Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Acute Charge Registered Nurse (RN)
Department: Acute Dialysis Services
Reports To: Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)
Position Summary
The Acute Charge RN provides clinical and operational leadership for hospital-based acute dialysis services operating under an outpatient dialysis organization. This role is responsible for overseeing daily operations, staffing coordination, regulatory compliance, and quality of care delivery within the acute program.
The Acute Charge RN serves as a key liaison between hospital leadership and Desert Cities Dialysis (DCD), ensuring alignment in clinical standards, operational efficiency, and financial stewardship. This position plays a critical role in maintaining regulatory readiness, supporting staff development, and driving performance improvement initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Leadership & Quality Oversight
- Oversees delivery of safe, high-quality acute dialysis care in hospital settings
- Monitors patient outcomes and addresses quality of care concerns in real time
- Leads incident reviews, root cause analyses, and implementation of corrective actions
- Ensures adherence to physician orders, dialysis protocols, and patient safety standards
Operations & Staffing
- Manages and oversees staff scheduling to ensureappropriate coverageand productivity
- Coordinates daily acute dialysis workflow to support hospital demands and reduce delays
- Collaborates with hospital staff to optimize patient throughput and treatment efficiency
- Supports cost-effective staffing models and reduction of non-essential laborutilization
Regulatory Compliance & Policy Management
- Ensures compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and hospital policies
- Maintains survey readiness and leads preparation for regulatory inspections
- Reviews, updates, and implements policies and procedures in alignment with current regulations and best practices
- Ensures accurate and timely clinical documentation and audit readiness
Onboarding, Training & Staff Development
- Overseesonboarding and orientation of new acute dialysis staff
- Coordinates and facilitates ongoing staff training, competency validation, and education
- Provides coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to clinical team members
Financial & Operational Performance
- Supports budget awareness, labor management, and cost-efficiency initiatives
- Monitors resourceutilizationandidentifiesopportunities for operational improvement
- Collaborateswith leadership on strategies to improve program growth and sustainability
Leadership & Collaboration
- Participates in meetings with hospital executives, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary teams
- Communicates program updates, challenges, and performance metrics to senior leadership
- Promotes a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
Qualifications
Education & Licensure
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of California
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred
Experience
- Minimum of 3–5 years of dialysis experiencerequired
- Acute dialysis and/or hospital-based experience strongly preferred
- Prior leadership or charge nurse experience preferred
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of acute dialysis operations and hospital workflows
- Knowledge of regulatory standards and survey processes
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Proficiencyin clinical documentation systems and reporting tools
Working Conditions
- Hospital-based environment with exposure to acute patient care settings
- May require flexible scheduling based on patient census and operational needs
California Compliance Statements
At-Will Employment
Employment with Desert Cities Dialysis is at-will. This means that either the employee or the organization may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, in accordance with applicable law.
Meal and Rest Breaks (California Labor Compliance)
Non-exempt employees are provided meal and rest periods in accordance with California law, including:
- An unpaid, uninterrupted 30-minute meal period for shifts exceeding 5 hours
- A second meal period for shifts exceeding 10 hours, unless lawfully waived
- Paid 10-minute rest breaks for every 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof
Employees are expected to take all required meal and rest breaks and must notify leadership if they are unable to do so due to patient care or operational needs. Missed, late, or interrupted meal periods must be reported in accordance with company policy to ensure proper compensation and compliance.
Overtime & Work Hours
Non-exempt employees will be compensated for overtime in accordance with California law, including:
- Overtime pay for hours worked over 8 in a workday or 40 in a workweek
- Double time where applicable
All overtime must be approved in advance by leadership; however, all hours worked must be reported and will be compensated in accordance with law.
Wage & Hour Compliance
Desert Cities Dialysis complies with all applicable California wage and hour laws, including timely payment of wages, provision of accurate wage statements, and maintenance of required employment records.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Desert Cities Dialysis is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and California employment laws. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.