CHARGE NURSE
UHS
Summary
The Charge Nurse serves as the primary operational nursing leader for the assigned unit during the shift. The Lead Charge Nurse is responsible for maintaining safe patient care operations, monitoring staffing and assignments, supporting the Primary Care Nursing model, coordinating patient flow, and serving as the primary communication link between bedside nursing staff, House Supervisors, Nurse Managers, and the ACNO, physicians, interdisciplinary team, and other departments to address clinical and operational needs. The Charge Nurse is expected to function as a working leader, maintaining clinical responsibilities while simultaneously providing operational oversight of the unit.
Job description
Core Responsibilities
Staffing & Primary Care Nursing model and/or 1:6 Ratio Surveillance
- Monitor RN/LVN assignments throughout the shift.
- Ensure assignments remain aligned with the 1:6 nursing patient ratio.
- Identify anticipated staffing shortages before they occur.
- Reassign staff appropriately when census or acuity changes.
- Escalate staffing concerns through the established chain of command.
- Ensure breaks and meals are appropriately covered.
- Communicate staffing changes to the Nurse Manager/Supervisor/ACNO.
Patient Acuity & Safety
- Evaluate patient acuity when making assignments.
- Identify patients requiring increased observation or additional nursing resources.
- Ensure high-risk patients are appropriately assigned.
- Respond to changes in patient condition and behavioral acuity.
- Coordinate appropriate interventions during emergencies.
Unit Operations
- Coordinate admissions, discharges, and transfers.
- Maintain awareness of unit census and anticipated patient movement.
- Coordinate with MHT/MHW staff regarding milieu coverage.
- Ensure nursing workflow remains organized throughout the shift.
- Address operational barriers promptly.
Leadership
- Provide direction and support to RNs, LVNs, and MHT/MHW staff.
- Model professional behavior and accountability.
- Address staff concerns are appropriate.
- Promote teamwork and effective communication.
- Escalate performance or safety concerns appropriately.
Performance Expectations
- Demonstrate leadership through visibility and proactive rounding.
- Promote accountability without assuming the Primary RN role.
- Foster teamwork among RNs, LVNs, and MHTs.
- Ensure continuity of care throughout the shift.
- Support patient-centered, safe, and evidence-informed nursing practice consistent with the Primary Care Nursing Model.
Requirements
- Graduate of accredited nursing school required.
- Licensure by the California Board of Registered Nursing required.
- Clinical experience in a psychiatric setting preferred.
- 1 year of acute inpatient psychiatric experience or completion of a structured psychiatric nurse residency.
- Must be able to interact positively with patients on a daily basis.
- Must be able to demonstrate leadership ability and provide appropriate supervision/oversight of staff.
- Must be able to work successfully under highly stressful conditions.
- Must be able to make sound, independent judgments based on scientific and/or ethical principles.
- Must be able to comprehend and perform oral and written instructions and procedures.
- Must be able to collaborate with other multidisciplinary team members in an appropriate fashion.
- Must be capable of adapting to varying workloads and work assignments on a constant basis.
- Must have math skills to enable calculation of drug dosages and infusion rates.
Benefits
- Competitive Compensation
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Prescription Drug Plans
- 401(k) with company match
- Discounted stock plan
- Education Assistance
- Monthly Loan Reimbursement Program
- SoFi Student Loan Refinance Program
- New Employee Bonus Program
Company overview
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, operating as a Fortune 300 corporation headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1979, UHS has grown into a major healthcare enterprise with approximately 99,000 employees and annual revenues exceeding $14 billion. The company operates through its subsidiaries, managing 29 acute care hospitals, 331 behavioral health facilities, and 60 outpatient and other facilities across 39 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. UHS provides comprehensive healthcare services including acute care, behavioral health treatment, cancer centers, and ambulatory surgical centers. The company's strategy focuses on building or acquiring high-quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets and investing in advanced medical equipment and skilled personnel to become the leading healthcare provider in each community it serves. UHS is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: UHS) and has established a strong reputation for delivering compassionate, high-quality care while maintaining financial stability and operational excellence.