General Overview:

The Nurse in Charge (NIC) is a designated clinical leaderfor a given patient care area who works collaboratively with the Nursing Director (ND)and Assistant Nurse Director (AND) in planning and implementing patient care at the service/department level. The nurse in charge is accountable for cost-effective decision making regarding daily assignment of staff, use of supplies, and day to day operational decision making. The NIC participates in the clinical patient care standard development, evaluation of outcomes and development of improvement initiatives. The NIC participates in the assessment of staff performance through contribution to individual staff performance reviews. The NIC is accountable for identifying competency issues and participating in the development and implementation of the plan for performance improvement. The NIC reports to the Nursing Director.

At the Brigham, we place great value on being a diverse and inclusive community. Brigham Health and the Department of Nursing are dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion as we aim to reflect the diversity of the patients in our local community. We have a dedicated focus on equity. Thus, we believe in equal access to quality care, employment and advancement opportunities encompassing the full spectrum or human diversity: race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin and all the other forms of human presence and expression that make us better able to provide innovative and cutting-edge healthcare and research.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Patient Care

1. Plans, implements and evaluates the patient care delivery system of the given area. Assigning patient care based upon patient acuity, staff qualifications and unit standards. Maintains clinical expertise and serves as a role model while delivering direct patient care.

2. Recommends changes in staff mix needed based upon the needs of patients, methods of delivery of care, and budget allowances on a daily and annual basis.

B. Quality of Care

1. Participates actively in the unit-based and organizational quality management and/or care improvement programs.

2. Identifies and participates in the development of new standards of care to ensure optimal outcomes for various patient populations.

C. Coordination/Collaboration

1. Promotes collaborative relationships between nursing staff and other departments.

2. Serves as a resource to staff in the interpretation and implementation of Hospital and Nursing policies and procedures.

3. Collaborates with the Nursing Director and Assistant Nurse -director in planning staff meeting agendas. Facilitates staff attendance, communication, and clarification of agenda items.

4. Incorporates peer consultation in clinical practice.

5. Works collaboratively with faculty to provide clinical experience for students.

6. Facilitates staff attendance at in-services and educational programs.

D. Budget

1. Makes recommendations for personnel, capital expenditures and supply par levels to meet patient needs.

2. Communicates variance of established staffing and supply budgets to ANM and ND.

E. Personnel

1. Monitors adherence to standards of practice (unit-based standards and practice guidelines) and provides immediate feedback to staff as appropriate to unit-based standards and practice guidelines.

2. Provides ND and AND with specific performance information for staff evaluation and goal setting.

3. Provides input into recommendation of staff selection and promotion.

F. Professional Development of Nursing Staff

1. Collaborates with the leadership team on an ongoing basis to assist Nursing staff in the development of professional goals and an action plan to achieve them.

2. Participates in the identification of both unit based and individual staff educational needs.

3. Collaborates in development, implementation, and evaluation of orientation activities.

4. Fosters a climate of clinical and professional excellence.

5. Participates in educational offerings to assure ongoing clinical and interpersonal competence utilizing state of the art practice.

G. Research

1. Contributes to nursing and/or medical research endeavors by supporting efforts of investigators.

2. Participates in nursing and/or medical research through data collection.

3. Maintains knowledge of current research findings in given specialty areas.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

1. Demonstrates clinical expertise in the assigned area.

2. Utilizes current concepts of nursing practice in the management of patient care.

3. Demonstrates the skills necessary to assist with development and implementation of policies and procedures.

4. Demonstrates the knowledge and skill to organize, coordinate, and participate in the evaluation of care delivery.

5. Demonstrates effective interpersonal and leadership skills necessary to promote effective working relationships with all members of the healthcare team.

6. Demonstrates the ability to deal effectively with stress relating to the changing organizational climate, personnel and patient care issues.

7. Demonstrates effective skills in applying hospital standards in the areas of service, teamwork, communication, respect for others, and time/priority management.

8. Must have strong communication skill

WORKING CONDITIONS

Works in a variety of patient care settings where there may be exposure to communicable disease and biohazardous material.

Lifting, Pushing and Pulling Policy Statement (effective 3/7/20111): The Department of Nursing has adopted the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-recommended maximum weight limit of 35 lbs. for lifting, and a reasonably comparable standard for pushing and pulling, as part of the physical requirements for this position.

Addendum

RN performs waived point of care (POC) testing. Requires at a minimum a high school diploma or equivalent as described in the Federal Register, 42 CFR, Subpart M 493.1403-1495. (addendum added 2/2019)

Federal law requires: For RN whose responsibilities include the performance of moderate complexity POC testing, an associate or bachelor's degree in chemical, physical, or biological science or medical

laboratory technology as required as described in the Federal Register, 42 CFR, Subpart M 493.1403- 1495. (addendum added 8/2021)

Approved: 10/79, Special Nurse Executive Board, 1/94

Revised: VP Nursing and Nursing Directors, 8/93, 10/25/85

Reviewed: Directors' Conference, 3/87, 9/91

Nurse Executive Board, 12/97, 1/00, 9/03, 3/09, 6/12, 1/16, 4/2021, 2/2023

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

1. For all NICs hired into positions posted on or after April 1, 2000: Current Massachusetts license. Graduate of an approved School of Nursing. For external applicants: Bachelors or master's in nursing required.For internal applicants: Bachelors or master's in nursing preferred. If not, must be enrolled or enroll in a program leading to a bachelor's or master's in nursing within one (1) year from being appointed to NIC position and must complete such program no later than six (6) years after commencing employment as a NIC.

2. Three years of experience in nursing with directly related clinical experience and demonstrated leadership ability.

3. Membership in professional organizations is recommended and certification in specialty areas is encouraged.

4. 1-2 +years Endoscopy experience required.

5. 1-2+ years Endoscopy charge nurse experience required.

EEO Statement

Brigham and Women's Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service, or other protected status