CHARGE NURSE

Company: Erie County Medical Center
Facility: Erie County Medical Center Corporation at Buffalo
Department: SNF - Floor 5 & 6

The work involves directing, coordinating and supervising professional and nonprofessional nursing staff and participating in the nursing and daily activity needs of patients/residents on a unit, for an assigned shift at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation or Erie County Home. This is a professional/supervisory nursing position requiring a high degree of competence and tact. Work is performed under the direct supervision of higher ranking professional nursing staff. Supervision is exercised over lower level professional and non-professional nursing staff. Does related work as required. TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: CLINICAL Monitors and ensures that established standards of care and the nursing process are utilized in the delivery of patient/resident care including but not limited to assessment, care planning, intervention, evaluation, discharge planning and health teaching; Participates and ensures the maintenance of safety standards for staff, patients/residents and visitors; Plans and conducts needed patient/resident centered conferences; Intervenes in identified patient/resident problems and seeks resolution; Communicates to physicians, higher ranking nurses and other staff the needs of patients/residents; Assures the processing and implementation of physician orders in a timely manner; Establishes patient/resident care priorities; Serves as a clinical resource person to other staff; Serves as liaison between patients/residents, family, physician and the healthcare team; Provides nursing care as needed; Assures documentation of patient/resident condition as required. NON-CLINICAL Assesses overall unit activity and patient/resident care needs for assigned shift; Makes patient/resident care assignments according to departmental standards; Communicates all clinical and operational activities from shift to shift; Communicates immediate concerns related to staff performance issues, physician or patient/resident concerns or other unit management issues to the unit manager/higher-ranking nurse; Reinforces cost effective utilization of personnel and supplies; Supports and participates in the quality improvement process; Participates in the evaluation of staff performance and the orientation of new staff; Ensures assigned staff attends in-service as scheduled; Maintains knowledge of new and current skills and trends in nursing; Provides input into scheduling; Contributes to formulation of unit/facility goals and objectives. FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of the principles, procedures, techniques, and terminology of professional nursing; good knowledge of the biological, physical, social and medical science as they relate to nursing care; ability to develop management skills; ability to work effectively with others; ability to work well in crisis situations; ability to assist in administration of nursing and non-nursing ancillary activities; ability to perform more difficult professional nursing duties; ability to maintain records and prepare reports; good communication skills, both oral and written; sound professional judgment; initiative; resourcefulness; physically capable of performing the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and six (6) months of professional nursing experience; or: B) One (1) year of professional nursing experience in an acute care setting for all acute care units. One (1) year of professional nursing experience in home health care, long term care or acute care, medical/surgical care or other closely related field in a hospital setting for the ECMC Skilled Nursing Facility and the Erie County Home. SPECIAL REQUIREMENT