Struggling new charge nurse

Specialties Urology

Published

I've been an RN for 9 years, and am still trying to find my niche. I've done some ortho, outpatient oncology, addiction nursing, regulatory desk work, and have most recently landed at davita. I started in March, came out of training in may, and am struggling. Im so slow. Turn around makes want to cry, I get so frustrated. And now I get thrust into being the charge, the only rn on the floor, while maintaining a pod. We have 14 chairs, 2 to 3 shifts depending on the day. I do fine until about the first hour of 2nd shift, lol. How in the world do you guys manage to start your patients, keep up with E-lines every 30 minutes, give meds, do pre and post assessments for Every patient, and do all of the charting in a timely manner? We usually have at least one lpn on the floor, so that helps (in oklahoma, they can give meds and I just have to sign behind their assessment [provided they actually chart one]). I was at work for 3 hours after all the patients were all off the floor yesterday, mainly closing out charting. I feel like im losing my mind here. Everyone at work tells me it will get better, i have to give it time...I am trying, but right now it just sucks. How do you guys do it? Is there some secret that I'm missing out on? Help!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Dialysis, Hospice.

How do I do it? Simple. I am not expected to run a pod and perform all of my nursing duties simultaneously. If I was, I think I would run screaming from the building because running a pod is enough for one person without anything else to be responsible for. I may have to put a patient on or take one off once in a while to help the techs out, but in our Davita clinic, RNs are never expected to run a pod along with all of our other duties.

You are not dumb or incompetent, you are actually Super Nurse!

How do I do it? Simple. I am not expected to run a pod and perform all of my nursing duties simultaneously. If I was, I think I would run screaming from the building because running a pod is enough for one person without anything else to be responsible for. I may have to put a patient on or take one off once in a while to help the techs out, but in our Davita clinic, RNs are never expected to run a pod along with all of our other duties.

You are not dumb or incompetent, you are actually Super Nurse!

I agree - it is impossible to be in charge and run a full assignment.

Hmm. I talked to my fa, and he's open to the ides of charge nurses only having a couple of patients, which is the best I think I can swing. The problem is that there the other 2 charge nurses do it without complaint, so I look like a slacker. Maybe I'm at the wrong clinic, ha. It is so frustrating, there are so many tools out there available to provide better care to my patients, but I just don't have the time to do it. I went to an RN education recently, you know, to learn about new initiatives, and it just made me cry, because it all seems so impossible. Hopefully my fa will listen to me, but we keep losing staff , so I have my doubts. Thanks for your input, you guys!

I work for Davita, and like in all things there are the good and the bad. It is impossible to have a pod and charge. You should not be there 3 hours after our last patient. Yes, it is difficult at first, but eventually you will get your speed.

Talk to your FA. The only thing a charge nurse should have to do is to "help" with the CVC's. I worked in Florida where the tech actually could do the CVC's. Now they are assigned to my 2nd license, but I help.

The most important thing is to get your team to sign on with you. Once they realize that you are a team, the work situation should get better

Specializes in Dialysis.

Agree with everyone, that assignment is too much for anybody, esp one new to Dialysis, You Need Help!

In texas that is against regulations.

I work for DaVita and I'm confused that you started in March and concluded your training in May. I had three months PCT training with a 40 hour off site training class with an exam I had to pass. I then had another three months of training as the RN. While I might have to put on up to 4 patients first thing early in the morning I usually will only help out if needed during turnover. I may also have a 4 chair pod to take off to close the day out. I am the only nurse in the building for a 16 chair center. Fortunately in PA PCTs can access central lines and push heparin boluses as prescribed.

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