Charge Nurse - RN

Description

*****$7,500.00 Sign on Bonus*****

***Night Shift 7p-7a***

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administrative Functions:

• Direct the day-to-day functions of the nursing activities in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility
• Ensure that all nursing personnel assigned to you comply with the written policies and procedures established by this facility
• Meet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts’ services, programs and activities
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your shift as required
• Cooperate with other patient services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the patient’s total regimen of care is maintained
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions
• Periodically review the patient’s written discharge plan.  Participate in the updating of the patient’s discharge plan as required.
• Assist in planning the nursing services portion of the patient’s discharge plan as necessary.
• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to personnel, patient’s, visitors, and government agencies as required.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge patients as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

Charting and Documentation:

• Complete and file required recordkeeping forms/charts upon the patient’s admission, transfer, and/or discharge.
• Receive telephone orders and update patient’s chart as necessary.  Communicate changes as needed.
• Fill out and complete accident/incident reports.  Submit to Director as required.
• Chart all reports of accidents/incidents involving patient’s, and follow established procedures.
• Perform routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures.

Drug Administrative Functions:

• Prepare and administer medications as ordered by the physician.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the patients. 
• Order prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary, and in accordance with established policies.
• Ensure that narcotic records are accurate for your shift.
• Notify the DON of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift.
• Dispose of drugs and narcotics as required, and in accordance with established procedures.

Personnel Functions:

• Inform the DON of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work.
• Develop work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments.
• Provide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift.
• Make daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.
• Report problem areas to the DON.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the patients
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel.  Make appropriate reports to the DON as required or as may be necessary.  Follow facility’s established procedures.
• Receive/give the nursing report upon reporting in and ending shift duty hours.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

Nursing Care Functions:

• Inform nursing personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room, assignment, etc.
• Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.
• Greet newly admitted patients upon admission.  Escort them to their rooms as necessary.
• Participate in the orientation of new patients/family members to the facility.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
• Requisition and arrange for diagnostic and therapeutic services, as ordered by the physician, and in accordance with our established procedures.
• Review the patient’s chart for specific treatments, medication orders, diets, etc., as necessary.
• Implement and maintain established nursing objectives and standards.
• Make periodic checks to ensure that prescribed treatments are being properly administered by certified nursing assistants and to evaluate the patient’s physical and emotional status.
• Ensure that direct nursing care be provided by a licensed nurse, a certified nursing assistant, and/or a nurse aide trainee qualified to perform the procedure.
• Inspect the nursing service treatment areas to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.
• Administer professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, taking blood, giving massages and range of motion exercises, care for the dead/dying, etc., as required.
• Ensure that personnel providing direct care to patients are providing such care in accordance with the patient’s care plan and wishes
• Assist with answering call lights
• Meet with patients, and/or family members, as necessary.  Report problem areas to the DON.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge patients as necessary.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged patients as necessary

Qualifications

Education:

Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved Registered Nurse program with at least two years of experience.

Specific Requirements:

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, patient, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a patient’s health.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.