Charge Nurse - Emergency Department

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium•Anchorage, AK

About The Position

The Charge Nurse provides oversight of nursing-unit activities during a specific shift. The role serves as a resource to staff, directs patient flow, mentors and precepts staff, helps ensure appropriate use of resources, and oversees the delivery of quality care that meets patient needs. The Charge Nurse may provide departmental leadership when the unit director, manager, or supervisor is absent and may be required to work outside the traditional schedule or be called in for off-shift emergencies. The position performs registered nurse duties while supporting staffing, patient assignments, admissions, bed flow, patient satisfaction, staff development, quality improvement, and compliance with departmental policies and professional standards. It requires nursing knowledge and judgment, effective communication and critical-thinking skills, and familiarity with the hospital environment. Knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and the Alaska Tribal Health System is also identified. Some incumbents may be required to obtain specific technical certifications or programming-language skills based on organizational needs.

Requirements

Associate’s Degree in Nursing; equivalent knowledge, experience, education, or training may be substituted.
One year of nursing experience in the area of specialty, or previous charge nurse or supervisory experience.
Current registered nurse license in the State of Alaska.
Current Basic Life Support card.
Any certifications required for the specific work area; new employees must obtain required certifications within six months of hire. Contract and MOA employees must have the required training completed as outlined in their individual contracts or MOAs and maintain active Alaska RN licensure and annual licensing requirements.
Participation in 30 hours of continuing education in nursing every two years, including 16 hours in the specific area of practice.
Successful completion of a Charge RN training program within three months of promotion to Charge RN.
Successful completion of a preceptor training program within three months of promotion to Charge RN.
Ability to work outside the traditional work schedule and, when needed, be called out for off-shift emergency work.
Knowledge of nursing science, principles, techniques, and patient-care procedures.
Knowledge of healthcare terminology, anatomy, physiology, and disease concepts.
Ability to use evidence-based practice to develop care plans and interventions.
Knowledge of the hospital environment and how services and functions interact.
Knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and the Alaska Tribal Health System.
Knowledge of nursing theorists and ability to provide theory-based patient care.
Knowledge of shared governance and shared decision-making.
Critical-thinking skills for effective, compassionate nursing care and assessment of patient situations.
Skill in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and effective nursing services.
Ability to assess and prioritize multiple requests from patients, families, and team members.
Skill in evaluating health problems and making recommendations based on observations.
Skill in operating a personal computer and a variety of software applications.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Specialty certification applicable to the position.

Responsibilities

Perform all duties included in the registered nurse job description.
Evaluate personal nursing practice against professional standards and applicable statutes and regulations, and identify professional goals.
Maintain knowledge of departmental policies, procedures, and processes; serve as a resource and support staff education and compliance.
Contribute knowledge to process and quality improvement and help find creative solutions to issues.
Use the ANA scope and standards of practice and the nursing code of ethics as foundations for practice.
Mentor staff in competency, documentation, equipment use, care planning, National Patient Safety Goals, and in-service education.
Coordinate the process for addressing ethical dilemmas and obtaining ethics consultations.
Coordinate patient flow throughout the facility and expedite admissions for ready beds when assigned.
Provide and ensure quality patient care; communicate with patients and families to resolve issues and provide service recovery when needed.
Participate in daily rounds and patient satisfaction activities; ensure staff work within their scope, support learning, address behavior, and solve problems.
Conduct routine environment-of-care rounds and facilitate resolution of issues.
Protect patient privacy and maintain confidentiality of information on the unit.
Participate in hospital or departmental committees as requested.
Support appropriate use of supplies and equipment and maintain supply levels and equipment and facility care.
Prepare staff schedules, oversee shift staffing, and make patient assignments that meet patient needs efficiently and cost-effectively.
Attend hospital-wide bed meetings regularly.
Assist with hiring, onboarding, orientation, precepting, coaching, and staff evaluation; evaluate staff care and coach improvements.
Build effective working relationships with staff and support action plans for staff satisfaction goals.
Understand, articulate, support, and serve as a resource for nursing-bundle components, including observing and coaching staff.
Communicate professionally, effectively, and promptly with physicians, other departments, patients and families, staff, EMS partners, and community members.
Provide departmental leadership in the absence of the unit director, manager, or supervisor.
Meet or exceed productivity standards and maintain efficient patient flow; distribute staff resources to meet patient occupancy.
Model teamwork, help fill and clean beds, assist colleagues, facilitate admissions, respond to staff workload concerns, balance assignments, and delegate appropriately.
Promote positive impressions and caring, compassionate interactions with patients and visitors.
Perform other duties as assigned.
For the Charge House Supervisor Nurse assignment, assist with oversight of House Supervisors, Transfer Center, Float Pool Nurses, Patient Observers, and Patient Care Technicians; assist with rounding, breaks, and lunches for the TED space, 2 Central, House Supervisors, and Transfer Center.

Benefits

Medical insurance through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, with more than 20 plans and tiers.
Cost-share dental and vision insurance.
Discounted pet insurance.
Retirement contributions through pre-tax or Roth options in a 403(b).
401(a) ANTHC Retirement Plan matching contributions of up to 5% of eligible pay after one year of employment, based on employee contributions; employees may also be eligible for an annual discretionary employer contribution of up to 3%.
Paid time off beginning immediately, accruing up to six hours per pay period, with accruals increasing based on years of service.
Eleven paid holidays.
Paid parental leave or miscarriage/stillbirth leave eligibility after six months of employment.
Basic short- and long-term disability premiums, AD&D insurance, and basic life insurance covered by ANTHC; optional short-term disability buy-up coverage and voluntary life insurance are also available.
Healthcare and dependent-care flexible spending accounts.
Ancillary cash benefits for accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness.
On-site child care facility with early-childhood development and preschool classrooms.
Employee Assistance Program offering grief support, financial counseling, mental and emotional health support, and discounted legal advice.
Tuition discounts for employees and eligible dependents at Alaska Pacific University.
On-site training courses and professional development opportunities.
License and certification reimbursements and occupational insurance for medical staff.
Emergency travel assistance.
Education assistance or education leave eligibility.
Discount program for travel, gym memberships, amusement parks, and more.