Charge Registered Nurse - Ambulatory Surgery Center

Job Summary

Responsible for all clinical operations of the ASC, or of the Center as a whole, as defined by the Director of Operations. Ensures that patients receive high-quality care in accordance with provider’s orders. Runs an efficient, smoothly functioning operation that also produces high-quality documentation as required to meet medical necessity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Direct, staff, train, plan, organize, and delegate all the clinical services provided in the ASC and in the clinic as needed daily.

· Develop, review and revise standard operating procedures in all aspects of ASC’s operations in accordance with RSPS policies and procedures.

· “Own” policies, procedures, and documentation pertaining to the ASC’s regulatory requirements. Ensure that staff understands and follows them. Maintain the ASC in “survey-ready” status with all manuals current.

· Develop, train and reinforce standards and procedures that maximize productivity.

· Take direction from and collaborate with Administrator/DOO and providers to select, train, and develop strong staff members.

· Establish and reinforce a culture of teamwork among ASC staff as well as with providers, front desk, and the clinic.

· Although the Charge Nurse does not have disciplinary authority over ASC or clinic staff, she/he is expected to effectively resolve staff conflicts without taking sides, and to identify the need for progressive discipline where necessary. In such cases, the Charge Nurse should engage the Administrator/DOO.

· Collaborate with Clinic Lead to cross-train provider extenders to perform roles in the ASC, and vice versa. Coordinate schedules with Clinic Lead to staff the ASC with provider extenders if/when the need arises.

· Set an example for the ASC team by demonstrating concern for patient welfare to patients and their families.

· Ensure that the ASC area of the Center is properly maintained. Identify the need to replace existing or purchase additional medical equipment.

· Work with Administrator/DOO to recruit nurses, surgical technicians, and medical assistants to fill vacancies.

· Orient and train new employees.

· Direct and monitor workloads according to schedule.

· Assist Administrator/DOO with employees’ annual evaluations.

· Manage or delegate management of medical supply inventory. Maintain an optimum level of supplies in the facility down to stock keeping unit level. Obtain approvals for purchases of medical supplies and report inventory count on a monthly basis in accordance with RSPS policies and procedures. Manage controlled substances in accordance with RSPS policies and procedures.

· Resolve patient complaints. Seek assistance on the more difficult ones from the appropriate authority (provider, or Administrator/DOO).

· Perform as a staff nurse on procedure days.

· Assist Administrator/DOO with staff meetings, in-services, and developing and implementing new policies.

· Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The duties and responsibilities listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

Education and/or Experience

· Graduate of an accredited Nursing program. Bachelor of Science degree in nursing preferred.

· Must have current Georgia nursing license, BLS, ACLS and other required training.

· Knowledge of equipment, instrumentation and supplies required to perform specific responsibilities.

· Demonstrated leadership skills.

Communication Skills

Strong customer service skills. Good command of the English language, both verbal and written. Ability to work well with providers, fellow employees, and patients.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to work independently with detail and accuracy. Ability to apply common sense, understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several variables.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand for extended periods. The employee is regularly required to walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel.
• The employee must regularly lift 100 pounds with assistance and 50 pounds without assistance. Must assist patients of all sizes and weights on and off the surgical table. Visual acuity for chart review and equipment operation. Considerable stooping, pushing, pulling and lifting required.

Work Environment

The 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.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Employee is exposed to radiation due to the use of fluoroscopy and is required to wear (approximately 5lb) lead apron during procedures.