Charge Nurse (Critical Care)

Quick Facts

• Role: Charge Nurse (Critical Care/MICU)

• Focus: Frontline nursing unit leadership and complex patient care management

• Program: EDRP eligible (application within 4 months is required to be considered)

Description

Serve as a Charge Nurse Registered Nurse (RN) providing leadership and executing complex patient care management in a dedicated critical care unit. Lead and collaborate on policy/procedure implementation and revisions, evaluate outcomes of evidence-based decisions, and drive broad, program- or service-level nursing outcomes. Work with the nurse manager to delegate unit and patient care responsibilities, hold staff accountable, and ensure safe, effective, patient-centered care.

Responsibilities

• Maintain operational responsibility for the nursing unit for a defined shift period

• Apply the nursing process to clinical practice, teaching, leading staff, and managing operational processes

• Provide formal or informal constructive feedback to peers and support knowledge sharing

• Foster a safe, supportive environment for professional development

• Assist with flexible staffing plans based on shift needs

• Assess staff skills, personalities, and strengths to support appropriate assignments

• Collaborate with the nurse manager on clinical and administrative duties and staff performance monitoring

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (or VA policy exception for non-citizens)

• English language proficiency (required for direct patient care)

• RN licensure: current, full, active, unrestricted RN registration (with VA-approved education/bridge or foreign-equivalency pathways permitted)

• Graduate of an ACEN or CCNE-approved professional nursing program

• Meet VA employment conditions including background/security investigation and pre-employment onboarding/physical evaluation

• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement

• EDRP: must meet eligibility and submit the application within four months of appointment (if pursuing EDRP)

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential performance awards

• Paid Time Off: 50 days/year (annual leave, sick leave, and Federal holidays)

• Retirement: federal pension and 401K with up to 5% VA contributions

• Insurance: health/vision/dental and other coverage options

• Licensure support: 1 full and unrestricted RN license from any U.S. state or territory

• Work schedule: Night shift (12-hour shifts) with every other weekend and some holidays