Charge Nurse; PM - Pediatric

To provide direction and supervision of all nursing service activities and patient care on identified unit. RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary purpose of the RN Charge Nurse is to administer and supervise the clinical care being provided. The RN Charge Nurse is responsible for all safety, infection control, and quality of care issues that might arise while on duty, as well as, assisting with mentoring staff during orientation, and dealing with disciplinary issues.

Specific responsibilities of the RN Charge Nurse include:

• Promoting a team-like atmosphere
• Complying with educational requirements while promoting a climate of learning
• Ensures unit remains a clean and safe environment
• Serving as a clinical resource for staff members
• Ensures constant supervision of infants and ambulatory toddlers
• Timely and accurate documentation
• Ensuring medical orders are transcribed and processed accurately
• Exampling a “customer service” attitude toward patients, visitors, and other staff members at all times

• Act as a positive unit role model incorporating Parent staff interaction model of pediatric theory of nursing practice;
• Has advanced knowledge of physical disabilities and diagnosis, durable medical equipment and pediatric disorders, recognizes symptomatology and connects it to criteria. Has developed increased knowledge and expertise in the management and treatment of physical and pediatric disorders and can utilize information in making a comprehensive assessment;
• Acts as a resource person in applying the children’s community based healthcare center code;
• Completes and documents or ensures a thorough and accurate RN assessment on all patients at the time of admission and utilizes pertinent data from available resources, records, and health care personnel;
• Function as a qualified person and completes assessments in consultation with medical director when patient requires transfer to another facility;
• Documentation reflects a high level of skill and knowledge in assessing, diagnosing, implementing and evaluating nursing care;
• Ensures documentation on nursing care plan and multidisciplinary treatment plan routinely reflects the biophysical, psychosocial, self-care, age/developmental, and culturally sensitive care, educational and discharge planning needs of the patient/family system;
• Obtains and utilizes information from multidisciplinary conferences and incorporates data into the patients’ care plan;
• Participated in discussions among colleagues and encourages problem identification/resolution;
• Promotes team building for cohesiveness of care;
• Identifies the need for case conferences and collaborates with unit director / medical case manager in coordinating nursing activities with activities of other disciplines to provide comprehensive care;
• Assist the Director of Nursing (DON) in ensuring that patient/parent participates in the medical care training and equipment technical training required to facilitate a safe transition home for the patient;
• Ensures that staff have reviewed plan of care with patient / parent and ensures patient / significant other understands the problem list, goals, intervention, and discharge criteria;
• Assists the DON in directing unit staff via role modeling and feedback to maximize delivery of patient care;
• Collaborates with the Director of Nursing/Administrator and Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) in reviewing, revising, implementing and evaluating policies / procedures;
• Continually ensures that patient’s questions regarding bill of rights and confidentially act are addressed. Applies knowledge of patient rights in complex or infrequent situations. Monitor staff compliance in maintaining dignity and confidentiality of patients and significant others;
• Bases interventions on the developmental stage and physical abilities of the patient and parent;
• Provides staff oversight and follow through with safety issues/concerns;
• Assists the DON in educating and monitoring staff compliance with infection control plan;
• Evaluates effectiveness of staff interventions in dealing with patients and their families;
• Participates in peer review by evaluating staff interactions and providing feedback as assigned by…