Charge Nurse - CICU NIGHTS

Nemours Children's Health is a widely respected pediatric health care system recognized internationally for its comprehensive care and commitment to children. Serving over 1.7 million patient encounters annually, it operates through two freestanding children’s hospitals located in Delaware and Florida, as well as an extensive network of more than 80 primary, urgent, and specialty care practices alongside over 40 hospital partnerships. Nemours Children's Health is backed by the Nemours Foundation and the Alfred I. duPont Trust, forming a $1.7 billion nonprofit system devoted to improving pediatric health outcomes through clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention. Their Whole Child Health approach places equal emphasis on prevention and treatment, working collaboratively with communities to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Included in their values are inclusion and belonging, with a strategic focus on culturally relevant care, reducing health disparities, and fostering supportive and inclusive environments for their staff, patients, and families.

The Charge Nurse role at Nemours Children’s Health is a vital leadership position within the unit that supervises nursing staff and holds accountability for the daily operational activities during their shift. The charge nurse implements the patient care delivery model, serving as a key clinical decision-maker and mentor to ensure the highest quality of care for pediatric patients. This role requires an advanced understanding of professional nursing practice encompassing the observation, assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation of patient care, along with health teaching and counseling. Charge nurses administer medications and treatments as prescribed by authorized practitioners, and they play a critical part in educating and supervising other clinical staff.

Charge nurses are expected to exercise clinical judgment effectively, utilizing policies, reliable methods, and evidence-based guidelines to make decisions. They interpret complex patient data and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to meet individualized patient and family needs. Additionally, charge nurses actively participate in research to implement practice changes based on the latest evidence and contribute to creating a compassionate, safe, and therapeutic environment that promotes patient comfort and healing.

This role also demands cultural competence and responsiveness to patient and family diversity, ensuring care takes into account various cultural, spiritual, and socio-economic factors. The charge nurse acts as an advocate and moral agent, resolving ethical concerns while promoting adherence to professional nursing ethical codes. They facilitate open communication and collaboration with nursing leaders, hospital staff, and community partners to enhance patient care and outcomes.

Charge nurses uphold systems thinking principles by facilitating patient admissions, transfers, and discharges, managing resources effectively, and contributing to the development and revision of clinical standards of care. They also serve as clinical resources, mentors, and educators within the unit, identifying educational needs and fostering ongoing professional growth and learning for themselves and others.

This position requires a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a higher nursing degree from an accredited program, an active Florida or multistate RN license, and at least one year of RN experience, with pediatric specialty experience preferred. National certification in the clinical specialty area is advantageous. Successful candidates must complete American Heart Association courses including BLS Health Care Provider and PALS upon hiring. Internal candidates with an ASN must be actively progressing toward a BSN or graduate nursing degree.