Charge Nurse – Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

The Charge nurse is responsible for the overall daily operations and smooth and efficient patient flow within the clinical area. The Charge nurse coordinates daily administrative duties, including schedules, assignments and patient care. The Charge nurse carries out their duties by adhering to the highest standards of ethical and moral conduct, acts in the best interest of the patient, and fully supports the mission, vision, and values of SSMC. The Charge nurse shall have the knowledge of health care systems, demonstrate the ability to interact, relate to/ work with, and support the activities of a diverse multidisciplinary workforce. They also acts as the clinical resource person in their work unit and ensures that the staff delivers care professionally. The Charge Nurse delegates assignments and provides supervision for the support staff in accordance with their level of training and the patient’s acuity.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates competence in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care needs.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to provide patient and family-centered care.
• Liaises with the Nurse Manager/Nurse Supervisor to ensure the patient care load is addressed with the appropriate staffing and skill mix in an environment that is safe for the patient and nurse.
• Ensures the nursing staff works within their capacity, experience, training and scope of practice.
• Monitors staff performance, providing regular constructive feedback, coaching, guidance and support to team members on the shift.
• Monitors and coordinates effective and efficient utilization of human resources, consumables and equipment.
• Responsible for monitoring direct and indirect patient care to achieve an optimum patient outcome.
• Coordinates referrals and utilizes available resources for the provision of comprehensive care.
• Administers medications according to organization policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with Pharmacy services to ensure the provision of medication needs of the
unit.
• Assists with all levels of emergencies according to the organization’s policies and procedures.
• Provides guidance and advice to the patient care team on clinical and administrative matters.
• Facilitates effective communication between the patient, family and the interdisciplinary health care team as required.
• Liaises with other health care providers as necessary to ensure appropriate and timely interventions for patients and for discharge planning.
• Provides a comprehensive clinical handover/report as required to ensure patient safety.
• Attends patient care rounds, communicates, and updates the attending healthcare provider on changes in the patient’s condition.
• Communicates with the patient care team about ongoing changes in patient’s plan of care and unit activity.
• Monitors and evaluates unit operations and services in order to identify problems and takes a lead role in improving systems and safe patient care.
• Participates in interdisciplinary teams and performance improvement projects.
• Ensures provision of a clean and safe working environment that minimizes risks to patients, visitors, and staff.
• Identifies faulty and defective equipment and furniture and takes corrective action.
• Delegates to the nursing team in response to an emergency.
• Identifies learning needs of the junior staff on the unit in conjunction with the Clinical Resource Nurse and Manager and assists with the implementation of educational activities.
• Mentors and trains new staff while providing support and guidance to all staff members.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the unit manager.
Accountabilities
• Responds to all levels of emergencies according to the organizations policies and procedures
• Monitors clinical care to ensure clinical standards are met. Identifies variances and initiates corrective measures as required
• Promotes and audits compliance with the organization’s Infection Control policies
• Monitors and audits compliance with organization documentation standards
• Reports Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR’s) and Medication errors in accordance with organization policy.
• Identifies, investigates, reports, and implements corrective action for incidents or complaints as appropriate. Completes appropriate documentation according to organization policy.
• Ensures that on a shift basis at the unit level, the monitoring, replacement, storage and administration of Narcotic and Controlled Drugs are in accordance with Ministry of Health and DOH Narcotic Policies and Procedures.
• Demonstrates evidence of mandatory and unit-specific competencies completion, accredited and non-accredited Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Units DOH and organization requirements and ongoing professional development in leadership and management.
• Maintains own Professional Portfolio as per DOH policy.

Qualifications

Experience :-
Required:
• NLT 6 years clinical experience post qualification in an appropriate & relevant healthcare settings And
• NLT 2 years’ experience as a team leader in a particular unit
Desired:
• N.A.
Educational Qualification: Required:
• Bachelor degree in nursing OR
• Degree in Nursing (minimum two (2) years course duration) AND Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia • AND valid/current national license.
• AND BLS
Desired:
• ACLS, PALS relevant to area of specialty.