Charge Resource Nurse, Main OR Surgery

Overview

**Monday - Friday / Days (6am-2:30pm) / No Weekends or Call**

Operating Room Experience is REQUIRED

*$20,000 SIGN ON BONUS AVAILABLE*

Charge Resource Nurse is responsible for delegation, supervision, and provision of nursing care for a designated group of patients through utilization of the nursing process. Provides age-appropriate care. Participates in research when appropriate and incorporates research findings into evidence-based clinical practice. Contributes to quality improvement processes. Adheres to MMC Mission, Vision, and Values, the Nursing Division Mission, Vision, and Philosophy, the ANA Code of Ethics and the Illinois Nursing Act.

The charge resource nurse, in conjunction with the educational coordinator, the specialty resource nurse, and the nurse manager, is responsible for assigning appropriate, competent nursing personnel to provide the direct patient care and ancillary support required in the operating room for elective- and emergency-surgical patients; maintaining the physical plant, equipment, and supplies; scheduling and implementing the daily caseload; working closely with the Anesthesia, Outpatient Discharge, and Recovery departments and the surgeons. Manages daily staffing and resources, including increasing, decreasing and reassignment of personnel.

Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values.

Responsibilities

1. Clinical skills
• Maintains basic knowledge and skills in all perioperative-specialty areas; takes call and shift rotation.
• Practices approved aseptic technique and monitors and corrects the aseptic techniques of others as indicated.
• Initiates appropriate intra-operative behaviors unique to first assisting, if trained to do so.
• Handles floor stock medications or medications delivered from pharmacy directly or through the pneumatic tube station. Relocates these medications, in original containers, to designated secure storage locations.
• Provides care appropriate to the age of the patient serviced.

2. Communication skills
• Utilizes simple, direct, and clear verbal instructions and obtains feedback to ensure that instructions are understood.
• Conducts the morning report, relaying pertinent information as well as the day's plan.
• Keeps staff informed (on need-to-know basis) of changes in schedule and assignments.
• Consults regularly with the Anesthesia Department when contemplating changes.
• Informs surgeons involved, PACU, Outpatient Discharge, and secretaries when changes will occur.
• Actively participates in committees.
• Keeps nurse manager informed of day's activities and concerns.
• Demonstrates a supportive, receptive, non-threatening communication style allowing for immediate expression of ideas and problem solving.

3. Leadership skills
• Personnel
o Assists in coordination of daily assignments and decisions for utilization of staff.
o Coordinates activities of personnel assigned to specialty cases.
o Fosters an environment that focuses on values, autonomy, and accountability where staff and management participate as partners in the decision-making process.
o Appropriately delegates duties and responsibilities to other members of the staff necessary to support surgical patient or the department and ensures that tasks are completed.
o Recognizes proper safety precautions in routine performance of duties and reports any disregard of policies to those involved.
o Encourages staff members to follow department policies.
o Reports any inappropriate activities of staff, surgeons, or other personnel to the nurse manager.
o Provides time for orientation, training, and education of staff members as required, working with the educational coordinator to meet identified needs.
o Schedules staff time to include work on special projects, meetings for specialty groups, and feedback to all staff.

• Plant, equipment, supplies
o In conjunction with the departmental business manager, coordinates equipment and supply availability.
o Assures physical environment of specialty rooms, storage areas, etc. is maintained.
o Works with specialty resource nurse and departmental business manager to get equipment repaired as needed.

• Unit coordination/productivity
o Develops positive working relationships with surgeons, which encourage problem solving and ensures that needs of surgeons are identified and met.
o Assists in coordination of the flow of the daily schedule.
o Promotes and collaborates with staff to build a climate that demonstrates appreciation and recognition of achievement.
o Fosters positive, interdepartmental collaborative relationships to improve patient care, unit efficiency, and effectiveness.
o Implements cost-effective measures to enhance effective and efficient patient care.
o Participates in quality improvement processes.
o Guides and oversees daily patient schedule changes according to established policies and procedures.
o Responds promptly to surgeon's concerns and communicates same to the nurse manager.
o Recognizes trends that may affect smooth operation of the department (personnel, scheduling, supplies, surgeons, etc.) and reports them to the nurse manager and/or director.

4. Personal and professional growth.
• Demonstrates responsibility for own personal and professional growth as reflected by professional-development activities and unit projects.
• Attends and participates in inservice programs.
• Acts as role model to staff.

5. Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values:
• SAFETY: Prevent Harm - I put safety first in everything I do. I take action to ensure the safety of others.
• COURTESY: Serve Others - I treat others with dignity and respect. I project a professional image and positive attitude.
• QUALITY: Improve Outcomes - I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance. I work with others to achieve superior results.
• EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste - I use time and resources wisely. I prevent defects and delays.

6. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Qualifications

Education:

• BSN with 3 years of clinical experience practicing in a surgery setting (preferred) OR ADN/Diploma and 5 years of clinical experience practicing in a surgery setting. Experience must demonstrate development of leadership competencies that include team leading and managing complex and potentially confrontational situations.

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Licensed as RN in State of Illinois.
• Current BLS/CPR certification per policy.

Experience:

• Six contact hours of specialty Inservice or management-approved In-services within last 12 months.
• Four contact hours of general continuing education within last 12 months (does not include JCAHO-mandatory In-services).

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Participates in recommended leadership training courses and programs.
• Possesses specialty certification as an operating room nurse or is actively pursuing certification to be accomplished within 12 months of assuming the Charge Resource Nurse role.