Charge Nurse - Day Shift

JOB SUMMARY

The Charge Nurse will possess and have the capabilities to perform all the major duties and critical tasks of a Registered Nurse in a Behavioral Health setting. Through the nursing process, the Charge Nurse provides leadership to unit personnel and serves as a professional role model to ensure appropriate patient care, patient teaching and discharge planning are performed. Direct and guides activities of ancillary personnel while maintaining standards of the Texas Nurse Practice Act. Charge Nurse assumes responsibility for the human and fiscal resources available in order to provide quality, cost-effective patient care. Serves as a resource for nursing staff can manage commonly seen contingency situations that arise within the clinical unit.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES/CRITICAL TASKS

• Ensure Joint Commission standards are met.
• Communicate with medical staff, nursing personnel and all other disciplines concerning the care and well-being of patients.
• Routinely communicates with and reports to the Nurse Manager.
• Routinely communicates with the House Supervisor during the assigned shift.
• Provides direction and supervision to both professional and ancillary staff assigned to the unit in providing quality care.
• Makes staffing recommendations based on fluctuating productivity (census, activity, and patient acuity.)
• Ability to delegate tasks appropriate to skills/knowledge of caregiver and to take corrective action when performance is inappropriate.
• Ability to complete performance appraisals and counsel nursing staff.
• Receives and provides service through admission, discharge and transfer of patients.
• Make patient/room assignments.
• Actively participates in staff development.
• Supports and facilitates the UTHSCT team concept between individuals, unit staff, and departments.
• Oversee departmental maintenance, supply status & functionality.
• Ensure the unit is stocked and well maintained.
• Contacts appropriate personnel when problems arise.
• Knowledgeable and experienced in use of supplies and equipment.
• Ensures unit is a clean and safe environment for patients, family & staff (includes work areas, patient rooms break room and lobby area.)
• Ensures hallways are free of clutter.
• Completion of Annual Mandatory Training, TB testing, and required licensure and certifications before expiration date.
• Participates in unit-based quality improvement program.
• Adheres to internal controls established for the department.
• Required to maintain competency in the patient safety functions related to their position.
• Provides basic patient/family instruction and healthcare teaching.
• Promotes positive guest and patient relations.
• Respects and supports patient rights.
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.
• Prioritize and organize work so that required assignments are completed within a specified time frame.
• Practices basic cost containment for patients and the unit.
• Attends/participates in unit meetings/activities and supports the philosophy and goals of the unit department and organization.
• Other duties, as assigned.

ACCOMPANYING KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES

• Bilingual a plus.
• EMR experience
• Ability to operate standard office equipment including telephones, facsimiles, copiers, personal computers and printers.
• Have the clinical nursing skills and competencies necessary to perform the essential tasks of the position, including skill in observing and evaluating behavior changes in individuals served in a psychiatric setting.
• Possesses unique knowledge and competency regarding the psychiatric patient population served.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN preferred.
• Two (2) years RN experience.
• One (1) year of RN experience in Behavioral Health preferred.
• Charge Nurse experience preferred.

REQUIRED LICENSES/ CERTIFICATION

• Must possess and maintain a current RN license to practice in Texas.
• Must possess and maintain current BLS Certification.
• Current SAMA training preferred at hire and required to be maintained after obtained.
• Specialty certification is preferred at hire and preferred within 12 months of eligibility.