.
-Practice self-direction by assuming responsibility and accountability for professional growth.
-Participate in: economical utilization of supplies and ensures that equipment is maintained in a clean/safe manner; orientation of new personnel and supports assimilation of new team members; performance improvement process by assisting in monitoring quality, appropriateness, patient care; projects/processes designed to improve patient outcomes.
-Perform additional duties as assigned or required.
--Decision Making:
-Independent judgment in planning sequence of operations and making minor decisions in a complex technical or professional field.
--Working Relationship:
-Coordinates activities of others (does not supervise).
-Leads others in same work performed (does not supervise).
-Has input on performance evaluations but does not prepare or give.
-Works directly with patients and/or customers.
-Works with internal customers via telephone or face-to-face interaction.
-Works with external customers via telephone or face to face interaction.
-Works with other healthcare professionals and staff.

Skills
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Required

Skills & Experience:

-One (1) - two (2) years of related experience.
-Demonstrates ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
-Demonstrates the ability to facilitate communication between nursing and other departments of the facility to ensure continuity and collaboration of services.
-Demonstrates knowledge of policy and procedures related to education, human resources, safety, fire/emergency preparedness, infection control, MSDS.
-Demonstrates the ability to perform crisis intervention and triage.
-Demonstrates knowledge of the delivery of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
-Knowledge of principles and methods of management and effective supervision, of organization standards for facility and departmental regulations, policies, and procedures and professional psychiatric nursing theory, practices, techniques and procedures.
-Skill in analyzing complex situations, making responsible decisions and in communicating agency procedures and requirements in a clear, concise manner.
-Ability to organize and prioritize work in an effective and efficient manner.
-Effective interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
-Skillful change agent with a high degree of commitment that creates an environment where change can occur.
-Knowledge of a wide range of psychosocial, cognitive and/or developmental disorders.
-Basic PC skills as required for electronic documentation and data review.
Preferred

Skills & Experience:

-N/A

Education
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Required

Education:

-Has completed the basic professional curricula…