SURGERY CHARGE NURSE

Overall Responsibility:

The Surgery Charge Nurse provides leadership, oversight, and accountability for clinical staff and daily operations within the department. This role ensures high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. The Surgery Charge Nurse is responsible for staff development, quality improvement initiatives, and continuous process improvement. Working collaboratively with leadership and physicians, this role drives departmental performance and supports the organization’s operational and quality goals. The Surgery Charge Nurse also supports operational success through strong communication, financial stewardship, and hands-on clinical support when needed.

Key tasks and responsibilities (essential functions):

The following description of the job responsibilities and performance expectations are intended to reflect an overview of major responsibilities.

Leadership and Clinical Oversight:

• Supports a collaborative, team-oriented environment while maintaining high standards for patient care.
• Demonstrates strong leadership and organizational skills to support the operational needs of the department.
• Directs daily operations for the department, including scheduling staff hours to include overseeing scheduled and unscheduled time off, as well as patient care coordination.
• Monitors the flow of daily patient schedules and staff according to needs in department. 
• Troubleshoots and resolves issues with patients, staff or physicians.
• Supervises clinical staff, including registered nurses, technicians, and other team members assigned to the department as applicable, ensuring effective performance and adherence to regulatory and facility standards.
• Ensures compliance with preventative maintenance contracts.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory and accrediting agencies such as AAAHC, CMS, OSHA, AORN, Florida Board of Nursing standards and guidelines, etc.
• Covers interim leadership responsibilities in the absence of the Endoscopy Charge Nurse and/or Clinical Operations Manager.

Staff Development and Competency:

• Participates in the hiring of new staff by posting available positions, reviewing resumes, identifying potential candidates, and coordinating interview schedules with the Clinical Operations Manager.
• Conducts reference checks to ensure hiring of qualified candidates.
• Verifies licenses, certifications, and credentials through primary source verification to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Oversees onboarding processes, ensuring accurate completion of documentation, health records, and certifications.
• Participates in the development and coaching of all staff members in area assigned.
• Ensures ongoing staff training, competency evaluations, and development, including vendor-led in-services and educational opportunities, as well as training on new equipment, processes, and procedures.
• Assists with ensuring all new and revised policies are shared with staff and providers, confirms compliance with new protocols.
• Conducts annual performance evaluations and ensures 100% compliance with mandatory education, certifications, and training.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Maintains clear and professional communication with physicians, staff, patients, vendors, and leadership to ensure alignment and operational success.
• In coordination with Clinical Operations Manager, collaborates with physicians to improve workflows and address patient care needs.
• Leads monthly staff meetings, ensuring agendas are documented and attendance is tracked for compliance purposes.
• Participates in Compliance, Hygiene, Infection Control, and Safety (CHRIS) meetings, contributing to organizational quality initiatives.
• Assists with Quality Management activities of the facility.
• Performs and participates in benchmarking activities and Quality Improvement studies, as assigned.
• Supports risk management activities to ensure compliance. 
• Trains new hires on incident report entry process.
• Assists staff with completion of incident reports to ensure completion in a timely and thorough manner. 
• Ensures staff adherence to infection control and patient safety protocols.

Operational Efficiency and Resource Management:

• Ensures clinical supplies, equipment, and resources are available and maintained to support seamless operations.
• Tracks departmental resource usage and identifies opportunities for cost-saving efficiencies without compromising care quality.
• Facilitates vendor-led training sessions and ensures staff have access to the tools and knowledge necessary for their roles.
• Promote team engagement and foster a collaborative, professional work environment.

Direct Patient Care (As Needed):

• Provides direct patient care across all supervised areas to support staffing needs and maintain operations.
• Maintains clinical proficiency in all areas under supervision to ensure high-quality patient care and operational readiness.
• Provide relief coverage within the department for breaks and lunches.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Performs other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.
• Maintains all required regulatory training and participates in mandatory drills and staff meetings.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned which may include distributing charts for Peer Review and monitoring completion, Infection Control Surveys, inventory control/ordering, DEA log documentation, Environment of Care documentation, etc.

Personal Development and Professionalism:

• Complies with all department policies.
• Identify areas that require additional reinforcement through education, consultation, or practicum.
• Follow the facility's professional conduct and dress code policy.
• Maintain patient, physician, and employee privacy and confidentiality per policy.
• Communicate effectively and courteously with visitors, physicians and their office staff, patients, and employees.
• Fosters growth and development of management and leadership skills in managers and team members.

Experience Required:

• Current, unencumbered Florida RN license required; BSN preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience, with at least 1-2 years in a leadership role, preferred.
• Knowledge of AHCA, AAAHC, CMS, OSHA, and infection control standards.
• Current BLS
• ACLS training completion within 90 days of hire and retraining requirements maintained (PALS certification completion and maintenance, as assigned depending on department’s patient requirements).
• Excellent customer service- internal and external customers.
• Strong computer skills.
• Proficiency in electronic medical record clinical documentation, contract oversight, and quality improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

 Environmental and Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods during shifts.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move equipment or patients as needed (up to 50 pounds).
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining focus and attention to detail.

Occupational Exposure:

• High risk exposure to bloodborne pathogens and chemical hazards.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

All job requirements in the job description provided indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or abilities deemed necessary to perform the job completely. Job descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as required.