ICU Charge Nurse: Lead Clinically, Elevate Care (Day Shift)

MercyOne; Mason City (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MercyOne is seeking a Charge Nurse to provide shift leadership and ensure safe, efficient care for patients on a 12-hour day shift. The role blends clinical expertise with operational oversight, coordinating resources and supporting staff to achieve excellent outcomes.

The position requires ADN with BSN preferred, 12+ months RN experience (24 months preferred), Iowa license, and BLS/ACLS. Strong critical thinking and EMR proficiency are essential.

Qualifications

• ADN required; BSN preferred.
• RN experience: minimum 12 months; 24 months preferred.
• Current Iowa RN license (MercyOne Genesis: IA or IL) with secondary license within 12 months.
• American Heart Association BLS and ACLS certifications required.
• Mandatory Reporter training within 3 months of hire.
• Strong critical thinking, high-level language skills, and intermediate-to-advanced math proficiency.
• Basic computer proficiency required.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily unit operations: staffing, workflow coordination, resource allocation based on acuity.
• Serve as on-shift clinical leader and liaison between nurses, physicians, and admin teams.
• Support onboarding, education, and development of staff and students.
• Provide direct patient care: assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation of nursing interventions.
• Ensure compliance with policies, safety protocols, Joint Commission standards, and regulations.
• Promote evidence-based practice and quality improvement; document consistently.
• Conduct/oversee audits: chart reviews, safety checks, incident follow-up, quality indicators.
• Lead daily huddles, interdisciplinary rounding, and care conferences.
• Partner with leadership on scheduling, hiring input, HR matters.
• Act as resource and role model for clinical practice and EMR use.
• Facilitate patient flow through admission, discharge, and transfer.
• Function independently with sound judgment under Nurse Practice Act.

Skills

Critical thinking

Advanced communication

Math proficiency

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred

Job description

MercyOne is seeking a Charge Nurse to provide shift leadership and ensure safe, efficient care for patients on a 12-hour day shift. The role blends clinical expertise with operational oversight, coordinating resources and supporting staff to achieve excellent outcomes.

The position requires ADN with BSN preferred, 12+ months RN experience (24 months preferred), Iowa license, and BLS/ACLS. Strong critical thinking and EMR proficiency are essential.