Job Description

The Charge Nurse assumes responsibility for the day-to-day management and operations of the nursing unit they are assigned. This includes patient safety, patient throughput, and caregiver safety and accountability. The permanent charge nurse supervises and directs the activities on the nursing units, coordinates assignments, collaborates with physicians, and internal and external entities toward the delivery of safe patient care. The permanent charge nurse is also responsible for the delivery of patient care utilizing the nursing process. May be required to float to other units but this should be the exception and not the rule. This position requires population specific competencies. Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals as appropriate based on the level of patient contact this position requires.

INTEGRIS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All applicants will receive consideration regardless of membership in any protected status as defined by applicable state or federal law, including protected veteran or disability status.

Responsibilities

The Charge Nurse’s responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

• Assisting care givers with standards of care, involving educators and/or the supervisor or nurse manager when necessary (house supervisor after hours)
• Ensuring caregiver assignments are safe, knows escalation process when needed
• Facilitates unit performance improvement processes as directed by leadership
• Supervises and coordinates the delegation and implementation of patient care of licensed and non-licensed personnel for their assigned shift/area
• Is the primary point of contact for medical staff on that shift should they have a nursing question or concern. Rounding with medical staff when the primary nurse is unavailable for rounding.
• Managing patient assignments and unit workflow
• Assists with patient flow by timely accepting new admissions, and ensuring patients with discharge orders to home are discharged within a reasonable time frame
• Projects staffing needs for the upcoming 12 and 24 hours, escalates issues as needed
• Ensures caregivers are taking lunches and entitled breaks but assigning buddy systems or relieving for lunch
• Performs safety huddles using the huddle boards prior to every shift: ensures bedside shift report is consistent every shift
• Reminds caregivers of hourly rounding when prompted by technology of time to round
• Makes patient rounds, ensuring white boards are up-to-date, high risk patients are set up for success (for example, high fall risk patients have all fall prevention tactics in place)
• Comfortable with crucial conversations when idle caregivers are not fulfilling expectations of helping colleagues or taking care of their assignment
  
  

The Charge Nurse reports to the appropriate supervisor, manager, or director. This position may have additional or varied physical demand and/or respiratory fit test requirements. Please consult the Physical Demands Project SharePoint site or contact Risk Management/Employee Health for additional information. Potential for exposure to infections and communicable diseases, blood and body fluids, electrical equipment, chemicals. Must follow standard precautions.

All applicants will receive consideration regardless of membership in any protected status as defined by applicable state or federal law, including protected veteran or disability status.

Qualifications

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Oklahoma.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing within two years of accepting position.
• Current BLS certification upon accepting PCN role.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English.
• Department specific competencies will be completed in the applicable department during the orientation process.
  
  

Emergency Department Only:

• PALS certification must be completed.
• ACLS certification completed.
  
  

Adult Critical Care Only:

• Competent in all advanced competencies.
• ACLS certification completed.