....becomming the charge nurse???

[jessi1106, BSN, RN]

Hi,

At my hospital all of the nurses rotate being charge.

Today I recieved an email that I am signed up for a charge class this summer - almost to the exact year date of when I was working as an RN without a preceptor.

I am at 7 months now and only beginning to feel more comfortable at work. I am fairly organized and am finding that the constant chaos does not cause me as much stress. I am even dreaming less of work, lol. :wink2:

Anyway, now I am starting to feel some anxiety about this charge thing. I certainly don't feel ready now, and am not sure I will in a few months.

Wondering....1) does your hospital/floor require you to be charge?

2) how soon?

[AprilRNhere]

If you really don't feel ready...have a conversation with your nurse manager about it. Ask if you will be required to be charge after the class....or if you can wait until you feel ready.

She may see something in you that you don't.

[MelBel]

I've been charge since coming off orientation...on our floor SOMEONE has to take charge, and we only have 4 staff nurses on nights...3 of us started at the same time last June. If the more experienced nurse is working, she does it, otherwise it is up to one of us new people.

I absolutely HATED it at first. I realize now that it has been a really good learning experience. It allows me to have more of an idea about what is going on with all the patients on the floor...and I've therefore learned more about the policies, and different tests, etc. It has also forced me to improve upon my time management skills...on our floor the charge nurse still takes a full patient load. Each nurse is still completely responsible for their own patients and puts calls out to doctors, but the charge nurse organizes things, checks the charts and morning lab work, etc.

It has helped me to become more assertive...I never thought I would be able to firmly stand up to a superior of mine, but sometimes, I have to when they try to send us admissions or take aides when we are already understaffed.

I am lucky to work with an INCREDIBLY cooperative group of people, and the agency nurses that we get frequently are also very cooperative. I don't have to worry about my coworkers not doing thier jobs, so that takes some strain off me.

My advice...if you REALLY don't feel ready to take charge and their are others available to do it, tell your manager. If it is your own personal fear of stepping out of your comfort zone, I would say go for it. I hope that your coworkers will be understanding if you have some difficulty at first, but in the long run you WILL benefit from the experience!

Hope that helps a little!