Charge RN ED Observation Unit

Northern Arizona Healthcare•Flagstaff, AZ

11h

About The Position

The Charge RN for the ED Observation Unit oversees and directs patient care activities during an assigned shift under the supervision of the Clinical Manager/Director. The role advocates for the needs of the shift, leads nursing personnel, serves as a preceptor, and participates as an active member of the health care team. Practice must align with the ANA Scope of Practice, the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses, and the standards of the nurse’s specialty. The Charge RN coordinates patient care and unit operations, supports staff, and works with physicians and other departments to maintain appropriate staffing and patient throughput. The role also promotes staff development, regulatory compliance, and a safe, cost-effective care environment.

Requirements

Active, unrestricted Arizona RN license or valid participating compact license.
BLS certification.
ACLS certification.
ATCN or TNCC certification within 18 months of hire.
NIHSS certification within 30 days of hire.
PALS or ENPC certification.
For RNs hired on or after July 1, 2016, graduation from a BSN program within six years of hire into an RN position; the original due date does not change upon promotion to Charge RN.
For RNs hired before July 1, 2016, without a BSN or BSN in progress who are promoted to Charge RN, obtain a BSN within six years of promotion.
Existing Charge RNs as of July 1, 2016, without a BSN, were required to obtain the degree by June 30, 2022.

Responsibilities

Address patient and family concerns and communicate issues and solutions through appropriate channels.
Document incidents, events, interventions, and patient, staff, and physician responses.
Serve as a patient advocate and prioritize and solve problems as patient conditions change.
Coordinate with other departments to support patient throughput, discharge planning, and patient education as appropriate.
Collaborate with physicians and health care professionals to ensure staffing patterns provide an appropriate skill mix for quality patient care.
Serve as a liaison among patients, physicians, the Administrative Coordinator, Staffing Office, Transfer Center, Care Coordination department, unit staff, ancillary staff, and departments.
Serve as a resource to staff, assist with patient care, and assist physicians with order entry when needed.
Staff the current and next shift, determining appropriate staffing levels and skill mix to support quality care and unit productivity.
Assign patient care teams and delegate patient care activities to unit and ancillary staff.
Address workflow issues, ensure incidents are documented, and ensure corrective steps are taken.
Make bed or patient assignments based on patient needs and staff resources.
Identify appropriate referral and educational resources for patients and staff.
Advocate for patients and staff as needs arise.
Promote compliance with best practices and NAH and department policies and procedures.
Monitor staff performance and accountability, provide timely constructive feedback and coaching, identify improvement opportunities, and provide resources and education.
Recognize strong employee performance and improvement; collaborate with the Clinical Manager on performance evaluations and staff performance matters.
Provide input to nursing leadership regarding employment actions, including performance evaluations, promotion, corrective action, and termination.
Participate in creating and sustaining a learning environment supported by evidence-based practice and research; engage in professional development and collegial interactions.
Collaborate with peers and other health care providers, participate in in-service education and seminars, and mentor and educate colleagues and students.
Report safety incidents promptly through the Midas/RDE tool, attend safety training, work safely, and monitor the work environment and others for safety issues.
Adhere to regulatory and organizational standards, hospital and departmental policies, and state and federal regulations and statutes affecting the role.
Practice in a safe and cost-effective manner; maintain required licenses and certifications and complete mandatory modules and job-specific training on time.
Maintain timely and accurate documentation of assessments, interventions, EMR entries, and patient responses.