Charge Nurse-M/S Ortho Neuro

Kaweah Delta Health Care District•Visalia, CA

About The Position

The Charge Nurse for the M/S Ortho Neuro unit assists with oversight of efficient operations under the direction of the Nurse Manager and Assistant Nurse Manager. The role promotes health, prevents illness and injury, and alleviates suffering through nursing diagnosis and treatment. It provides leadership and accountability in the professional practice setting, overseeing the interdisciplinary healthcare team to deliver holistic care and advocate for patients and families. The Charge Nurse serves as a clinical resource, role model, and mentor for staff, and represents unit leadership when the Assistant Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, or Director is absent. The position supports clinical decision-making, staff development, patient care coordination, staffing and patient flow, collaboration across departments, regulatory compliance, and responsible use of staffing and supplies. Patient care is provided as needed, and the role performs the duties of a Registered Nurse.

Requirements

Current California RN license.
BLS certification.
Complete Kaweah Health-approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire or transfer.
Preferred: At least two years of RN experience in the specialty area.
Preferred: BSN, MSN, or current enrollment in an RN-BSN program.

Nice To Haves

Nationally recognized certification per specialty Core Curriculum Pathway.
BSN, MSN, or current enrollment in an RN-BSN program.
At least two years of RN experience in the specialty area.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary clinical resource, role model, and mentor for staff on the assigned unit.
Represent unit leadership in the absence of the Assistant Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, or Director.
Support staff through effective problem-solving, decision-making, clinical guidance, professional support, and patient advocacy.
Promote staff participation in shared decision-making and support nurse preceptors, new employees, and float staff during orientation.
Provide input on employee evaluations and alert the Nurse Manager to employee counseling needs.
Prepare and adjust staff assignments based on staff capabilities and patient needs and acuity.
Prioritize care according to patient needs and acuity; assign admissions and coordinate transfers with the appropriate operational leaders.
Ensure shift reports begin on time using bedside handoff and monitor breaks to maintain adequate staffing.
Determine staffing needs for the next shift and communicate them to the Staff Facilitator or Nursing Supervisor.
Assign staff to complete equipment and safety checks, including PCX controls, crash cart, refrigerator temperatures, red books, and narcotic counts.
Communicate shift expectations, make decisions aligned with team goals, and collaborate across units to support patient and fiscal outcomes, including appropriate staff flexing based on census.
Promote collaboration among staff, physicians, other providers, and departments; model professional communication such as SBAR and rounding.
Coach and support team members on the work environment, patient care, and physician relations.
Coordinate care during high-risk or emergency situations and keep the Nurse Manager, Director, or Nursing Supervisor informed of critical patients and unit issues.
Ensure patient care issues are documented and reported and that the appropriate nurse completes a Statement of Concern.
Promote a positive and professional environment for internal and external customers and support Kaweah Health leadership through professional behavior.
Follow Medical Staff and Kaweah Health chain-of-command processes.
Provide patient care as needed or requested and perform Registered Nurse duties (job code 7020339).
Make fiscally responsible decisions regarding staffing and patient supplies.
Maintain awareness of regulatory compliance and perform assigned audits and reporting.
Provide care appropriate to the population served, accounting for patients' and families' cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, developmental, and age-specific needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.