The RN Charge Nurse reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
- A clinically competent, registered, professional nurse who prescribes, delegates and coordinates nursing care to the acutely ill patient through the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation. Effectively interacts with patients, significant others, and other health team members, while maintaining ANA standards of professional nursing practice.
Responsibilities:
- Performs all aspects of patient care in a manner which optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
- Follows the five medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
- Demonstrates knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and their clinical condition.
- Involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care. Develops, implements and updates an individualized plan of care based on identified patient care needs. Includes nursing, teaching, continuum of care and discharge planning.
- Able to state rationale for clinical decisions based on critical thinking.
- Assesses, analyzes, validates and integrates data to assess patients' physical psychosocial, rehab, safety, learning, spiritual, cultural, age-specific, special risk and self-care needs. Identifies patient care needs, problems and variances.
- Adequately assesses and reassesses pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
- Identifies learning needs, abilities, preferences and readiness; also, identifies support systems, coping mechanisms and barriers to learning.
- Makes referral for follow up as appropriate.
- Explains procedures, therapies and treatments to patient and family, evaluates and documents patient and family response to teaching.
- Uses appropriate resources to provide education.
- Conducts body and belongings search in proper manner. Demonstrates awareness to specific contraband allowed on unit.
- Collaborates with the physician and team to review and evaluate the plan of care.
- Communicates effectively and works cooperatively with other team members. Has respect for and understanding of other clinical disciplines.
- Coordinates the care of the patient by including members of the health care team and other departments to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient care.
- Delegates appropriately to other care providers to facilitate meeting patient needs in a timely manner.
- Explains procedures, therapies and treatments to patient and family, evaluates and documents patient and family response to teaching.
- Uses appropriate resources to provide education.
- Conducts telephone screenings (inquiry calls) in a fashion resulting in appropriate disposition based on the phone contact.
- Understands patient placement criteria and can identify proper level of care to convey to Managed Care along with the pre-cert information requested.
- Communicates directly to department manager routine and non-outline clinical and staff issues. Able to make independent appropriate decisions regarding patient care and staffing issues.
- Contributes to the Utilization Review process by adding a consultative nursing assessment regarding total patient care delivery.
- Participates and communicates with third party payers with regards to the nursing component of patient care during the Utilization Review process.