Registered Nurse – Med Surg Primary Charge

Job Title: Registered Nurse – Med Surg Primary Charge
Location: Dixon, Illinois
Schedule: Full-Time | 12-Hour Night Shifts | 7:00 PM–7:00 AM
Weekend Requirement: Typically every other weekend
Holiday Requirement: Typically every other holiday
Pay Range: $37.75–$54.63 per hour
Night Differential: +$4.00 per hour
Weekend Differential: +$3.25 per hour
Sign-On Bonus: $20,000 with a two-year commitment
Relocation Assistance: May be available and discussed during the interview process

Job Overview

A leading healthcare organization is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse – Med Surg Primary Charge to provide both direct patient care and clinical leadership on the night shift in Dixon, Illinois.

This role is ideal for an experienced Med-Surg RN who is ready to serve as a primary clinical resource for the unit, coordinate nursing workflow, support staff, and help maintain safe and efficient patient care throughout the shift.

Candidates must have at least two years of nursing experience and previous relief charge experience. New graduates are not being considered for this position.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Primary Charge RN and provide clinical leadership during assigned shifts
• Coordinate patient assignments based on acuity, staffing, and nursing competency
• Support and guide RNs, Patient Care Technicians, and other members of the nursing team
• Assist with patient flow, admissions, transfers, and discharge coordination
• Serve as a clinical resource for staff regarding patient-care concerns and changing conditions
• Communicate significant patient, staffing, or operational concerns to the House Supervisor and appropriate leadership
• Provide direct nursing care to Medical-Surgical patients as needed
• Complete comprehensive patient assessments and ongoing reassessments
• Develop, implement, and update individualized nursing plans of care
• Administer medications, IV therapies, and treatments according to physician orders
• Monitor patients for clinical changes and initiate appropriate interventions
• Care for patients with common diagnoses including:
• NSTEMI
• COPD
• Pneumonia
• Sepsis
• Acute kidney injury
• Other acute medical and surgical conditions
• Monitor telemetry patients and review rhythm strips during the shift
• Collaborate with monitor technicians regarding cardiac rhythm findings
• Coordinate care with physicians, nursing leadership, respiratory therapy, PCTs, and other interdisciplinary team members
• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, and discharge instructions
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation
• Promote patient safety, infection prevention, and adherence to nursing standards
• Assist with staff problem-solving, prioritization, and escalation of clinical concerns
• Float to ICU, Emergency Department, or behavioral health areas only when appropriate experience and competency are present
• Perform additional nursing and charge responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• Current Registered Nurse license appropriate for practice in Illinois
• Minimum of two years of professional nursing experience
• Previous relief charge or charge nurse experience
• Medical-Surgical nursing experience
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification prior to start
• Strong clinical assessment, prioritization, and decision-making skills
• Ability to coordinate staff assignments and unit workflow
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Ability to support and mentor nursing staff during the shift
• Ability to remain composed and make sound decisions in fast-paced clinical situations
• Ability to work 12-hour night shifts
• Availability for rotating weekends and holidays

Preferred

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Two or more years of acute-care Medical-Surgical nursing experience
• Previous formal Charge Nurse experience
• Telemetry experience
• ICU or Emergency Department experience
• Previous leadership, preceptor, or mentoring experience

New graduates are not being considered for this position.

Department Information

• Medical-Surgical units with:
• 23 beds on one floor
• 14 beds on an additional floor
• Typical RN-to-patient ratio of approximately 1:5, occasionally up to 1:6
• Patient Care Technician coverage of approximately 1:8
• House Supervisor support available
• Telemetry monitoring with dedicated monitor technicians; RNs review and sign off on rhythm strips
• RNs are not routinely required to titrate critical-care drips
• No routine on-call requirement
• Low census may occur but is uncommon
• Floating outside Med-Surg is based on the RN's prior experience and demonstrated competency

Benefits & Incentives

• $20,000 sign-on bonus with a two-year employment commitment
• Competitive compensation based on experience
• $4.00 per hour night differential
• $3.25 per hour weekend differential
• Relocation assistance may be available based on individual circumstances
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Retirement savings programs
• Paid time off
• Continuing-education and professional-development opportunities
• Nursing leadership and career advancement opportunities
• Employee wellness and assistance programs

If you are an experienced Med-Surg RN with charge experience who is ready to take on greater leadership responsibility while remaining clinically involved in patient care, we would love to hear from you.