Charge Nurse (RN)- Acute/Intermediate Care- Surgery- Augusta

Wellstar Health System

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The RN Clinical Charge Nurse directs and oversees the daily activities of an assigned unit and shift to support the safe delivery of patient care. The nurse provides direct care, often with a modified patient assignment, and serves as a clinical and operational resource for the unit. Working within Wellstar’s Professional Nursing Practice Model and Shared Governance Model, the Charge Nurse promotes evidence-based practice, teamwork, accountability, effective delegation, communication, respect, and professional development. The role supports excellent patient care and efficient resource use through responsibilities such as staff scheduling, patient flow, clinical guidance, physician rounding, committee participation, and survey readiness. The Charge Nurse helps develop team members, builds effective working relationships between nurses and physicians, and models professional nursing practice. The position upholds the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act, American Nurses Association standards, organizational policies, and patient service expectations while promoting safe, age-appropriate, culturally aware care. This is a full-time night position at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta, scheduled for 36 hours per week in three 12-hour shifts. A sign-on bonus is available.

Requirements

Diploma in Nursing or Associate degree in Nursing required; Bachelor’s degree in Nursing preferred.
Current RN license: single-state or multistate compact license required.
BLS or BLS Instructor certification required upon hire.
Minimum one year of nursing experience required.
Ability to read, write, and speak English.
Ability to use technology to support clinical care and basic computer skills.
Strong interpersonal, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team-focused, patient-centered environment.
Effective oral and written communication skills with internal and external resources.
Analytical skills to address technical, clinical, and managerial challenges.
Sufficient clinical and leadership experience to competently and credibly lead others.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
ACLS, ACLS Instructor, or ACLS Provisional certification; provisional certification may be obtained within 180 days.
National certification in the area of specialty upon hire.
Two years of nursing experience preferred.
Experience as a relief charge nurse and clinical expertise preferred.

Responsibilities

Monitor equipment inventory, location, and utilization; help ensure staff have the tools and equipment needed.
Participate in planning and requesting resources to provide high-quality care and help obtain appropriate staffing during shortages or census surges.
Plan proactively for patient care across the care continuum and participate in developing protocols and procedures with care managers and other healthcare team members.
Make patient assignments, considering factors such as new graduates, float staff, and patient type.
Review daily discharges and length of stay.
Round with physicians and surgeons.
Assign surgery beds in conjunction with the surgery schedule.
Consult with the House Supervisor about bed flow and availability.
Round on patients daily to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of care and take corrective action when needed, including through peer coaching and accountability.
Provide or oversee the nursing process and clinical care using evidence-based practice and critical thinking, and coordinate individualized care through effective partnerships.
Provide or oversee relationship-based, patient-centered care, including handoffs, interdisciplinary communication, patient teaching, and keeping patients informed while focusing care plans on patient goals.
Practice according to current clinical standards with a focus on safety and quality.
Communicate care-delivery or employee-performance needs and concerns to the nurse manager or assistant nurse manager.
Coordinate safe, quality patient care, including interdisciplinary communication and planning, timely documentation, and a respectful, inclusive clinical environment.
Promote teamwork and fiscally responsible practices that support recruitment and retention of healthcare team members.
Participate in and support performance improvement, research utilization, shared governance, and interdisciplinary processes; initiate or lead activities as appropriate.
Maintain patient, family, and staff confidentiality and corporate compliance, and complete required education and proficiencies; hold team members accountable for applicable requirements.
Serve as a preceptor or mentor for nurses and other staff or students, model professional nursing practice, and support a qualified workforce and healthy work environment.
Promote evidence-based practice and nursing research, participate in performance improvement and value analysis, and use relevant data and resources to address clinical practice questions.
Uphold healthcare system policies, procedures, clinical competencies, and legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with Wellstar policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.