Charge Nurse Observation

Charge Nurse Observation - Nights at Intermountain Health summary:

The Charge Nurse in the Observation Unit plays a critical role in providing leadership and clinical expertise during the night shift, ensuring high-quality patient care by evaluating needs and coordinating unit resources. They manage staffing, direct interdisciplinary teams, and promote nursing professionalism while adhering to legal and ethical standards. Responsibilities also include developing individualized care plans, mediating conflicts, and participating in quality improvement initiatives.

Job Description:

Working with the department manager, the RN Charge Nurse provides leadership and clinical expertise on their respective shift and department. They coordinate unit resources to ensure appropriate staffing levels based on the unique needs of patients on the unit, both clinically and financially. They function as clinical support for staff and are a role model of competency and professionalism.

Posting Specifics

Shift - Nights 6pm - 6am. Four (4) weekend shifts in a six (6) week period (Friday, Saturday and Sunday all count.

Holidays- 1 winter and 1 summer holiday per year

Department - Observation Unit
Benefits Eligible - Yes
Additional Information - Differentials may apply

Essential Functions

• Performs appropriate assessment of physical, social, and psychological status (including cognitive, communicative and developmental skills as appropriate).
• Seeks and evaluates information acquired from other members of interdisciplinary team: patient, family, physician, non-nursing disciplines, support staff, others.
• Uses assessment information and critical thinking skills to collaboratively develop individualized plan of care. Actively seeks patient, family, team, and physician involvement to develop plan of care including needed education.
• Collaboratively plans and prepares patients for further support needs once the current episode of care outcomes are met (i.e., teaching, referrals, and follow-up).
• Directs the interdisciplinary care team via delegation, coordination, and collaboration. Provides or delegates care consistent with plan of care, guidelines of care, and professional licensure provisions.
• Demonstrates the ability to set priorities and to coordinate and organize patient care delivery through managing time, supplies, and resources.
• Evaluates patient response to interventions through review of achievement of goals, clinical outcomes, and patient and family satisfaction. Revises plan of care as indicated and reassesses changes as appropriate.
• Demonstrates professional behavior.   Ensures staff accountability to the same standards. Encourages nursing professionalism by coaching and developing others.
• Integrates legal and ethical standards into practice, complies with regulatory standards, practices within scope of licensure, provides accurate & timely documentation, and understands legal implications of care delivery.
• Estimates current and next shift staffing needs to deliver optimal patient care. Matches nurse skill levels with patient requirements.
• Manages premium pay and overtime efficiently for cost-effectiveness and allocates resources appropriately.
• Accountable for operational and clinical leadership of the unit or department including setting clear expectations and holding staff accountable for outcomes and behaviors.
• Mediates conflicts between staff, families, physicians, and other departments.
• Acts as a resource for setting clear expectations related to hourly rounds, communication boards, and joint bedside report.
• Guides others and initiates conversations using appropriate tools to resolve problems and to encourage accountability and professional growth.
• Supports and enforces Intermountain and unit policies and procedures to ensure safety, quality, compliance, and patient care.
• Activates chain of command, rapid response, or code alerts when appropriate to facilitate patient and staff safety.
• Actively participates in and facilitates continuous quality improvement in areas of clinical care, service experience, and operational effectiveness.
• Required to complete Charge Nurse training. 

Skills

• Assessment
• Planning
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Collaboration
• Leadership
• Communication

Minimum Qualifications

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in state of practice. Valid compact licenses must be transferred to the state of practice within 60 days of the start of employment.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers.
• Unit Specific Certification as required (i.e., ACLS, PALS, etc.).
• Experience in assigned clinical area.
• Mentoring experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution (degree will be verified). Registered Nurses (RNs) hired or promoted into this role must obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within four years of their hire or promotion date. If there is an existing education agreement, that agreement will take precedence.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year of clinical nursing experience.

Physical Requirements:

Physical Requirements

• Ongoing need for employee to see and read information, labels, assess patient needs, operate monitors, identify equipment and supplies.
• Frequent interactions with patient care providers, patients, and visitors that require employee to verbally communicate as well as hear and understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately, particularly during emergency situations.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy. This includes frequent computer use and typing for documenting patient care, accessing needed information, medication preparation, etc.
• Expected to lift and utilize full range of movement to transfer patients. Will also bend to retrieve, lift, and carry supplies and equipment. Typically includes items of varying weights, up to and including heavy items.
• Need to walk and assist with transporting/ambulating patients and obtaining and distributing supplies and equipment. This includes pushing/pulling gurneys and portable equipment, including heavy items. Often required to navigate crowded and busy rooms (full of equipment, power cords on the floor, etc.)
• May be expected to stand in a stationary position for an extended period of time.
• For roles requiring driving: Expected to drive a vehicle which requires sitting, seeing and reading signs, traffic signals, and other vehicles.

Location:

Good Samaritan Hospital

Work City:

Lafayette

Work State:

Colorado

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

36

The hourly range for this position is listed below. Actual hourly rate dependent upon experience. 

$39.99 - $59.18

We care about your well-being – mind, body, and spirit – which is why we provide our caregivers a generous benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

Learn more about our comprehensive benefits packages for our Idaho, Nevada, and Utah based caregivers, and for our Colorado, Montana, and Kansas based caregivers; and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Intermountain Health is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

All positions subject to close without notice.

Keywords:

Charge Nurse, Observation Unit, Patient Care, Registered Nurse, Clinical Leadership, Healthcare Management, Nursing Professionalism, Healthcare Staffing, Quality Improvement

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