Charge Nurse (ACC-Rural Residency)

at  Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center

Title: Charge Nurse
Reports To: Nurse Manager
Direct Reports: None
Classification/Category: Clinical
Workgroup(s):
Work Status: On-Site Only

SUMMARY OF POSITION

As a vital member of the nursing clinical team, the Charge Nurse will support, coordinate and delegate nursing care utilizing the nursing process, which is integrated into the multidisciplinary treatment team plan of care. The Charge Nurse supervises day-to-day clinical operations, patient care, safety, assessment and treatment in collaboration with the Nurse Manager and Lead Nurse.
The role will be accountable for assigned nursing care activities on a shift basis and is responsible for promoting and enhancing professional nursing practice on the clinical floor. The Charge Nurse carries out providers orders and administers medications per safety protocol while complying with administrative policies and procedures. The Charge Nurse also works in cooperation with the medical providers to ensure the quality for patients with moderate to complex health issues.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must demonstrate competencies in nursing practice and utilization of the nursing process.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skill necessary to provide clinical care.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the lifespan, and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status, and interpret the appropriate information required to identify needs of the patient relative to his/her age and condition.
• Must have effective communication, initiative, problem-solving ability, accountability flexibility, stress management, and basic computer skills.
• Must be flexible and willing to work at different locations as needed.
• Must have computer skills.
• Must be able to work with all patient populations.
• Works effectively with others and is able to organize workload, as well as assume responsibility and maintain confidentiality.
• Must be able to work independently, exercise appropriate decision-making skills, and function effectively on a team.
• Must be able to speak and communicate clearly and effectively.
  Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing and licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina.
  Experience: 3-5 years’ experience as a staff nurse in a clinical setting, prior supervisory experience preferred.
  Certification(s)/Licensure: Requires a current valid license as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina. Basic Life Support Certification required.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Knowledge and thorough understanding of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s) in regard to the Federal 330 Public Health Service Act
• Knowledge of thorough understanding of the 340B program
• Knowledge of computer systems and applications.

SKILLS:

• Skill in exercising a high degree of initiative, judgment, and discretion.
• Skill in analyzing situations accurately and taking effective action.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the medical and administrative staff, patients and the community.
• Skill in planning, organizing, and prioritizing work; delegating and achieving goals and objectives.
• Skill in exercising judgment and discretion in developing, interpreting, and implementing departmental policies and procedures.
• Skill in identifying and resolving problems.
• Skill in developing comprehensive reports.

ABILITIES:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedures manual
• Ability to write reports and correspondence
• Ability to communicate effectively before groups, individuals and organizations
• Ability to communicate with patients and family members from various educational, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to interpret communication between patient and provider following RCCHC policies and procedures.

• Acts as the primary point of contact for assigned staff
• Delegates assignments and provides supervision for the support staff in accordance with their level of training and the patient’s acuity
• Evaluates provider schedule and determines appointment vacancies
• Collaborates with provider to address patient’s health maintenance gaps
• Conveys information and coordinates follow up action plans at request of provider
• Coordinates flow of patients based on established and walk in patient schedules
• Routes patients to exam room, lab or physician office based on order of service
• Coordinates specimen collection and result reporting
• Initiates follow up for patient results or recalls at request of physician
• Collaborates the Nurse Manager to address administrative and health care team needs
• Supervise maintenance of exam rooms and supplies
• Collaborate with all staff members to enhance positive patient outcomes
• Support staff development, clinical competency and employee health processes
• Coordination of activities, e.g., collaborating with physicians, other departments, consulting with other nurses.
• Checks equipment to determine if it is functioning properly.
• Checks the environment for patient safety.
• Identifies the priorities for patient care management.
• Knows the responsibilities of all nursing staff members and utilizes this knowledge when preparing assignments for staff members.
• Applies decision-making theory and the scientific method to solve patient care problems.
• Educates nursing staff and students utilizing formal and informal venues, including peer consultation, mentorship, preceptor programs, unit conferences, case studies, patient rounds, and in-service programs.
• Knowledgeable of and enforces RCCHC safety policies and workplace safety rules.
• Participates in achievement of organizational goals.
• Applies RCCHC mission and values to customer service and care delivery.
• Maintain compliance with workflows, policies and procedures as well as other activities to support PCMH model of care and accreditation
• Performs other duties as assigned.