Ideal candidate will have 5 years of ED experience & a minimum of 1 year ED Charge nurse experience.

Major Responsibilities:

• Operational Accountability - Supports the operational accountability for nursing unit during assigned shift.
  • 8)Assures all defective equipment is reported to appropriate department and ensures policy adherence
  • 9)Ensure Bedboard is aware of all available beds, pending discharges and isolation rooms
  • 10)Monitors and adjusts staff assignments as required to assure patient safety and to optimize efficiency, incorporating ANA staffing guidelines
  • 1)Demonstrates leadership for unit clinical and operational responsibilities which reflect direct line supervision for quality, patient satisfaction, associate satisfaction, physician partnership, and financial stewardship.
  • 2)Remains aware of patient flow at all times and facilitates admissions, transfers and discharges of unit
  • 3)Coordinates and evaluates daily operations to ensure the delivery of quality patient care on the nursing unit
  • 4)Assists the unit manager to monitor productivity on a regular basis in alignment with department budgetary goals
  • 5)Participates in the evaluation of unit compliance with regulatory agency requirements (i.e., Accrediting Organization, CMS, etc.)
  • 6)Unit issues, problems and concerns are effectively communicated to Unit Manager or designee if unable to resolve.
  • 7)Ensures department supply inventories are monitored carefully, replacement items are ordered to insure no interruption in patient care
• Operational Accountability - continued...
  • 1)Makes daily rounds with RN's to determine acuity/workload of unit
  • 2)Assign patient acuity levels based on patient and staff rounding, determine appropriate patient assignments for oncoming shift
  • 3)Recruit staff to work when needed
  • 4)Low-census/float staff according to policy and record appropriately
  • 5)Record call-in's and refer staff member to Unit Manager or Administrative Manager
  • 6)Assign breaks and lunches to staff
  • 7)Facilitates coverage for staff to attend meetings/educational programs during shift
  • 8)Monitor observation patients on unit and change status as warranted
  • 9)Ensure daily patient charges are captured and entered accordingly
  • 10)Turn off main oxygen in event of emergency
• Operational Accountability - continued...
  • 1)Complete daily discharge call-backs to patients
  • 2)Attend daily Bedflow meetings
  • 3)Assign PCA duties and monitor for completion
• Leadership Accountability - Demonstrates clinical leadership for unit during assigned shift.
  • 1)Assign admissions and transfers appropriately to staff
  • 2)Demonstrates competence in all aspects of patient care
  • 3)Maintains unit and hospital-based competencies
  • 4)Serves as a mentor/preceptor in developing new staff members
  • 5)Provide report of all patients to oncoming Charge Nurse, remain aware of patient acuity, patient assignments, unit activity and unstable patients
  • 6)Demonstrates the ability to provide assistance in critical situations
  • 7)Assists unit manager with 90 day and annual performance evaluations with developmental goals for staff on a timely basis
  • 8)Coordinate with CNS to assign preceptors for new employees and students
  • 9)Coordinate Disaster Plan specific to unit
  • 10)Use prudent judgment in making patient assignments, ensuring appropriate patient load as deemed necessary for safe staffing
• Leadership Accountability - continued...
  • 1)Promotes a professional atmosphere and supports administration to associates
  • 2)Participates in the interviewing, hiring, and competency assessment of staff in conjunction with the unit manager.
  • 3)Review State of the Unit Report for outliers, completes follow-up with staff to achieve compliance
  • 4)Ensure all associates are held accountable for performing their appropriate roles and responsibilities
• Quality patient care and satisfaction - Facilitates associate critical thinking and clinical skills to optimize patient outcomes, customer satisfaction and resource management.
  • 1)Performs the principle duties and responsibilities of the RN position and serves as a role model for professional practice.
  • 2)In collaboration with the unit CNS, identifies educational needs of nursing staff and implement formal and bedside education geared toward enhancing nursing knowledge and the advancement of nursing practice.
  • 3)Provides direct patient care as a staff RN as needed.
  • 4)Serves as a clinical resource and mentors unit staff to develop critical thinking and psychomotor skills.
  • 5)Collaborates with the CNS and unit manager on processes to improve patient satisfaction.
  • 6)Monitors and communicates patient expectations and complaints to appropriate personnel to insure the highest level of care and satisfaction
  • 7)Ensure hourly rounds are performed on all patients by unit staff
  • 8)Round on all patients (modified on nights) utilizing key words and questions to assess patient's perception of hospital experience
  • 9)Responsible for first line Service Recovery of patient, family and physician complaints and effective communication of unresolved issues to Unit Manager
  • 10)Support quality improvement monitoring by: a. Auditing crash cart b. Resolve Pyxis discrepancies at end of each shift c. Audit Pyxis on the first Monday of each month d. Audit Blood Glucose monitor controls are completed e. Monitor Core Measures compliance, follow-up with staff accordingly f. Monitor sitter usage for relevance and appropriateness g. Check contents of restraint bag are intact and accessible
• Quality patient care and satisfaction - continued...
  • 1)Participate in monitoring process of process improvement measures through assistance with data collection, and support of performance improvement measures
  • 2)Works with Bed Board and Administrative Managers to assure proper placement of patients admitted to unit.
  • 3)Demonstrate effective time management by meeting deadlines and renegotiating timeframes as new priorities present themselves
• Professional Development - Accepts responsibility for self-development and professional practice.
  • 1)Conduct and participate in unit-based staff meetings
  • 2)Supports and participates in Shared Governance initiatives and goals
  • 3)Participates in hospital-based committee(s)
  • 4)Actively participate with unit manager in development of short and long-range goals of unit .
  • 5)Actively participate in unit based Performance Improvement initiatives of unit
  • 6)Consistently attends staff meetings and inservice programs, encourage staff to attend
  • 7)Attend at least 50% of Charge Nurse meetings
  • 8)Keeps abreast of current standards of care via literature, educational events, internal and external resources and internal / external networking.

Licensure:

• Nurse, Registered (RN)

Education/Experience Required:

• * BSN or ADN with 2yrs of experience * 3yrs RN experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• * Strong clinical skills * Ability to communicate effectively and work cohesively with a diverse work group. * Utilize critical thinking and timely decision making. * Basic computer knowledge * Organized * Ability to teach * Ability to prioritize work * Independent * Self-motivated * Projects a positive attitude * Creative, energetic and inspirational attitude toward education * Ability to assess skills and abilities of others
• * Current licensure as RN in Illinois * CPR

Physicial Requirements and Working Conditions:

• * Ability to work within a rapid changing environment. * Ability to work collaboratively with internal / external customers. * Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care. * Ability to prioritize independently and respond to multiple simultaneous requests. * Ability to work under stressful conditions and in difficult situations, dealing with and resolving conflict * Ability to perform lifting / transfer activities related to patients (up to 50 lbs. may be required. * Ability to take over shift coverage of unit in absence of unit manager. * Ability to transport objects from one location to another. * Ability to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated. * May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Addendum: * NIH Stroke Scale annual education * Total of 8 hours of stroke education/year (inclusive of the NIH education) Additional Job Accountability: Practicing using the stroke core measures as the guide to appropriate stroke care.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.