Charge Nurse: Birthing Suites - NICU

Primary Duties And Responsibilities 

The Charge Nurse is responsible for clinical supervision of patient care for all patients in the department and job performance supervision of all employees on an assigned shift on a Maternal Child Health unit. Plans, coordinates and provides for optimum patient care on the unit. This includes managing schedules and patient assignments, delivering annual employee performance evaluations and counseling conversations, and providing direct patient care when relieving nurses. Maintains the Standards of Nursing Care and provides care in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act. Assures utilization of the nursing process based on research and evidence-based outcomes. 

The Charge Nurse makes recommendations on hiring, department budgets, trainings, and serves as a leader in the department.

Education and Experience

Charge Nurses at Magnet designated facilities only require a BSN. MSN preferred. Additional requirements for specific departments are as follows:

• Mother/Baby: Experience in the specialty is required.
• LDR: Experience in the specialty is required. National Certification in specialty area preferred and minimum of one year experience and satisfactory completion of OB competencies.
• LDRP: Experience required. National Certification in specialty area preferred and minimum of one year experience and satisfactory completion of OB competencies.
• NICU: Two years NICU experience required. National Certification in specialty area preferred

License Required

• Registered Nurse in the State of California - Current and in good standing.

License Preferred

• N/A

Certifications Required

All Charge Nurses are required to have current BLS certification prior to clinical rotation. Department specific certification requirements are as follows:

• Irvine Birthing Suites - LDRP and LDR - 5 East: NRP; ACLS; AWHONN/Relias Advanced Fetal Monitoring upon hire and must be renewed every 3 calendar years
• Perinatology: AWHONN Advanced Fetal Monitoring upon hire and must be renewed every 3 calendar years; Ultrasound certification required within two years from hire
• Mother/Baby - 7 East: NRP, IBCLC and/or MNM RNC preferred
• NICU - 6 East and Irvine NICU: NRP Certification required. NICU didactic course and STABLE preferred

Certifications Preferred

• MBU-Mother/Baby: NRP or IBCLC or MNM RNC
• NICU: NICU didactic course and STABLE
• PERINATOLOGY: Ultrasound certification