Travel Charge Acute Care Registered Nurse

A Charge Acute Care Registered Nurse provides direct patient care while coordinating nursing operations for an acute care unit during an assigned shift. This role supports adult or mixed patient populations with acute medical, surgical, or telemetry-level conditions requiring ongoing assessment, medication administration, care coordination, and timely response to changes in condition.

The Charge Acute Care RN promotes safe, efficient patient care by guiding nursing staff, supporting patient assignments, communicating with physicians, and collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams. The role combines clinical nursing judgment with shift-level leadership to maintain continuity of care, patient safety, and effective unit workflow.

Travel Charge Acute Care Registered Nurses work contract assignments in acute care units across multiple healthcare facilities. Assignments may require rapid adaptation to new clinical environments, facility workflows, documentation systems, and interdisciplinary team structures. Work may include rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and floating when appropriate based on patient care needs and unit staffing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to acute care patients in accordance with the nursing process and established standards of practice.
• Coordinate patient assignments and staffing resources for the assigned shift based on patient acuity, census, and staff competencies.
• Assess patient conditions, monitor changes in status, and escalate clinical concerns to providers or appropriate care team members.
• Administer medications, treatments, and interventions as ordered, while monitoring for therapeutic response and adverse reactions.
• Support bedside nurses with clinical decision-making, prioritization, care coordination, and complex patient care needs.
• Facilitate communication among nurses, physicians, advanced practice providers, case management, therapy, pharmacy, and ancillary departments.
• Promote patient safety by supporting fall prevention, infection control, medication safety, and adherence to clinical protocols.
• Assist with admissions, transfers, discharges, and patient flow to maintain efficient acute care unit operations.
• Respond to emergencies, rapid changes in patient condition, and urgent unit needs within the RN scope of practice.
• Document assessments, interventions, patient responses, care coordination, and shift-related updates accurately in the electronic health record.
• Provide patient and family education related to diagnosis, treatment plans, medications, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Serve as a clinical resource and role model for nursing staff while supporting professional communication and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Licensure: Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license. Compact nursing license accepted where applicable and permitted by state regulations.
• Certifications
• BLS
• ACLS
• Skills: Strong acute care nursing assessment, clinical judgment, prioritization, and leadership skills are required. Competency in medication administration, patient monitoring, care coordination, documentation, and EHR use is essential. Effective communication, conflict resolution, delegation, time management, and interdisciplinary collaboration support safe patient care and efficient unit operations.

Experience

Minimum two years of recent acute care nursing experience is typically required for Travel Charge Acute Care RN roles. Recent charge nurse, relief charge, or shift leadership experience is commonly required or strongly preferred. Additional experience with medical-surgical, telemetry, or high-acuity acute care populations may be preferred depending on the assignment.

Preferences

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Recent charge nurse or unit leadership experience in an acute care setting.
• Telemetry monitoring experience.
• National specialty certification related to acute care, medical-surgical nursing, or progressive care.
• Experience with quality improvement, patient safety initiatives, or unit-based practice councils.
• EHR/EMR proficiency.
• Bilingual communication skills when relevant to the patient population.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plan (401(k))
• Housing Assistance or Housing Stipend
• Travel Reimbursement
• Continuing Education Assistance
• Professional Development
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life Insurance