Charge Nurse, PCU

CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health. With more than 700 care sites across the U.S. & from clinics and hospitals to home-based care and virtual care services CommonSpirit is accessible to nearly one out of every four U.S. residents. Our world needs compassion like never before. Our communities need caring and our families need protection. With our combined resources CommonSpirit is committed to building healthy communities advocating for those who are poor and vulnerable and innovating how and where healing can happen both inside our hospitals and out in the community.

Pay Scale:  $41.66 - $61.93

Shift:  Full Time, 6:15pm - 6:45am

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the PCU Clinical Coordinator, the Charge Nurse works collaboratively with the leadership team, the department staff, physicians and interdisciplinary and ancillary staff to support day-to-day operations and patient care. The Charge Nurse is the front line leader responsible for role modeling the vision, core values and behavioral standards of Mercy Medical Center. The Charge Nurse is expected to demonstrate clinical excellence, skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing decisions, authentic leadership, and performs operational responsibilities of the role.

Essential Duties:

• Performs basic skills of all staff reporting to Charge Nurse during shift including Unit Secretary, CNAs and RNs.  Able and willing to fill in as needs arise.
• Functions as a Clinical Resource to staff in the management of complex patients, procedures and situations.
• Mentors, coaches, and supports team members to meet patient and unit needs, gain skills and effectively adapt to change.
• Rounds on staff and patients to ensure commitment and compliance with safety, quality, and satisfaction initiatives.
• Promotes a positive, collaborative, and team oriented work environment.   
• Demonstrates and holds team members accountable to strategic vision of service, quality/safety, stewardship and satisfaction.
• Actively participates in unit performance improvement activities and focuses on finding solutions. 
• Demonstrates appropriate staffing decisions that match assessed patient needs with nurse competencies.
• Demonstrates fiscal responsibility though appropriate use of resources and staffing adjustments as indicated by census, activity or acuity. 
• Assesses productivity every four hours within shift, anticipates changes and manages staff appropriately to maintain productivity and safety. Justifies variance when safety outweighs productivity.
• Demonstrates appropriate clinical judgment and flexibility to ensure patient safety is maintained throughout shift.
• Triages patient flow and facilitates turn-around times within 45 minutes.
• Delegates unit activities and assignments within scope of practice of job role. Completes follow-up to ensure activities and assignments are complete.
• Assigns Pyxis access to temporary users and performs weekly narcotic inventory.
• Ensures department is operating safely and is responsive to emergencies. Ensures all equipment is stocked and ready for use.
• Communicates with oncoming Charge RN and Clinical Coordinator regarding unit activity, acuity, staffing, risk management and satisfaction concerns.  
• Follows chain of command when problems require higher level resolution.

License/Certification:

• Current RN license issued by the State of Oregon required.
• BLS and ACLS required.
• Specialty certification (e.g. CCRN, PCCN) preferred.  

Experience:

• Two (2) years recent experience as an RN in PCU required.
• Previous Charge RN experience in PCU is preferred.
• The candidate must be able to independently and competently manage crisis, advanced critical care patients and equipment.
• Must possess excellent organizational, communication and leadership skills as well as a positive attitude.

Education:

• BSN strongly preferred.