"Charge Nurse (7840)"

The person in this position will furnish full-time clinical duties in the Internal Medicine Clinic Divisions. This nurse will assist physicians (including faculty, residents, and medical students) in patient care activities requiring specialized nursing skills and will act as the lead nurse in the Division(s) of General Internal Medicine FQHC and Decatur Multispecialty Clinic.

SIU School of Medicine does not participate in the E-Verify program. Employment eligibility will be verified in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

Administration: 50%

• Responsible for assisting in the operation of the clinic by maintaining patient information for procedures, education and medical records.
• Serves as a clinical resource to clerical and ancillary personnel.
• Attends in-service classes and other meetings as directed and as deemed necessary; suggests ideas for in-service training and improving patient education.
• Maintains Basic Life Support certification required to perform nursing duties.
• Supervises nursing care delivery ensuring that the patient care delivered benefits the patient and meets the individual physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant's expectations.
• Monitors the quality of work and services performed by clinical staff. Ensures that functions are performed according to policies and procedures.
• Coordinates orientation and training for new personnel.
• With assistance of the Nurse Administrator and relevant physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s), interviews and hires clinic personnel to fill vacancies or new positions in the clinic.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of a Quality Assurance Program for the nursing staff and participates in patient care audits.
• Contributes to the development, maintenance, and updating of nursing policies, procedures and standards of care.
• Performs employee evaluations, approves sick/vacation time, assesses need for compensatory time, and participates in the disciplinary process as required.
• Provides oversight, correction, and mitigation of problems that arise in clinic, i.e. misunderstanding between staff members, physicians, and/or patients.
• Conducts regular clinical staff meetings to communicate divisional, departmental, and organizational, changes, projects, and updates.
• Working in conjunction with all Department of Internal Medicine Charge Nurses, regularly meet with and provide clinic coverage for each other.
• Completes and follows up on all sensor reports assigned to your divison.
• Performs other indirect patient duties as assigned.

Direct Patient Care: 50%

• Provides nursing support to physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s).
• Demonstrates clinical competence in carrying out patient care duties specific to assigned area.
• Assists physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s) with clinics including but not limited to: preparing patient for examination, testing, and/or procedures; obtaining vital signs and other pertinent information; scheduling and/or explaining procedures/tests to patient and family.
• Obtains complete health and nursing histories for individuals and families who are patients of the clinic; utilizes this information when providing telephone triaging, direct care and patient education.
• Documents patient's history, vital signs, and chief complaint in medical record.
• Interviews patients and their families to determine patient/family dynamics, needs, and identification of any contributing factors to illness; guides other staff members in patient teaching; and assists patient's family to participate in patient's teaching plan.
• Coordinates follow-up of outpatient services; facilitates scheduling and performance of tests and procedures; provides follow-up care in conjunction with attending physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant furnishing information and teaching.
• Manages acute and/or episodic minor illness of outpatients, and recommends and initiates treatment as indicated.
• Screens/triages telephone calls from patients and other customers; answers questions using professional knowledge, expertise, and nursing judgement, and documents actions in patient chart.
• Administers medications by appropriate route with consideration for patient safety.
• Performs laboratory procedures specific to assigned area.
• Responsible for facilitating efficient patient flow within assigned clinic.
• Following guidelines/protocols established by physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant(s), refills medications and documents such in patient chart.
• Identifies specialized patient needs and informs appropriate members of the staff.
• Performs PICC line removal and PICC line dressing changes per department protocol.
• Responsible for and performs any and all LPN/RN functions pertaining to the specialties you are assigned.
• Travels to satellite locations as assigned including Decatur Multispecialty Clinic at a minimum of 2 times per week.
• Performs other direct patient care duties as assigned.

Credentials to be Verified

• Licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinois.
• Three years of work experience as a Registered Professional Nurse or 2 years work experience as a Registered Professional Nurse with 1 year of supervisory experience.