Charge Nurse- M​/S Oncology 3S

Kaweah Health

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state‑of‑the‑art medicine and high‑quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight‑campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

Under the direction of the nurse manager and assistant nurse manager, the purpose of this position is to assist with oversight of efficient operations to protect and promote health, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate suffering through nursing diagnosis and treatment. Demonstrates high‑level leadership accountability in the professional practice setting through oversight of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to provide holistic care and advocate for patients and families served.

• Primary clinical resource for staff on assigned unit.
• Role model and mentor for staff.
• Represent the leadership of the unit in the absence of the Assistant Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, or Director.
• Provide leadership and support for staff through effective problem solving and decision making.
• Serve as a resource for staff in clinical assessment and decisions.
• Advocate for patients and line staff, and provide opportunity for participation in shared decision making.
• Support nurse preceptors and new employees during orientation. Ensure float staff receive orientation to the floor and feel welcome.
• Provide input on employee evaluations.
• Prepare and adjust staff assignments based on the abilities of staff and needs of the patient population. Prioritize care based on acuity. Assign admissions and arrange transfers in coordination with House Supervisor, Bed Coordinator or Manager. Ensure shift report starts on time and monitor breaks to provide adequate staffing.
• Determine staffing needs for the next shift and communicate those needs to the Staff Facilitator or Nursing Supervisor.
• Assign staff to ensure equipment checks are completed: PCX controls, crash cart, refrigerator temperatures, red books and narcotic counts.
• Set clear expectations and communicate them with the team during the shift in accordance with unit goals. Have authority to make decisions aligned with team goals for the shift.
• Practice collaboration within and across units to ensure patient and fiscal outcomes in line with unit goals, including appropriate flexing of staff according to patient census.
• Ensure collaboration between staff, physicians, other providers, and departments involved in the care of patients. Keep lines of communication open and facilitate nurse/physician collaboration by modeling professional communication (e.g., SBAR and rounding).
• Provide support, oversight, and coach team members related to work environment, patient care and physician relations.
• Coordinate care in high‑risk/emergent situations and keep Nurse Manager/Director/Nursing Supervisor aware of critical patients and any unit issues.
• Ensure patient care issues are documented and reported. Ensure the appropriate nurse completes a Statement of Concern.
• Promote positive and professional environment for internal and external customers and actively support the leadership through professional behavior.
• Understand and utilize Medical Staff and Kaweah Health's chain of command. Provide employee guidance and alert the Nurse Manager of counseling needs. Provide patient care as needed/requested.
• Perform duties of a Registered Nurse (job code 7020339) and make fiscally responsible decisions regarding staffing and use of patient supplies.
• Maintain awareness of regulatory compliance. Perform audits and reports as assigned. Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served.
• Be knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Communicate effectively with patients and families as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.