Pre-Op/PACU Charge Nurse

The purpose of this position is to provide general nursing care and leadership while working collaboratively with physicians and the multidisciplinary caregivers under the supervision of the Nurse Manager. The Charge Nurse assists the Nurse Manager in supervising all caregivers within The Surgery Center in order to ensure high quality patient care and efficient, cost effective service. The Charge Nurse assists in the allocation of available resources and the integration of appropriate technologies to promote efficient, effective, safe, and compassionate nursing care based on current standards of practice. The Charge Nurse is a clinical and technical resource for physicians and caregivers. The Charge Nurse provides leadership in knowledge synthesis, critical thinking and problem solving, managing conflict, and addressing ethical issues. He/she will perform other related duties as needed to maintain department cost containment, efficiency, as well as quality of performance. Other duties as assigned.

What you will do

• Actively works to promote and maintain an organizational culture that enhances our standing as the best place to work and receive care.
• Active engagement in staff meetings, department meetings, in-services, educational requirements, etc.
• Maintains a cooperative relationship among all caregivers by communicating information, responding to requests; building rapport; participating in team problem solving methods.
• Oversees the daily surgery schedule and ensures appropriate staffing to manage daily schedule.
• Coordinates daily staffing and assignments.
• Provides care to patients utilizing the nursing process to facilitate a positive experience.
• Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, families, and friends. Implements a plan to keep patient's family/friends informed of progress if delays occur in any area of care.
• Implements proper clinical protocols that ensure patient safety, comfort, and quality of care.
• Demonstrates knowledge of The Surgery Center's current policies and procedures.
• Implements nursing interventions to assure compliance with established standards, policies, procedures and best practice.
• Anticipates potential patient problems and takes measures to prevent occurrences.
• Demonstrates willingness to cross-train/float when/if the opportunity arises.
• Contributes to meeting the fluctuating staffing needs of the different departments as evidenced by flexibility in work schedule and own assignments, including staffing and providing breaks/lunch breaks.
• Assumes responsibility for availability of supplies and proper functioning of equipment necessary to provide patient care.
• Contributes to supply stocking and necessary housekeeping to facilitate patient care and to maintain a safe and clean working environment.
• Assists with stripping, cleaning, and setting up the OR suite for own/other's cases with efficiency and speed.
• Validates achievement of desired outcomes as evidenced by patient record documentation. Ensures the information relating to the care of the patient is documented according to established procedures.
• Communicates, both verbally and in writing, to effectively develop and disseminate the patient's plan of care to all necessary caregivers. Facilitates the continuity of patient care through verbal reports on patient's status to the appropriate caregiver receiving the patient.
• Protects patients and co-workers by adhering to infection control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Delegates patient care activities to support personnel according to their level of knowledge and expertise.
• Demonstrates initiative and collaborates professionally with caregivers in/out of the OR suite.
• Collaborates with the Nurse Manager and the Purchasing Coordinator to ensure all needed supplies/equipment/special requests are identified, ordered, and obtained for all upcoming cases.
• Assists, in conjunction with the Quality Manager, with the training of new caregivers.
• Identifies areas of conflict, intervenes effectively, or seeks assistance in conflict resolution.

What you need:

Education Qualifications:

• Completion of a minimum of two (2) years education at an accredited School of Nursing in order to be eligible for licensure as a Registered Nurse is required.
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing is preferred.

Experience Qualifications:

• Minimum of one (1) year in Ambulatory Surgery, Outpatient Surgery, or OR nursing.
• Prior experience in a Leadership Role as a Charge Nurse, preferred.

Personal characteristics:

• Great team player
• Critical thinking skills
• Compassionate
• Attention to details
• Organizational skills
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Patience
• Strong communication skills
• Inherent desire to go above and beyond
• Ability to mentor others
• Strong work ethic and positive professional outlook

Certifications:

• Currently holds American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider (BLS) or AHA approved equivalent.
• American Heart Association (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required within one (1) year of hire.

Licenses:

• Currently holds a nursing license in the state of Massachusetts, free of sanctions and disciplinary actions.

Physical abilities:

• Lift 10 lbs. box overhead. Lift and carry 15 lbs. Push/pull 20 lbs. cart.
• Lift and carry 25-35 lbs. Push/pull lbs. (ie. empty bed, stretcher)
• Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Push/pull / lbs. (Patients on bed, stretcher) Lateral transfer lbs. (ie. Patient)
• Lift over 50 lbs. Carry 80 lbs. a distance of 30 feet. Push/pull > 200 lbs. (ie. Patients on bed, stretcher)

The salary range for this position is $75,000-$142,000 benefits. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

It is not intended that this Job Description include all details of the work functions of this position. The incumbent will perform work of a lower or equivalent classification as required or directed, and work of higher classification for training and development purposes or as situationally warranted.