Charge Nurse

The Health Services Department of Contra Costa County is currently recruiting individuals interested in Charge Nurse employment opportunities. Most assignments are located at the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center, Martinez, California. Other assignments are in ambulatory care clinics and public health centers at various locations throughout the County and at the Detention Facilities in Central and West County.

Charge Nurses are responsible for maintaining and advancing quality patient care standards on an assigned unit or in a clinic. They serve as a resource for subordinate nursing staff on clinical issues and provide daily direction while managing their own patient assignments. Charge Nurses participate in the interview and selection of new staff, evaluate the performance of subordinates and prepare staffing schedules.

Typical Tasks

• Serves in a lead capacity during an assigned shift in a hospital unit, health center or detention facility
• Assesses patient needs, unit resources and activity level and delegates patient care assignment based on competency of subordinate nursing staff
• Monitors appropriate completion of patient care documentation
• Acts as a patient advocate
• Assesses performance of subordinate staff
• Investigates and directs patient care issues to appropriate persons for follow-up
• Participates in the interview and selection of new staff as assigned
• Provides input to the nurse manager on staffing needs, policies and procedures
• Prepares staffing schedules on hospital units, prepares patient acuity information for the next shift and for reporting to the nursing office
• Assists in educational needs, assessment of subordinate staff and recommends training
• Participates in the Quality Management Programs and other committees as required
• Enforces safety measures and takes corrective action as necessary
• Provides direct patient care as needed
• Serves as a resource to subordinate nursing staff for problem solving and decision making
• Conducts meetings and disseminates information under direction of Nurse Program Manager

Minimum Qualifications

License Required: Possession of a Valid and unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse in the State of California.

Special Requirement: Possession of Basic Life Support certification (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or CPR certification issued by the American Red Cross. Must successfully pass a pharmacology test administered by the County.

Experience: Three (3) years of full-time or its equivalent experience performing the duties of a Registered Nurse in an acute care hospital, one (1) year of which must have been in the specialty area.

Qualifications for Restricted Positions: Specific qualifications are required beyond those specified above for the following assignments:

Emergency Department: Possession of Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS), and Emergency Nurse Certificate (CEN) or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) - which can be obtained in the first six months of probation. One (1) year of the required experience must have been in an Emergency Department as a Registered Nurse.

Intensive Care: Possession of a Coronary Care Certificate issued by the American Heart Association and Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Operating Room: One year of the required experience must have been in operating room nursing in a hospital approved by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations.

Post Anesthesia Recovery Room: One year of the required experience must have been in Post Anesthesia Recovery as a Registered Nurse. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)/Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification required. ASPAN Certification preferred.

Labor and Delivery: One year of the required experience must have been in Labor and Delivery as a Registered Nurse. Possession of Advanced Fetal Monitoring and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certificates required.

Maternal/Child: One year of the required experience must have been in an Intensive Care Nursery, Postpartum, or Pediatrics unit. Possession of Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificates required.

Detention Facilities: Possession of NCCHC (National Commission on Correctional Health Care) certificate.

Selection Process

1. Application Filing: Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.cccounty.us/depart/hr, or, a completed Contra Costa County application and supplemental must be received or postmarked by the final filing date listed above. An application may be obtained by visiting our office at 651 Pine St., 2nd floor, Martinez, CA 94553.

2. Oral Interview: An oral interview will be conducted by a Qualifications Appraisal Board in Martinez, Ca. The Board will evaluate candidates in job-related areas. Candidates must receive a rating of at least 70 from a majority of the Board members to be ranked on the employment list. (Weighted 100%)

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

OPEN ONLY: February 17, 2009
MG/MT Exam Number: VWTF-2009A

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Contra Costa County not to discriminate because of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, wheel chair use, marital status, sex, age or sexual orientation

Contra Costa County Health Services Department is offering an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in the Public Health Laboratory Manager. The Public Health Laboratory is a full service state of the art laboratory and reference facility. It includes a molecular microbiology laboratory and a Bioterrorism unit. The Public Health Laboratory works with a busy, modern county hospital as well as seven community hospitals. In addition the laboratory works closely with Environmental Health and the Hazardous Materials Program in outbreak control and testing of potentially hazardous materials. It is a BSL 3 facility and it is registered to work with select agents.

The incumbent will be responsible for managing Public Health Laboratory staff engaged in serological, immunological, virological, parasitological, and bacteriological, and other microbiological testing and analyses and for assisting the Director with quality assurance, process management, and overall laboratory administration.

The employment list established as a result of this examination may remain in effect for six (6) months.

Typical Tasks

• Management Responsibilities
• Plans, assigns, and coordinates the work of professional, paraprofessional, and clerical staff engaged in diagnostic testing
• Assists in establishing, interpreting, and implementing administrative and personnel policies and procedures for the Public Health Laboratory
• Provides training to Public Health Microbiologists and assistance with ensuring quality assurance for lab operations
• Assists in the planning of long-range goals and short-term service requirements of the Public Health Laboratory
• Ensure quality assurance and processes are in compliance with local, State, Federal regulations
• Establishes and monitors internal quality control standards, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with State and Federal requirements
• Oversees the Laboratory’s billing system and maintains an adequate inventory of laboratory equipment and supplies
• Collects and analyzes laboratory data in order to assist the Director in preparing periodic reports
• Ensures safety precautions are implemented and maintained and participates in disaster planning activities
• Prepares epidemiological reports and undertakes ways to enhance epidemiological reviews of laboratory data
• Performs the most difficult or complex testing procedures for which standard procedures have not yet been established
• Keeps abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of Public Health laboratory testing and administration
• Act on behalf of the Director in his/her absence

Minimum Qualifications

Certification Required: Possession of a valid Public Health Microbiologist Certification issued by the State of California.

Experience: Four (4) years of full-time (or its equivalent) experience as a Public Health Microbiologist in a public health laboratory performing varied microbiological, clinical tests and analyses; two (2) years in a lead Public Health Microbiologist position of which must have included supervisory and/or management responsibilities.

Substitution for Experience: A Masters degree in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science from an accredited institution may be substituted for one (1) year of clinical lab experience. No substitution for the required two (2) years supervisory and/or management responsibilities.

Other Requirements

Prior to employment, a background investigation will be conducted on all candidates. Fingerprints will be taken.

Selection Process

1. Application Filing: Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line at www.cccounty.us.hr, or, a completed Contra Costa County application must be received or postmarked by the final filing date listed above. An application may be obtained by visiting our office at 651 Pine St., 2nd floor, Martinez, CA 94553.

2. Oral Interview: An oral interview will be conducted by a Qualifications Appraisal Board in Martinez, Ca. The Board will evaluate candidates in job-related areas. Candidates must receive a rating of at least 70 from a majority of the Board members to be ranked on the employment list. (Weighted 100%)

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

OPEN ONLY: March 23rd, 2009
MG/MT Exam Number: VOHA-2009A

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Contra Costa County not to discriminate because of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, wheel chair use, marital status, sex, age or sexual orientation