Lead Clinical Nurse - Emergency Services, Sign-on Eligible

Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation•Tuba City, AZ

About The Position

The Lead Clinical Nurse (LCN), in consultation with the Director of Emergency Services, implements work systems that ensure optimal use of assets, staff, and equipment. The LCN serves as a clinical resource, mentor, coach, and role model for nursing staff, providing real-time support for patient care, patient throughput, high-reliability principles, quality outcomes, and staff development. The role evaluates patients’ nursing needs, coordinates with Charge Nurses to plan and initiate patient-care assignments, modifies assignments as needed, and mentors and supports Charge Nurses. The LCN promotes safety, accountability, teamwork, and evidence-based practice while supporting departmental goals and organizational priorities. The LCN may serve as Acting Director of Emergency Services in the Director’s absence. This role requires an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, an unrestricted nursing license, specified life-support and emergency-care certifications, and at least three years of nursing experience, including two years in an Emergency Department and one year as an Emergency Department charge nurse. The position involves direct patient-care support, staff coaching and coordination, operational and administrative leadership, and participation in organizational committees. Physical, mental, and environmental demands include prolonged standing and walking, frequent lifting and moving of patients and equipment, work with infectious diseases and hazardous conditions, and responding effectively to stressful situations.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Valid, current, full, and unrestricted nursing license to practice in any U.S. state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
Maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association throughout employment.
Maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification from the American Heart Association throughout employment.
Maintain current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification from the American Heart Association throughout employment.
Obtain Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification from the American Heart Association within one year of hire.
Obtain Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) certification within one year of hire.
Obtain Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC) certification within one year of hire.
Obtain Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification within three years of hire.
Complete National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within six months of hire.
Complete Patient Sitter Competency upon hire.
Complete ENA Emergency Severity Index (ESI) Level 5 within three months of hire.
Complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) training within six months of hire.
Three years of nursing experience, including two years in an Emergency Department and one year as an Emergency Department charge nurse.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including prolonged standing and walking, frequent lifting up to 50 pounds, and moving, pushing, pulling, or maneuvering more than 100 pounds when caring for patients, using proper body mechanics and lifting equipment when available.
Ability to hear equipment alarms, client calls, instructions, and overhead pages; meet the specified visual requirements; and perform repetitive movements and prolonged grasping and fine-dexterity tasks.
Ability to prioritize, use sound judgment, manage interruptions, collaborate across departments and roles, assist teammates, and communicate tactfully and sensitively in stressful situations.
Ability to work for prolonged periods around toxic or caustic chemicals and to work around infectious diseases.

Responsibilities

Provide direct observation of patients as directed by the nursing plan of care and under the supervision of the nursing department Director.
Mentor nursing staff to create, maintain, and provide a safe environment; maintain patient safety during assigned shifts.
Assist with management of high-acuity, critical, trauma, STEMI, stroke, sepsis, behavioral-health, and pediatric patients.
Assist with patient flow and prioritization of resources during periods of high census.
Facilitate safe patient assignments in collaboration with the Charge Nurse.
Support nursing staff with clinical decision-making and escalation of care.
Provide bedside coaching and mentoring to nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants/Licensed Nursing Assistants.
Support orientation and onboarding of newly hired staff and help nurses develop critical thinking and clinical judgment.
Conduct real-time education and competency reinforcement; model professional nursing practice and customer service.
Guide nursing staff and direct ancillary departments, nurses from other departments, health care providers, and temporary intermittent personnel.
Facilitate effective communication among providers, nursing staff, ancillary departments, and administration; assist with conflict resolution and promote teamwork.
Coordinate admissions, discharges, and transfers to other facilities in accordance with Emergency Department throughput standards.
Communicate the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values to the team and integrate them into team strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, and services.
Communicate assignments, projects, problems, actionable events, milestones, program issues, and completion deadlines to the team.
Coach the team in selecting and applying problem-solving methods; advise on practices, procedures, and policies; and help identify viable solutions.
Review improvement opportunities and share lessons learned with staff.
Lead workload and task distribution and balancing; adjust assignments to meet priorities and deadlines and ensure employees have a role in developing team products.
Educate or arrange education in team-building methods and techniques and arrange specific administrative or technical training as needed.
Support implementation of operational changes and initiatives.
Monitor and report work status and progress, check work in progress, and review completed work for compliance with the Director’s priorities, methods, deadlines, and quality expectations.
Prepare reports and maintain work-accomplishment and administrative records; coordinate communication of work-related information to the Director.
Represent the team in dealings with the Director and/or Manager to obtain resources and needed information or decisions on major work problems and issues.
Lead the team in assessing strengths and weaknesses, exploring alternatives, and identifying improvements.
Manage leave according to department policy and approve Time and Attendance in NOVAtime.
Communicate team consensus and recommendations to the Director on team and individual awards, rewards, and recognition; inform the Director of performance-management issues and recommend or request related actions.
Monitor all aspects of patient care when acting as Director of Emergency Services.
Maintain professional knowledge and proficiency in department-specific nursing practice through continuing education.
Enter electronic health record data pertinent to the patient-service role.
Participate in the Nurse Executive Committee, customer-service and nursing activities, and organization-wide committees.
Perform other duties as assigned.