NICU Charge Nurse

Job Description

The NICU Charge Nurse will provide day-to-day oversight of the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, supervising approximately 45 combined staff members. This position entails a dynamic role, balancing administrative tasks with direct patient care as needed.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the operation of the Level III NICU, caring for patients primarily categorized as Level II, including growers and feeders at 24-25 weeks.
• Manage staffing, compliance, and regulatory requirements within the NICU and Pediatric departments.
• Collaborate with the education department to facilitate ongoing training and development for nursing staff.
• Oversee patient assignments and ensure nurse-to-patient ratios are maintained according to acuity, typically 1:3.
• Participate in patient care as needed while managing administrative duties.
• Administer evaluations and ensure adherence to established protocols and care standards.

Qualifications

• Current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a NICU setting.
• At least 2 years of Charge Nurse or Lead Nurse experience.
• A minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience is required.
• Recent hands-on patient care experience is essential.

Additional Information

The Charge Nurse will begin their orientation on Mondays, which includes meeting with Human Resources for paperwork and obtaining a badge, completing a Respiratory Fit Test with Occupational Health, and undergoing testing with the Nursing Education department. All RNs will be subject to a medication test on their first day, following which they will complete their shift under the guidance of a Clinical Preceptor.

This role requires the candidate to be present before the start of their assigned shift and for the majority of that shift.

Charting and Equipment

• Charting will be conducted through Meditech.
• Registered Nurses will be provided with Workstations on Wheels (WOWs) for charting purposes.
• Medication administration is conducted using Pyxis systems.
• IV pumps used will include Solaris devices.

Uniform Requirements

Professional scrubs in any color are permitted; however, no other facility names or logos are allowed on scrubs.