Charge Nurse - RN- at Ear Nose & Throat Specialties PC – Lincoln, Nebraska

In partnership with the OR Supervisor and administration, the Charge Nurse coordinates daily clinical operations, staffing assignments, patient flow support, and adherence to policies and standards. The Charge Nurse assists with operational programs and functions within defined authority and provides coverage in the absence of the OR Supervisor as assigned. The Charge Nurse supervises professional and non-professional workers assigned to the nursing area and collaborates with physicians, anesthesia, and ancillary departments to ensure safe, efficient care.

Key Outcomes/Measures of Success

· Safe patient care and reliable shift execution across perioperative areas.

· Effective staffing assignments, break/lunch coverage, and room turnover coordination.

· Timely identification and escalation of issues affecting patient flow, supplies, equipment, or staffing.

· Consistent adherence to policies/procedures, asepsis, and documentation standards.

· Support of a collaborative culture and professional communication with staff, physicians, and patients/families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership, Scheduling, and Patient Flow Coordination

· Assist with daily staffing execution and adjustments; coordinates coverage for call-offs, late cases, and emergency needs.

· Supports proactive staffing planning with leadership (e.g., upcoming leave coverage, cross-training plans, anticipated volume changes).

· Assist with monitoring overtime, staffing ratios, and workload distribution; identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce burnout.

· Supports consistent application of low-volume protocols and ensures staff complete assigned duties prior to dismissal.

· Monitors patient volumes and schedule changes during the shift and collaborates with the OR Supervisor to maintain operational continuity.

· Acts as a liaison for physicians, anesthesia, patients/families, and ancillary departments as needed during the shift.

· Maintains effective working relationships with patients, families, physicians, and employees

· Provides on-the-job teaching and coaching; supports staff development and competency reinforcement.

· Uses sound judgment to solve problems and make logical, reasonable decisions within scope.

· Supports a positive, respectful culture and addresses conflict using appropriate escalation pathways.

Clinical Practice & Patient Safety

· Provides direct patient care as needed; supports age-specific needs and scope of services.

· Ensures adherence to aseptic technique and standards of practice.

· Supports appropriate assessments and documentation per policy; reinforces accurate, complete, and legible charting.

· Ensures safe transfer of care and handoffs within perioperative phases.

· Advocates for patients and maintains privacy/confidentiality of all appropriate information.

Materials, Supplies, and Readiness Support

· Works with the OR Supervisor and designated staff to ensure supplies required for patient care areas are secured, stored, and distributed appropriately.

· Identifies unusual supply needs, backorders, or stockouts during the shift and escalates promptly.

· Assures equipment is ready and maintained in a state of readiness for facility services; reports issues and coordinates immediate solutions as needed.

· Assists with ordering support and inventory awareness as assigned.

Quality, Safety, Risk, and Regulatory Readiness

· Assist with monitoring quality of care and staff performance to identify areas for improvement; participates in performance improvement projects.

· Participates in quality review, safety, and performance improvement initiatives and supports a continuous readiness culture.

· Support incident reporting processes are followed; escalates adverse events and near misses appropriately.

· Supports emergency preparedness activities, drills, and documentation; ensures emergency equipment readiness.

· Supports infection prevention practices and environmental safety in collaboration with assigned leaders.

Coverage in Absence of OR Supervisor

· Provides operational coverage in the absence of the OR Supervisor within assigned authority and ensures appropriate escalation to administration for issues outside scope.

· Conducts staff meetings as needed in the absence of the OR Supervisor and/or designated leaders.