Charge Nurse (Healthcare)

Charge Nurse

General Purpose

The primary purpose of the Charge Nurse role is to direct the day to day functions of the Nursing Unit in accordance with current federal, state and local standards governing long term care facilities, and as may be directed by the Director or Assistant Director of Nursing Services, to ensure that the highest degree of quality care can be provided to the residents at all times.

Essential Duties

• Assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning, developing, organizing, implementing, evaluating, and directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.
• Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating our written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department.
• Facilitates the resolution of issues and concerns associated with resident / patient care including family issues.
• Ensure that reference material (i.e., PDR'S, regulations, professional standards of practice, etc.) maintained at the nurses' stations is current. Recommend to the Director written material that will assist the nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of residents.
• Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current at all times and reflects the day-to-day nursing care procedures used by this facility.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's quality assurance program for the nursing service department.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
• Makes nursing diagnoses that serve as the basis for the delivery of care.
• Make daily rounds of the nursing service department to ensure that all nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report findings to the Director.
• Performs nursing assessments regarding the health status of the resident / patient.
• Develops a plan of care and implements nursing care based on assessment.
• Inform the Director when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Review nurses' notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided, that they reflect the resident's response to the care, and that such care is provided in accordance with the resident's wishes.
• Authorize the use of restraints when necessary and in accordance with our established policies and procedures. • Provides health education to patients and their families.
• May assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual facility in-service training programs (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident.
• Assist the Resident Assessment/Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers.
• Participate in the development of a written care plan (preliminary and comprehensive) for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident, indicates the care to be given, goals to be accomplished, and which professional service is responsible for each element of care.
• Encourage the resident and his/her family to participate in the development and review of the resident's plan of care.
• Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the resident are aware of the resident's care plan. Ensure that nursing personnel refer to the resident's care plan prior to administering daily care to the resident.
• Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing the resident's comprehensive care plan. • Participates in quality assurance activities.
• Adheres to scope of practice limitations based on qualifications.
• Completes required forms and documents in accordance with company policy and state and/or federal regulations.
• Will perform general nursing duties in cases of emergency or staffing shortages. • Performs other duties as assigned.
• Participate in the preparation of and planning of the nursing service department's budget and submit to the Director for his/her review, recommendations, and/or approval.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information.

Supervisory Experience

• This position assists with the overall supervision of the nursing staff.

Qualification

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum requirements to perform this position include graduation from an Accredited School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing preferred.
• Must be in good standing with the State Board of Nursing and maintain all required continuing education/licensing requirements.
• 1-3 years of supervisory experience preferred.

Language Skills

• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions, to follow instructions, and to accept constructive criticism.
• Ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the public.
• Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., and maintain the appearance of maintenance work areas.
• Ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing maintenance practices.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in the Microsoft Suite products.
• Knowledge and experience with PCC preferred.
• Must maintain all required continuing education/licensing.
• Must remain in good standing with the State Board of Nursing at all times.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Prolonged use of a desk top or laptop computer. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand; walk and talk, read or hear. Frequent use of all office related equipment to include; copier/scanner/fax, telephone, and calculator.
• Travel by auto or airline may be required.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Additional Information

• Nothing in this job specification restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.