Department: Internal Medicine Clinic/Decatur-SMS
Division: NA
Location: Decatur
Job Category: Medical
Overview:
Civil Service Title: Charge Nurse
The person in this position will furnish full-time clinical duties in the Decatur Multi-specialty Clinic, covering both Internal Medicine providers. This nurse will assist physicians (including faculty, residents, and medical students) in patient care activities requiring specialized nursing skills and will act as the lead nurse in the Decatur DMH campus.
Salary: $4,926.38/month
Sign-On Bonus: Now offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus with a 2-year employment commitment for candidates identified for hire before December 31st!
POSITION DESCRIPTION
INCUMBENT CSN FLSA STATUS: Exempt
PRESENT CLASSIFICATION Charge Nurse DATE
DEPARTMENT/DIVISION Internal Medicine – Decatur Multi-specialty Clinic
Function:
The person in this position will furnish full-time clinical duties in the Decatur Multi-specialty Clinic,
covering both Internal Medicine providers. This nurse will assist physicians (including faculty, residents,
and medical students) in patient care activities requiring specialized nursing skills and will act as the lead
nurse in the Decatur DMH campus.
Organizational Relationship:
The incumbent will report to the Nurse Administrator for the Internal Medicine Ambulatory Clinics, who
reports to the Assistant to the Chair, Department Administrator, for the Department of Internal Medicine.
The position will be controlled by University procedures, but general directives, and by policies of the
Department of Internal Medicine, SIU HealthCare and SIU School of Medicine.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The following information is intended to be representative of the work performed by incumbent in this
position and is not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility will not preclude it
from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of position responsibilities.
Demonstrates, by actions, commitment to the mission and the behavioral standards of SIU School of
Medicine. Provides excellent service to both internal and external customers through collaboration and
partnership; compassion and respect; integrity and accountability; diversity and inclusion; as well as
continuous learning and improvement.
Indirect Patient Care: 50%
1. Coordinates care coverage for multiple SIU Department of Internal Medicine clinics in Decatur
based on staffing/divisional needs.
2. Obtains pre-certifications and referrals for managed care patients.
3. Responsible for assisting in the operation of the clinic by maintaining patient information for
procedures, education and medical records.
4. Serves as a clinical resource to clerical and ancillary personnel.
5. Attends in-service classes and other meetings as directed and as deemed necessary; suggests ideas
for in-service training and improving patient education.
6. Maintains Basic Life Support certification required to perform nursing duties.
7. Supervises nursing care delivery ensuring that the patient care delivered benefits the patient and
meets the individual physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant's expectations.
8. Monitors the quality of work and services performed by clinical staff. Ensures that functions are
performed according to policies and procedures.
9. Coordinates orientation and training for new personnel.
10. With assistance of the Nurse Administrator, Department administrators, and relevant
physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s), interviews and hires clinic personnel to fill
vacancies or new positions in the clinic.
11. Contributes to the development and implementation of a Quality Assurance Program for the
nursing staff and participates in patient care audits.
12. Contributes to the development, maintenance, and updating of nursing policies, procedures and
standards of care.
13. Performs employee evaluations, approves sick/vacation time, assesses need for compensatory
time, and participates in the disciplinary process as required.
14. Provides oversight, correction, and mitigation of problems that arise in clinic, i.e.
misunderstanding between staff members, physicians, and/or patients.
15. Conducts regular clinical staff meetings to communicate divisional, departmental, and
organizational, changes, projects, and updates.
16. Working in conjunction with Department of Internal Medicine, regularly meet with and review
any anticipated gaps in clinic coverage or clinic needs.
17. Performs other indirect patient duties as assigned.
Direct Patient Care: 50%
1. Provides nursing support to physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s).
2. Demonstrates clinical competence in carrying out patient care duties specific to assigned area.
3. Assists physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s) with clinics including but not limited
to: preparing patient for examination, testing, and/or procedures; obtaining vital signs and other
pertinent information; scheduling and/or explaining procedures/tests to patient and family.
4. Obtains complete health and nursing histories for individuals and families who are patients of the
clinic; utilizes this information when providing telephone triaging, direct care and patient
education.
5. Documents patient's history, vital signs, and chief complaint in medical record.
6. Interviews patients and their families to determine patient/family dynamics, needs, and
identification of any contributing factors to illness; guides other staff members in patient
teaching; and assists patient's family to participate in patient's teaching plan.
7. Coordinates follow-up of outpatient services; facilitates scheduling and performance of tests and
procedures; provides follow-up care in conjunction with attending physician/nurse
practitioner/physician assistant furnishing information and teaching.
8. Manages acute and/or episodic minor illness of outpatients, and recommends and initiates
treatment as indicated.
9. Screens/triages telephone calls from patients and other customers; answers questions using
professional knowledge, expertise, and nursing judgement, and documents actions in patient
chart.
10. Administers medications by appropriate route with consideration for patient safety.
11. Performs laboratory procedures specific to assigned area.
12. Responsible for facilitating efficient patient flow within assigned clinic.
13. Following guidelines/protocols established by physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s),
refills medications and documents such in patient chart.
14. Identifies specialized patient needs and informs appropriate members of the staff.
15. Responsible for and performs any and all LPN/RN functions pertaining to the specialties you are
assigned.
16. Performs other direct patient care duties as assigned.
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge Needed for the Position:
1. Sensitive to the needs of underrepresented minority populations.
2. Work longer than the assigned shift.
3. Work effectively under stress while maintaining an attitude of tact and diplomacy. Be able to
adapt to the various practice styles.
4. Make sound decisions, enforce school policies and display fair judgment in all situations.
5. Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
6. Maintain responsibility to the SIU School of Medicine, the patients, and the nursing profession.
Responsibility:
A. Supervisory Controls – Supervisory controls occur both written and orally from the Nurse
Administrator for the Department of Internal Medicine Ambulatory Clinics. The nurse uses
independent judgment and discretion to operate his/her clinics according to individual physician
preference and patient needs.
B Guidelines – This person will have access to a procedure manual of clinic procedures and a policy
manual for the SIU School of Medicine. Performance appraisals are completed periodically
according to school/department policy.
Difficulty:
A. Complexity - The nurse must adapt to various practice styles of physicians in the SIU Decatur
DMH Multi-specialty Clinics and must be able to cover more than one physician at a time when
necessary. The nurse must possess a variety of skills which he/she must provide calmly in an
environment of constant interruptions and pressure.
B. Scope and Effect - The incumbent is expected to maintain a suitable environment for ambulatory
patients. His/her performance affects patients, physicians, and other clinical staff.
Personal Relationships:
The nurse has personal contact with the faculty and staff of the Department of Medicine as well as staff
from other SIU School of Medicine departments; residents and medical students; patients and families;
pharmacists; pharmaceutical representatives; and personnel of HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital and Decatur
Memorial Hospital for the purpose of acquiring, exchanging, and giving information and coordinating
activities.
Possible Hazards:
Contact with steam sterilizers
Contact with occasional infectious patient
Environmental, Health and Safety Responsibilities:
Participates in meetings, training and other environmental, health and safety activities as required by SIU
School of Medicine
Working Conditions/Physical Demands:
See attached Physical and environmental Requirements form.
INCUMBENT: DATE:
REVIEWED BY: DATE:
Immediate Supervisor
DATE:
Department Head/Chair