Med Surg Charge RN - Part-time

Job Title: Charge Nurse

Department: Nursing Units (Medical Surgical & Emergency Room)

Reports To: Director of Nursing

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Job Summary: The Charge Nurse provides clinical leadership and coordination of patient care activities during an assigned shift while maintaining responsibility for direct patient care as needed. In a rural hospital environment, the Charge Nurse functions as the on-site nursing leader, ensuring safe, high-quality, patient-centered care through effective communication, staffing coordination, problem solving, and collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary team members. Leads the department in a manner which positively impacts the patient experience through staff training, accountability standards, and service excellence demonstrated in all interactions. Collaborates in the organization wide health-care delivery system and process design. 

The Charge Nurse promotes a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and excellent customer service while supporting the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

High-Quality Clinical Leadership

• Coordinates and oversees patient care activities during the assigned shift.
• Serves as the clinical resource and leader for nursing staff.
• Assigns patient care based on patient acuity, staff competency, and staffing levels.
• Provides direct patient care as required.
• Assists staff with complex patient care situations and clinical decision-making.
• Ensures continuity of care through effective communication and patient handoffs.
• Monitors patient flow, admissions, discharges, and transfers.
• Maintains the nursing unit in compliance with all regulatory agency mandates, including the regulations of NYS DOH and The Joint Commission.
• Serves as the communication liaison between nursing staff, providers, patients, families, and leadership.
• Facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Participates in shift reports, daily huddles, and patient care rounds.
• Addresses patient and family concerns promptly and professionally.
• Engages in patient satisfaction and meets the departmental standards for improvement.
• Ensures patient/employee confidentiality is maintained.
• Collaborates with senior leadership, interdisciplinary teams and other stakeholders in order to develop, implement and evaluate programs and services.
• Communicates quantitative and qualitative information regarding the patient experience and staff engagement to the staff and the Interdisciplinary Patient Care Team that leads to the development and implementation of an action plan.
• Understands and assists with management of variance reports and departmental budgets.
• Manages unit supplies and processes requisitioning orders as needed. 

Patient Care

• Performs comprehensive nursing assessments.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized nursing care plans.
• Administers medications and treatments according to physician orders and hospital policy.
• Recognizes changes in patient's condition and initiates appropriate interventions.
• Collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, rehabilitation, laboratory, imaging, pharmacy, and ancillary departments to coordinate care.

Staffing and Operations

• Coordinates staffing assignments during the shift and communicates the staffing plan effectively.
• Adjusts assignments based on patient census and acuity and communicates the staffing plan effectively..
• Assists with scheduling adjustments and communicates staffing concerns to leadership.
• Monitors workflow to ensure efficient department operations.
• Selects, orients, supervises and evaluates clinical staff.
• Serves as a mentor and resource for nursing staff.
• Assists with orientation and on-boarding of new employees.
• Provides coaching and constructive feedback.
• Promotes teamwork and professional development.
• Performs time card management
• Reviews nursing documentation for completeness and regulatory compliance.
• Ensures appropriate reporting of significant patient events.
• Completes all unit staff performance evaluations (including probationary period and annual reviews).

 Quality & Safety

• Promotes compliance and is knowledgeable with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, New York State Department of Health regulations, and hospital policies. Promotes staff adherence to these governing bodies. 
• Ensures adherence to infection prevention, medication safety, patient identification, and documentation standards.
• Prepares and participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities. Promotes staff to understand and assist with quality improvement. 
• Assists with incident reporting and immediate follow-up of safety events.
• Supports readiness for regulatory surveys, including The Joint Commission, CMS, and New York State Department of Health.
• Implements changes for improvement that focus on quality, customer satisfaction and optimal financial performance.
• Reviews and monitors through quality improvement processes, patient incident reports, actions taken and the resulting outcomes. Ensures that all deviations from standards have appropriate dispositions.
• Interacts with quality and risk management personnel, integrating quality improvement efforts in the department of the hospital performance improvement initiatives.
• Responds to emergency situations, including codes and rapid responses.
• Participates in hospital committees and performance improvement projects as assigned.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by nursing leadership.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelors' of Science in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing within 10 years of graduation, unless graduation from a program was completed prior to June 18, 2020. 
• A minimum of three (3) years' experience as a RN in the Emergency department or Medical Surgical Unit.
• Leadership abilities required, or preferred within 180 days. 

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of New York.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, or achieved within 180 days of employment.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, or achieved within 180 days of employment.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification preferred, or achieved within 180 days of employment.

Physical Demands

• Ability to walk throughout the hospital for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, move, and assist patients in accordance with safe patient handling practices. Ability to move, transfer or lift patients with an individual effort equal to 35 lbs.
• Ability to respond rapidly to emergency situations.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and reaching frequently during a 12-hour shift.
• Accommodations are made for nurses with disabilities.

Working Conditions

Potential for exposure to chemicals, communicable diseases, and related medical waste.