Operating Room Charge Registered Nurse

The Operating Room Charge Nurse fosters an environment for managing and delivering safe patient care in a hospital setting. In addition to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a clinical nurse, the charge nurse is a role model and coach to department personnel and assists in developing their skills and knowledge. Provides nursing care to a diverse patient population and role models compassionate communication with physicians and the interprofessional health care team. Assumes leadership responsibilities with high-level contributions across the institution.

Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations. Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language is necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially concerning activities impacting patient or employee safety or security. Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles. Strong assessment, organizational, and problem-solving skills, as evidenced by the capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional healthcare teams, and patients and their families. Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act. Demonstrates proficient time management skills. Demonstrates highly developed assessment skills; contributes to policies, procedures, and protocols. Has knowledge of the Nursing Unit's Dashboard and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. Demonstrates expertise in operating the electronic medical record. Proficient in Microsoft Office products. 

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing Required

Licenses/Certifications: 

• RN Registered Nurse State Licensure or Texas State License or Compact License Required upon hire
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, within 7 days of hire
• American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, within 60 days of hire
• Certified Operating Room (CNOR) certification preferred
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification preferred

Fosters staff engagement by listening actively, requesting and acknowledging feedback, making equitable decisions, providing appropriate rationale, and supporting organizational goals. Anticipates the needs of the staff members and proactively offers assistance. Role models interprofessional communication, which includes active listening and teaching, and assists with staff stress management as needed. Improves departmental scores for turnover/retention on unit-based scorecard. Role models fair and consistent leadership skills for effective team dynamics and teambuilding strategies through problem-solving, coaching, and developing staff. Coaches staff to use efficient and effective communication to establish and maintain a team environment and to include the patient and family in the team regarding their care plan. Provides input into staff performance reviews. Functions as a mentor and resource to unit staff and provides oversight for students/new employees/preceptorships. Identifies levels of organizational conflict and applies tools to effectively resolve concerns, complaints, or disputes with patients, families, physicians, and other interprofessional healthcare team members. Leads patient and family-centered care standards. Mentor others regarding specialty populations; audit plan of care. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles. Maintains ongoing interactions with patients, families, and staff on improving patient care through leader rounding. Ensures effective collaboration with other departments regarding patient process issues. Drives department service standards and activities to improve department scores for patient satisfaction on unit-based scorecards. Models the standards of care related to the nursing process by actively participating in meeting and improving nurse-sensitive quality indicators and patient safety goals. Participates in creating a continuous improvement environment. Coordinates nursing care throughout the shift schedule, considering patient acuity, staff skill level, and safety to ensure our duty to our patients can be met. Models the standards related to regulatory requirements and professional practice. Facilitates seamless patient flow to/from/through the department, leading the delivery of quality family-centered care throughout the continuum of care. Ensures the patient care plan is accurate and timely, coaching staff if documentation deficiencies are identified. Works closely with the OAs and bed management regarding timely patient placement. Proactively recognizes and determines a plan of action and responds to situations, such as rapid response/CERTs and emergency codes. Participates in initiatives to improve quality and safety scores on the unit and hospital scorecards through peer-to-peer accountability, reporting near misses, and identifying solutions by collaborating with the interprofessional team. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety. Assists with audits. Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets on unit-based scorecards. Metrics include documentation of care and length of stay while optimizing efficiency and resources, such as overtime. Attends daily care coordination rounds to facilitate patient progression. Ensures that follow-up has been implemented on any concerns or issues the team identifies. Manages productivity by the staffing grid. Provides input into unit resource utilization, including unit capital and operational budget needs. Oversees shift-by-shift resource utilization. Manages to identify and implement innovative solutions for practice changes to improve patient care or unit operations, such as reducing hospital readmissions or other department-specific measures by leading and participating in unit projects and shared governance activities. Investigate and incorporate evidence-based practices that are presented to shared governance and leadership. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow knowledge, abilities, and skills. Serves as a clinical resource. Develops and disseminates, as appropriate, informational/educational resources and programs designed to improve quality and professional practice. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.