RN Charge Nurse

Job Summary

Are you looking for a great place to work that allows you to utilize your skillset in a fast-paced learning environment? The Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) offers an opportunity for you to work in a safe environment that offers exposure to a wide range of patient care, diagnoses, and treatment management. TCSO is seeking to hire RNs who are passionate about their chosen profession and want to deliver quality medical services to an appreciative patient population.

Travis County offers a premier Total Rewards package that includes a highly rated retirement plan, vacation and sick leave, 12 company holidays, 3 personal holidays, longevity pay, tuition reimbursement, medical, dental, and vision, and on-site employee health care clinics.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the fifth in a series of five nursing-related job classifications within the Medical job family. This classification practices under the guidelines of the Texas Nurse Practice Act in collaboration with physicians and other staff. Incumbents perform administrative and nursing duties of advanced complexity that require a high degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the Registered Nurse II in that incumbents plan, perform and evaluate nursing/patient care functions, and provide clinical and administrative supervision to other on-site nursing staff. This classification may require work in secure facilities. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assigns nursing schedules, duties and responsibilities to Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Vocational Nurses and Registered Nurses. Oversees clinic scheduling. Conducts annual evaluations for subordinate nursing personnel.
• Assesses, prioritizes and responds to all categories of patient emergent medical needs. Assigns nursing staff on duty to provide treatment accordingly.
• Provides clinical supervision to nursing staff on duty.
• Reviews treatment programs and assesses overall effectiveness.
• Consults with clinical and administrative staff about patient health care issues.
• Provides direct health care to patients, including wound care, medication administration, monitoring of vital signs and laboratory procedures. Documents patient's condition.
• Coordinates with other medical staff about all aspects of patient health care.
• Reviews medical records to ensure continuity of care.
• Practices and trains healthcare staff in safety, environmental and/or infection control methods.
• Provides health care instruction and counseling to residents.
• Answers medical questions from staff, patient's relatives and others as appropriate.
• May process patients into the facility by screening and evaluating their medical and mental histories.
• May assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing and feeding.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:
Graduation from an accredited Registered Nursing program AND two (2) years of Registered Nursing experience, including one (1) year of lead or supervisory experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas.
Current Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification.

Applicants are required to attach a resume with the online application.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Standard nursing and other healthcare practices.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology related to nursing and healthcare.
• Federal, State, Local and County nursing and other healthcare laws and requirements.
• Diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases and injuries.
• Proper dosages and expected results of medication.
• Proper infection control techniques.
• Principles and procedures of medical documentation and record keeping.
• Knowledge of and adherence to HIPAA and other federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

• Administering daily patient care, including using stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer and other medical instruments.
• Scheduling health care staffing in a high volume setting.
• Administering Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid.
• Performing medical tests and recording results accurately.
• Prioritizing patient needs.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

• Plan, assign, supervise and review the work of subordinates.
• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a medical team.
• Recognize and identify health symptoms.
• Exercise sound judgment and react quickly in emergency situations.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks.
• Understand and precisely follow both verbal and written instructions and communicate in a concise and effective manner.
• Work effectively and courteously under high-pressure circumstances.
• Work in a secure environment.
• Deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical and other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 35-100 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter and foul odors.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.