PACU Charge Nurse

Job Summary

Provides oversight and coordination of patient care activities for the department using the nursing process. Performs leadership and teaching duties to support effective patient care. Participates in continuous quality improvement activities. Participates in patient/family teaching and provide leadership by working cooperatively with physicians, nursing services and other patient team personnel to maintain standards for professional nursing practice in the clinical setting. Functions within the limits of the State and Federal licensing, regulatory bodies and hospital policies.

Example of Essential Functions:

• Coordinates and provides direct patient care in accordance with accepted nursing standards while utilizing the nursing process.
• Makes frequent patient rounds to assure the quality, customer service and appropriateness of patient care. Identifies areas needed for improvement in patient care delivery and plans for effective change. Serves as a resource to staff, colleagues and other departments.
• Prepares patient care assignments considering the staff skill mix, competence of the employee and the complexity/acuity of the patient care needs.
• Assures a safe patient care environment. Coordinates the maintenance repairs and environmental health needs for the department. Assures safety/ emergency checks are done according to department standards.
• Assures that the daily reports and records related to the operations of their unit are complete and accurate per shift.
• Provides the support necessary to assure appropriate patient/family teaching, discharge planning and phone calls.
• Cooperates with affiliating instructor(s) to implement and evaluate students' clinical experience. Provides department environment conducive to future recruitment of students.
• Participates in the interview process for applicants.
• Coaches, counsels, mentors, and evaluates clinical staff under the guidance of the unit Manager/Director. Monitors and follows up appropriately with employees regarding work performance and attendance.
• Provides input into the development of the staffing schedule for the assigned unit. In collaboration with unit manager, forecasts scheduling deficits and implements corrective action as necessary.
• Provides for an effective orientation of new employees while adhering to appropriate payroll and scheduling policies. Collaborates with CNS to arrange an orientation schedule for new hires with designated preceptor.
• Serves as a mentor to staff on the nursing department. Actively participates in performing preceptor duties as appropriate.
• Supports new hires/orientees by ensuring reasonable patient assignment, keeping new employee with preceptor during scheduled shifts.
• Conducts unit huddles, briefs and de-briefs every shift to provide support to all staff as appropriate.
• Collaborates with the unit management team to develop and achieve departmental goals and objectives around all hospital pillars.
• Maintain staffing worked hours to premier productivity standards within designated work shift.
• Participates in the budget process by providing input into departmental needs, and participates in the implementation of the approved operational budget.
• Provides cost saving suggestions to Department Manager.
• Identifies opportunities for improved services and quality of patient care. Actively participates in the department PI activities. Encourages and arranges for staff involvement in PI efforts and implementation of evidence based practices.
• In collaboration with Unit Manager and CNS, monitors compliance with documentation, metrics, quality and other performance standards applicable to that unit. Participates in activities to improve performance and proactively engages in staff education.
• Consistently utilizes communication style that sets unit tone for positive professional behavior (TeamSTEPPS Model). Promotes meaningful focused communication between the physicians and staff using SBAR format.
• Actively engages in unit efforts to promote retention of staff. Provide for a high level of employee morale while ensuring adherence to standards of behavior.
• Demonstrates effective delegation to colleagues for department tasks/projects to facilitate staff ownership of own department successes.
• Participates and/or leads clinical task forces, special projects and unit huddles.
• Plans for own professional development and continuing education. Completes education appropriate for their own developmental needs as well as hospital and department mandatory education requirements and competencies.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to use technology and equipment to perform job duties
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Effective use of proper body mechanics when handling patients, supplies and equipment
• Ability to handle a physically demanding environment.
• Skills and abilities to perform all job description duties according to the age specific patient population served by their department and standards of practice.
• Resource Personnel - Skills and abilities to perform all job description duties according to the age specific patient population served by the department to which they have been assigned.
• Ability to keep patient and employee information confidential

• Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status. Possess the ability to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's/department's policies and procedures.
• Must have the ability to plan and direct work activities of staff to achieve organizational, unit, shift and quality safe patient centered care. He/she must be able to determine most effective use of resources to achieve unit fiscal stewardship.

Minimum Education, Training, and Experience Required:

• Eligible for or currently licensed as a registered nurse in the State of Maryland
• Registered nurse with BSN, or BSN agreement with degree achieved within 5 years from the start of the positon.
• Certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and/or other appropriate certifications.
• Clinical competency in their departmental area of practice, minimum 2 years of experience in clinical area of practice.
• Achieve certification in area of appropriate clinical specialty after two years of clinical experience or within 1 year in Charge nurse role.

Patient Contact

Must demonstrate and maintain current knowledge and skills in providing appropriate care/contact for patients in the following age groups:

_X_ Neonate (0 thru 30 days)

_X_ Infant (31 thru 12 months)

_X_ Child (13 months thru 12 years)

_X_ Adolescent (13 years thru 17 years)

_X_ Adult (18 years thru 65 years)

_X_ Geriatric (66+ years)

Physical Demands:

Medium-Heavy Work - Lifting up to 75 pounds on an infrequent basis (less than one lift every three minutes) and/or carrying up to 35 pounds while walking. Pushing or pulling up to 115 pounds infrequently or greater than 115 pounds occasionally (no more than once per hour).

Ergonomic Risk Factors:

• Repetition: Repeating the same motion over and over again places stress on the muscles and tendons. The severity of risk depends on how often the action is repeated, the speed of the movement, the required force and muscles involved
• Forceful Exertion: The amount of physical effort required to perform a task (such as moving patients) or to maintain control of equipment or tools. The amount of force depends on the type of grip, the weight of an object or person, body posture, the type of activity and the duration of the task.
• Awkward Posture: Posture is the position your body is in and its effect on the muscle groups that are involved in the physical activity. Awkward postures include repeated or prolonged reaching, twisting, bending, kneeling, squatting, working overhead with your hands or arms, or holding fixed positions.
• Contact Stress: Pressing the body hard on sharp edges can result in placing too much pressure on nerves, tendons, and blood vessels. For example, using the palm of your hand to hit or stick objects can increase risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Working Conditions:

1. Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Risk: Category A - WILL have exposure to blood or body fluids.

Schedule:
(4) 9hr shifts with alternating week schedule: Week 1 (3) days CN and (1) day Staff; Week 2 (2) days CN and (2) days staff.
1-2 shifts 11p-7a on call per 4 week schedule
Rotating weekend and holiday call

Reporting Relationship:

Reports to Department Manager. Receives supervision from Manager, Director and Hospital Supervisor.

Caring for you as you care for the CommUNITY
Frederick Health offers a comprehensive and affordable benefits package. Health, Dental and Vision insurance are offered the 1st of the month after 30 days of employment to all employees hired to work at least 20 hours per week and we offer multiple plans to best meet your and your family's needs. Life insurance, Short-Term Income Replacement and Long-Term Disability are employer paid for eligible employees. Frederick Health offers a robust Paid Time Off program for eligible employees. Our 403B retirement plan helps you save for your retirement and includes an employer match to eligible employees. All employees have access to free financial planning sessions. We also offer an educational assistance program to support your education goals as well as an employer paid Employee Assistance Program.

Pay is based on experience, skills and education. If position is part-time, salary will be pro-rated based on scheduled hours. The pay range may also vary within the stated range based on specialty if applicable. Non-Exempt positions may have shift differential and/or Overtime paid, if applicable.

Pay range: Hourly rate $39.34 - $58.53