Charge Nurse-Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

Role Overview

Charge Nurse – Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Role Purpose

The Charge Nurse is responsible for the overall daily operations and smooth, efficient patient flow within the PACU. The role coordinates daily administrative duties including schedules, assignments, and patient care while maintaining the highest standards of ethical and moral conduct, acting in the best interest of the patient, and supporting the mission, vision, and values of SSMC.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Care and Patient Safety

• Demonstrate competence in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care needs.
• Monitor direct and indirect patient care to achieve optimum patient outcome.
• Monitor clinical care to ensure clinical standards are met; identify variances and initiate corrective measures as required.
• Provide comprehensive clinical handover and report as required to ensure patient safety.
• Attend patient care rounds, communicate, and update the attending healthcare provider on changes in the patient's condition.

Team Leadership and Staff Management

• Delegate assignments and provide supervision for support staff in accordance with their level of training and the patient's acuity.
• Ensure nursing staff works within their capacity, experience, training, and scope of practice.
• Monitor staff performance and provide regular constructive feedback, coaching, guidance, and support to team members on the shift.
• Identify learning needs of junior staff on the unit in conjunction with the Clinical Resource Nurse and Manager and assist with implementation of educational activities.
• Mentor and train new staff while providing support and guidance to all staff members.
• Delegate to the nursing team in response to an emergency.

Resource Coordination and Operations

• Liaise with the Nurse Manager and Nurse Supervisor to ensure the patient care load is addressed with appropriate staffing and skill mix in an environment that is safe for the patient and nurse.
• Monitor and coordinate effective and efficient utilization of human resources, consumables, and equipment.
• Monitor and evaluate unit operations and services to identify problems and take a lead role in improving systems and safe patient care.
• Ensure provision of a clean and safe working environment that minimizes risks to patients, visitors, and staff.
• Identify faulty and defective equipment and furniture and take corrective action.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide patient and family-centered care.
• Facilitate effective communication between the patient, family, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team as required.
• Liaise with other healthcare providers as necessary to ensure appropriate and timely interventions for patients and for discharge planning.
• Communicate with the patient care team about ongoing changes in the patient's plan of care and unit activity.
• Coordinate referrals and utilize available resources for the provision of comprehensive care.
• Provide guidance and advice to the patient care team on clinical and administrative matters.

Medication Management

• Administer medications according to organization policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with Pharmacy services to ensure the provision of medication needs of the unit.
• Ensure that on a shift basis at the unit level, the monitoring, replacement, storage, and administration of Narcotic and Controlled Drugs are in accordance with Ministry of Health and DOH Narcotic Policies and Procedures.
• Report Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) and Medication errors in accordance with organization policy.

Emergency Response

• Assist with all levels of emergencies according to the organization's policies and procedures.
• Respond to all levels of emergencies according to the organization's policies and procedures.

Infection Control and Compliance

• Promote and audit compliance with the organization's Infection Control policies.
• Monitor and audit compliance with organization documentation standards.
• Identify, investigate, report, and implement corrective action for incidents or complaints as appropriate; complete appropriate documentation according to organization policy.

Professional Development and Accountability

• Demonstrate evidence of mandatory and unit-specific competencies completion, accredited and non-accredited Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) units per DOH and organization requirements, and ongoing professional development in leadership and management.
• Maintain own Professional Portfolio as per DOH policy.
• Participate in interdisciplinary teams and performance improvement projects.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the unit manager.

Qualifications & Experience

• Not less than 6 years of clinical experience post-qualification in an appropriate and relevant healthcare setting.
• Not less than 2 years of experience as a team leader in a particular unit.
• Bachelor degree in Nursing OR Degree in Nursing (minimum 2 years course duration) AND Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia.
• Valid and current national license.
• BLS (Basic Life Support).

Skills & Competencies

• ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support).
• PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) relevant to area of specialty.
• Knowledge of healthcare systems and ability to interact, relate to, work with, and support the activities of a diverse multidisciplinary workforce.
• Acts as the clinical resource person in the work unit and ensures that staff delivers care professionally.