Charge Nurse

At Houston Methodist the Charge Nurseposition is a licensed professional Registered Nurse (RN) who as anexperienced clinician functions at the Competent to Proficientstage of Benners model of clinical practice. This position createsan environment for the management and delivery of safe patientcare. In addition to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities ofa clinical nurse the Charge Nurse position is a role model andcoach to department personnel and assists in developing theirskills and knowledge. This position provides nursing care to adiverse patient population. Besides conducting nursing assessmentsassisting with exams and treatment and maintenance of medicalrecords this position assists in coaching and mentoring departmentstaff in areas of clinical and professional practice. Role modelingcompassionate communication with physicians and theinterprofessional health care team the Charge Nurse assumesleadership responsibilities with high level contributions at thebedside unit service line and across the institution.Responsibilities for this position may include but are not limitedto leading unit and shared governance activities assessing unitneeds related to practice and improvement opportunities serving asa clinical resource for both unit and hospital staff andcoordinating unit and hospitalwide education in partnership withmanagement.

PEOPLE ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Fosters staffengagement by demonstrating active listening requesting andacknowledging feedback making equitable decisions providingrationale when appropriate and supporting organizational goals.Anticipates the needs of the staff members and proactively offersassistance. Role models interprofessional communication whichincludes active listening and teaching and assists with staffstress management as needed. Improves departmental scores forturnover/retention on unitbasedscorecard.

• Role modelsfair and consistent leadership skills for effective team dynamicsand teambuilding strategies through problem solving coaching anddeveloping staff. Coaches staff to use efficient and effectivecommunication to establish and maintain a team environment and toinclude the patient and family as a part of the team regardingtheir plan of care. Provides input into staff performance reviewsas appropriate.

• Functionsas a mentor and resource to unit staff provides oversight forstudents/new employee/preceptorships. Identifies levels oforganizational conflict and applies tools to effectively resolveconcerns complaints or conflict with patients families physiciansand other interprofessional healthcare teammembers.

SERVICE ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Leads the patientand familycentered care standards as outlined in the HoustonMethodist Professional Nursing Practice document. Mentors othersregarding specialty populations; audits plan of care. Practices ina manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusionprinciples.

• Maintainsongoing interactions with patients families and staff on theimprovement of patient care through leader rounding. Ensureseffective collaboration with other departments regarding patientprocess issues.

• Drivesdepartment service standards and activities to improve departmentscore for patient satisfaction on unitbased scorecard through rolemodeling and fosteringaccountability.

QUALITY/SAFETYESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Modelsthe standards of care related to the nursing process as outlined inthe Houston Methodist Professional Nursing Practice document byactively participating in meeting and improving nurse sensitivequality indicators and patient safety goals. Participates in thecreation of a continuous improvement environment by promotingsituational awareness assisting with audits as needed and usingteachablemoments.

• Coordinatesnursing care throughout the shift considering patient acuity staffskill level and safety to ensure that our duty to our patients canbe met. Models the standards related to regulatory requirements andprofessional practice as outlined in the Houston MethodistProfessional Nursing Practicedocument.

• Facilitatesseamless patient flow to/from/through the department leading thedelivery of quality familycentered care throughout the continuum ofcare. Ensures the patient plan of care is accurate and timelycoaching staff if documentation deficiencies are identified. Worksclosely with the OAs and bed management regarding timely patientplacement. Proactively recognizes determines a plan of action andresponds to situations such as Rapid Response/CERTs and emergencycodes.

• Participates ininitiatives to improve quality and safety scores on the unit andhospital scorecards through peertopeer accountability reportingnear misses and identifying solutions by collaborating with theinterprofessional team. Role models situational awareness usingteachable moments to improve safety. Assists with audits asneeded.

FINANCE ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

• Implementsdepartment strategies to achieve financial target on unitbasedscorecard and mentors others to do the same through timelydocumentation of care decreasing length of stay optimizingefficiency minimizing incidental overtime and other areas accordingto departmentalspecifications.

• Attendsdaily care coordination rounds to facilitate patient progression.Ensures that followup has been implemented on any concerns orissues identified by the team. Manages productivity in accordancewith staffinggrid.

• Provides input intounit resource utilization including unit capital and operationalbudget needs. Oversees shift by shift resource utilization throughthe allocation of staff supplies and contributions to the patientthroughput.

GROWTH/INNOVATIONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Fostersidentification and implementation of innovative solutions forpractice changes to improve patient care or unit operations such asreduction of hospital readmissions or other departmentspecificmeasures by leading and/or participating in unit projects andshared governance activities. Investigates and incorporatesevidencebased practices which are presented to shared governanceand leadership. Supports change initiatives and adapts tounexpectedchanges.

• Expandsindividual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledgeabilities skills and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource.Develops and disseminates as appropriate informational/educationalresources and programs designed to improve quality and professionalpractice.

This job description isnot intended to be allinclusive; the employee will also performother reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. HoustonMethodist reserves the right to revise job duties andresponsibilities as the need arises.EDUCATION

• Bachelorof Science degree or higher from an accredited School ofNursing

WORKEXPERIENCE

• Twenty fourmonths of clinical nursing experience with demonstration ofprogressive leadership skills

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONSREQUIRED

• RN Registered NurseTexas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 daysOR
• RNTemp Registered NurseTemporary State Licensure within 60 daysAND
• BLS Basic Life Support(AHA) AND
• Other credentialsand certifications as defined by unit/service line

LICENSESAND CERTIFICATIONSPREFERRED

• Magnet ANCCRecognized Certification

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS ANDABILITIES

• Demonstrates theskills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assignedjob determined through ongoing skills competency assessments andperformanceevaluations.

• Sufficientproficiency in speaking reading and writing the English languagenecessary to perform the essential functions of this job especiallywith regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety orsecurity.

• Ability toeffectively communicate with patients physicians family members andcoworkers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus andapplication of positive languageprinciples.

• Strongassessment organizational and problem solving skills as evidencedby capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and rolecomponents

• Ability tofunction independently and exercise judgment in interactions withphysicians interprofessional healthcare team and patients and theirfamilies.

• Uses criticalthinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously asdefined by the Nurse PracticeAct.

• Demonstratesproficient time managementskills.

• Demonstrateshighly developed assessment skills; contributes to policiesprocedure andprotocols.

• Has knowledgeof Nursing Units Dashboard and Hospital Consumer Assessment ofHealthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS)scores.

• Demonstratesexpertise in operating the electronic medicalrecord

• Maintains level ofprofessional contributions as defined in Clinical Career Pathprogram guide

SUPPLEMENTALREQUIREMENTS

WORKATTIRE

• UniformYes
• Scrubs Yes
• Businessprofessional No
• Other (department approved)No

ONCALL*
*Notethat employees may be required to be oncall during emergencies (ie.DIsaster Severe Weather Events etc) regardless of selectionbelow.

• On Call*Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travelspecifications may vary bydepartment**

• May requiretravel within the Houston Metropolitan areaYes
• May require travel outside HoustonMetropolitan areaNo

CompanyProfile:

Houston Methodist CypressHospital scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025 will beHouston Methodists ninth hospital and will incorporate the mostadvanced technology available from the day the doors open. With 100beds (at our opening; licensed for 276) and a prime location in theheart of the rapidly growing U.S. 290 corridor the hospital will beequipped with technologically advanced innovations implementedduring COVID many of them designed to make patient communicationwith physicians staff and families the very best and most effectivein any health care facility. Even though the hospital wont be fullyoperational until 2025 we have several services and specialtiesopening in 2024.

Houston Methodist is an equalopportunity employer inclusive of women minorities disabled personsand veterans.

Equal EmploymentOpportunity

Houston Methodist isan Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal employmentopportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodistis firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage indiscrimination against or harassment of any person employed orseeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of racecolor religion sex sexual orientation gender identity nationalorigin age disability status as a protected veteran or othercharacteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractorpriority referral Protected Veteransrequested.

Remote Work :

No

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