Lead Charge Nurse

PURPOSE AND SCOPE: Supports FMCNA's mission, vision, core values and customer service philosophy. Adheres to the FMCNA Compliance Program, including following all regulatory and FMS policy requirements. Ensure quality patient care while maintaining cost-effective clinical operations in accordance with all legal, compliance, and regulatory requirements and programs. As the Charge Nurse, manages the daily decisions to ensure continuity of care to maintain patient and staff safety and oversees the delivery of safe effective quality outcomes. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide day to day guidance, support and direction to direct patient care staff, providing informal feedback on an ongoing basis and formal feedback input for the annual performance evaluation. Participate in the department staffing and the appropriate hiring, firing and disciplinary actions. Recommend disciplinary action to Facility Administrator and initiate as appropriate. Ensure compliance with all company and facility approved procedures and policies as well as regulations set forth by state and federal agencies. Approve or disapprove time or personnel schedule changes in the absence on the Facility Administrator ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, policies and procedures for documenting time of work hours for staff members on assigned shift. Participate in patient care plan meetings. Maintain knowledge in the current practices related to the principles and techniques of dialysis by participating in all scheduled in- services. Train and orient staff as necessary. Routinely observe and guide direct patient care staff for appropriate technique and adherence to facility policies and procedures. Promote and assist with compliance to OSHA programs in order to maintain a safe and clean working environment. Maintain overall shift operation in a safe, efficient, and effective matter. With Facility Administrator conduct staff meetings at least monthly or as needed to keep patient care staff informed of changes in patient care needs or operations to improve delivery of care. Meet routinely with the Facility Administrator to discuss personnel and patient care status, issues, and information. Supervise all documentation of patient information. Coordinate Charge Nurse duties with Staff RNs acting in the relief charge capacity. Assess daily patient care needs and develop and distribute patient care assignments appropriately. Assume primary responsibility in an emergency situation. Assess patient needs, respond to dialysis treatments, and communicate concerns to rounding physician. Implement changes in patient care/treatment as directed. Monitor and supervise all patient care activity during dialysis and assist as necessary. Collaborate with direct patient care team in making decisions to benefit patient care. Continuously monitor patient's condition with regards to problems and potential complications associated with dialysis. Administer medications to patients per physician's orders. Act as the subject matter expert and as a resource for staff members. Supervise and participate in completion of short and long term care plans. Admit new patients according to facility procedure. Ensure educational needs of patients are met and educate the patient and family about End Stage Renal Disease, dialysis therapy, diet and medication. Supervise the safe and effective use of all equipment involved in direct patient care. Operate all dialysis related and emergency equipment safely and efficiently when needed. Perform required testing and verification and initial the checklist for start-up and shut-down procedures as outlined in the Technical Services Manual. Complete Nurse's Technical Training Program/Water Quality Facility Assist with special projects or other duties as assigned by the Facility Administrator Assist with the interviewing of potential direct patient care staff Promote efficient use of medical supplies. Attend and participate in monthly Quality Assurance meetings. Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Day to day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff and physicians. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials. Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment. Note that: Failing the Ishihara Test for Color Blindness does not preclude employment. The Company will consider whether reasonable accommodation can be made. Travel to regional, Business Unit and Corporate meetings may be required. SUPERVISION: Direct Patient Care Staff, Ward Clerk as assigned. EDUCATION: Graduate of an accredited school of Nursing (R.N.) Must be registered and licensed to practice in the applicable State. EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS: Minimum of 12 months of nursing experience, plus 6 months of specialized experience providing clinical nursing care to dialysis patients, in either a chronic or acute setting. Medical/surgical nursing preferred. Supervisory or management experience preferred. Certified in CPR or successfully complete course in CPR certification. Good communication skills - verbal and written. EO/AA Employer: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Fresenius Medical Care North America maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws. Career with a purpose We offer an opportunity to create and deliver treatments that save and change lives for the better. We'll support your ongoing development. And you'll be part of a dedicated team of people who inspire each other to create the best possible healthcare outcomes each and every day. Inclusion and diversity Joining Fresenius Medical Care means becoming part of a team that values diversity. We embrace the wealth of different backgrounds, cultures, experiences and opinions that make up our workforce and strive to create an inclusive atmosphere in which all our employees feel valued. Stability Developing innovative products and continuously improving our renal therapies made us the clear market leader in the production of hemodialysis machines, with sustainable, profitable growth . This position provides our 125000 employees with the stability and security they need to help improve the lives of our patients. Learning and development We offer participation in programs at world-class business schools, leadership development, regular training for our nurses, health care professionals and manufacturing staff and digital access to high-quality educational content for all employees worldwide 24/7. Local benefits Our employees enjoy both local and global opportunities for growth and personal fulfilment. We offer local benefits designed to suit the requirements of the respective country and place of work to create ideal conditions everywhere. Work-life balance We want to empower people to deliver better care. Therefore, we promote a better work-life balance through flexible working hours, part-time models, the possibility to work from home, and more.