"Charge Nurse (RN)"

Job Details

Extended Job Title: Charge Nurse (RN)

Position Description:

Are you a compassionate and dedicated Registered Nurse (RN) looking for a fulfilling career where your skills and empathy truly make a difference? Join our team as a Charge Nurse (RN). At Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Managed Care, be a part of a team committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare.

We provide medical, mental health, and dental services to patients in 22 facilities across West Texas with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Our Values-Based Culture guides us in everything we do, ensuring patient-centered care in a supportive and collaborative environment.

As a Charge Nurse, you will play a vital role in our healthcare team by providing high-quality nursing care and supporting unit objectives and administrative policies. You will work under the supervision of the Unit Director of Nurses, performing both general and specialized nursing duties within your legal scope of practice. In this role, you will assist the Director of Nurses in overseeing clinic personnel and may step in for them when they are absent. You will also interact regularly with both patients and clinic staff to ensure the delivery of safe and competent care.

Requisition ID: 40067BR

Travel Required: Up to 25%

Pay Grade: Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan website.

Major/Essential Functions:

• Charge nurse involves overseeing the clinical and administrative operations of the unit, providing guidance to staff members including other Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), and Correctional Medication Aides (CMA), as well as other similar licensed staff, and ensuring high-quality patient care is delivered.
• Conducting initial health assessments for newly admitted inmates, including admissions to the Unit infirmary, Crisis Management, and the Program for the Aggressive Mentally Ill Offender (PAMIO).
• Administers medications to inmates, as prescribed by physicians or nurse practitioner, both from pill windows and cell side. Administers Intravenous (IV) push medications as needed.
• Monitoring inmates for adverse reactions to medications and intervening as necessary.
• Performing basic medical procedures, such as wound care and dressing changes.
• Collecting and recording vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
• Assisting with diagnostic tests and procedures, such as blood draws and electrocardiograms.
• Providing health education and counseling to inmates on topics such as disease prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, and medication adherence.
• Assisting with the maintenance of medical records and charts for all inmates.
• Assisting with the management of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
• Assisting with the screening of inmates for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis.
• Collaborating with other members of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care for inmates who require specialty services outside the prison setting.
• The function of a behavioral health professional is to conduct assessments, administer medication, respond to crises, provide education and referrals, document patient records, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, advocate for patients' rights, follow safety protocols, and stay current on research and trends in prison mental health nursing.
• The function of an infirmary nurse is to conduct comprehensive assessments, administer medication and treatments, monitor patients' physical and mental health, provide wound care, assist with activities of daily living, communicate with the healthcare team, educate patients about adhering to infection control protocols to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in both short and long-term care settings, as well as in hospice and mental health observation.

Registered Nurse Shift Differential:

• Day Shift Employees: Earn an extra $4.00 per hour for shifts worked on Saturday and Sunday.
• Night Shift Employees: Earn an extra $4.00 per hour for shifts worked Monday through Friday. Earn an extra $8.00 per hour for shifts worked on Saturday and Sunday.

Grant Funded?: No

Pay Basis: Hourly

Schedule Details: Will discuss during interview.

Work Location: Amarillo

Department: Psych PAMIO Inpatient Facility

Job Type: Full Time

Shift: Other

Occasional Duties: Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications: Graduate from an accredited nursing program. Two years of nursing experience, with at least 6 months of that experience as a Registered Nurse. Possession of a valid, current Registered Nurse (RN) license as approved by the Texas State Board of Examiners.