The Charge Nurse is a registered nurse who assists the nurse manager/director in coordination, direction, throughput and evaluation of patient care, unit activities and staff activities and performance on an assigned shift. Incorporates knowledge of the nursing process and professional standards of nursing in daily practice. Applies knowledge of patient requirements, growth and development to effectively make assignments and interventions. Facilitates the provision of consistent care based on changing needs of patients on unit. Manages clinical and non-clinical activities on the unit in absence of the unit manager/director. Coordinates all unit activities for smooth operation in the absence of the unit manager/director.

• Supports, evaluates, prioritizes and supervises patient care and unit needs during assigned shift.
• Serves as designee for unit matters in nurse manager/director absence.
• Makes assignments for staff to meet patient care needs and for incoming patients.
• Makes patient assignments and delegates unit specific task assignments to ensure patient care and unit needs are met. Monitors effectiveness and completion of unit assignments.
• Evaluates staffing by considering mix of caregivers, patient volumes (current and anticipated), patient acuity and staff availability.
• For shift assigned and oncoming shift; demonstrates timely and effective communication skills in daily interactions with team members and others.
• Performance Improvement/Quality: Seeks to proactively improve quality of the services provided and patient care outcomes. Serves as unit champion and resource to staff for quality and patient safety initiatives and issues. Effectively uses change management methods to support improvement activities.
• Serves as role model for exceptional customer service and facilitates and actively participates in service recovery efforts during the shift on unit.
• Teacher/Mentor - Improves job performance of staff by assisting in personal and professional development through preceptor training and role modeling for care delivery and desired behavior.
• Provides professional/technical/clinical/coaching support for nursing associates.
• Assists and actively participates with nurse manager/director with quality projects and staff annual performance evaluations.
• Troubleshoots issues which arise that require an immediate resolution and keeping nurse manager/director informed of circumstances, actions and outcome.
• On shifts not in clinical lead/charge nurse role, takes patient care assignment, serves as preceptor or other roles determined to meet patient care needs of the unit for the shift.
• Serves as representative for unit or nursing department on committees or task forces as assigned by nurse manager/director or administration.
• Routinely reinforces the organization vision, mission and values of Carondelet Health Network through role model behavior.

• Minimum Requirements:
  • Education: Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing
  • Experience: Must have functioned in an RN role for a minimum of 1 year clinical experience required.
  • Licensure/Certifications:
    • Valid current Arizona Nursing License.
    • Required in area of clinical specialty within 3 years from ANCC or other approved credentialing entity (i.e. critical care: CCRN).
    • Basic Life Support (BLS)
    • American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
    • American Heart Association, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
    • Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
    • NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and others as required by individual department.
• Preferred Requirements:
  • Education: BSN

#LI-CN1