RN Charge Acute Care

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse (RN) Charge is a licensed professional who uses the BSWH nursing professional practice model to coordinate patient care delivery by the health care team. In the capacity of Charge Nurse, works in the best interests of BSWH and accepts increased responsibility to support and carry out BSWHs mission and goals. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN promotes safe passage for their patients by using knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee. The Charge Nurse holds nurses accountable for providing appropriate care including, where appropriate, taking disciplinary or other corrective action with support from the designated manager.

The Charge RN is to be used only for hospital inpatient and outpatient departments with 24X7 staffing which include those departments with on-call staffing on the off shifts. Examples of hospital inpatient and outpatient procedural areas : GI Lab, Pain Management, Dialysis, Infusion Centers and IV Services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE ROLE

Clinical Judgment : Using clinical reasoning, conducts accurate clinical assessments according to practice standards. Identifies and prioritizes patient and family needs. Develops, implements and evaluates the nursing plan of care. Modifies plan to meet clinical outcomes. Responsibly directs employees and, where appropriate, addresses their grievances and concerns and / or recommends and meaningfully participates in decisions on those matters.

Clinical Inquiry : Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice, including, but not limited to, nursing sensitive indicators. Supports evidence-based practice changes through research utilization and experiential learning. Participates in quality / performance improvement initiatives. Words and actions are congruent and holds others accountable for the same.

Caring Practices : Creates a compassionate, supportive, safe and therapeutic environment for patients, families and staff. Develops therapeutic relationships with patient and family and maintains appropriate boundaries. Manages both emotional and physical pain with the aim of promoting comfort and healing and preventing unnecessary suffering.

Response to Diversity : Recognizes, appreciates and incorporates a patient's and family's unique differences, such as culture, spiritual beliefs, gender, race, ethnicity, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, age, and values, into an individualized plan of care.

Advocacy and Moral Agency : Preserves and protects the confidentiality, autonomy, dignity and rights of patient and family and represents their concerns. Creates an individualized plan that accurately reflects patient and family values and goals. Identifies and helps resolve ethical and clinical concerns.

Facilitation of Learning : Facilitates learning for patients and families, nursing staff, other members of the health care team and community; integrating appropriate education throughout the continuum of care to help them participate and / or make informed decisions about their health care and treatments, including health promotion and disease prevention. Assesses and documents learning needs and outcomes.

Collaboration : Works collaboratively and interdependently with colleagues and community to develop and implement an integrated plan of care. Open and sensitive to all team members' unique contributions. Delegates tasks and care to appropriate staff and ensures timely follow-up. Effectively implements changes in the department. Makes and modifies staffing assignments and clearly communicates thereof.

Systems Thinking : Uses strategies and available resources for problem-solving for patients, family and staff. Recognizes that resources are limited and considers factors related to safety, effectiveness and efficiency in planning and delivering patient care.

Professionalism : Improves nursing practice and the work environment through participating in shared governance and decision-making processes and meaningfully recognizing the contributions of others. Participates in the staffing process from education and planning to evaluation. Identifies personal goals and commits to ongoing professional growth through continuing education, networking with professional colleagues, membership and involvement in professional nursing organizations, self-study, professional reading, certification and seeking advanced degrees. Contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues and others. Provides feedback on performance for staff growth and development and annual evaluation. Demonstrates commitment to community service.

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

Knowledge and understanding of nursing and patient care standards and procedures.

Knowledge of laws, rules and regulations; standards and guidelines of certifying and accrediting bodies; hospital and department / unit standards, protocols, policies and procedures governing the provision of nursing care applicable to the area of assignment.

Knowledge of medical terminology; principles and practices of health promotion, risk reduction, illness and disease prevention and management; medications and drugs, common dosages, their physical and physiological effects, and possible adverse reactions.

Knowledge of medical and professional nursing ethics and patient privacy rights.

Must be able to communicate thoughts clearly, both verbally and in writing.

Interpersonal skills to interact with a wide-range of constituencies.

Must have critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Ability to observe changes in the medical condition of patients and effectively communicate these changes to other nursing staff members and physicians / providers.

Ability to provide age-specific, quality, patient-centered care to all patients through the nursing process and standards of nursing practice with sensitivity and respect for the diversity of human experience and to develop, evaluate, implement and, as necessary, modify a patient care plan to meet the needs of individual patients.

General computer skills, including but not limited to : Microsoft Office, information security, scheduling and payroll systems, electronic medical documentation, and email.

BENEFITS

Our competitive benefits package includes the following

• Immediate eligibility for health and welfare benefits
• 401(k) savings plan with dollar-for-dollar match up to 5%
• Tuition Reimbursement
• PTO accrual beginning Day 1

Note : Benefits may vary based upon position type and / or level

QUALIFICATIONS

 Registered Nurse (RN)

 Basic Life Support (BLS) : BLS or BLS within 30 days of hire or transfer.