What does Charge Nurse really mean?

plumrn, BSN, RN · May 30, 2004

As charge nurse, do you do admissions, assessments, care plans, other paperwork, or do the primary nurses do these where you work?

cannoli · May 30, 2004

Some charge nurses are great, and serve as a resource person, backup, and help as needed.

A lot where I work are nothing but glorified unit clerks and that's all they want to be, just sit at the desk and sign off orders!

SRbear · May 31, 2004

As charge nurse, do you do admissions, assessments, care plans, other paperwork, or do the primary nurses do these where you work?

I help the nurses all I can, sometimes I will do the admission for them, or at least get it started. I look at my charge nurses position as being one that makes the staff nurses work day as easy as possible.

SmilingBluEyes · May 31, 2004

what does "charge nurse" mean?

well that would depend upon where you work and who you ask.

where I am, it's about $2. an hour for a bunch more headaches, all while YOU carry a patient load as well. NOT worth it, in other words.

Dixiedi · May 31, 2004

Hmm, so what extra orientation, if any, did you all have in preparation for this?

I didn't get any. One night the regular charge nurse didn't show up for work; I was given an agency nurse to work with (small hospital, 2 nurses and an aide) and that was that.

Rapheal · May 31, 2004

what does "charge nurse" mean?
well that would depend upon where you work and who you ask.
where I am, it's about $2. an hour for a bunch more headaches, all while YOU carry a patient load as well. NOT worth it, in other words.

Exactly. And when pharmacy or radiology or a consulting doc does not know which nurse or department to contact when they have a problem- they will make it your problem.

And you also get to handle complaints from everybody. Even if the complaint was from a different day, a different shift-whatever. It ends up coming to you. Meanwhile your patients suffer from your lack of time and attention.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · May 31, 2004

Hmm, so what extra orientation, if any, did you all have in preparation for this?

NONE. I just happened to see that I was listed as charge on the schedule. I charge about 2/3 of the shifts I work. I hate just winging it, but I think I've finally figured out this charge thing. Also, I have far fewer problems with suborinates being INsubordinate with me, now that I charge regulary.

As charge, anything that hits the fan hits you more than anyone else. I recently experienced a situation where a co-worker was making threatening remarks to staff and they were fearful. Boy, it was fun being charge on that day, and the extra buck an hour makes it all worth it!

ethelbsnrn · May 31, 2004

And don't forget he (the charge nurse) has his own patients to take care, too.

SmilingBluEyes · May 31, 2004

And don't forget he (the charge nurse) has his own patients to take care, too.

Yep see my post above. It is really a pain in the you know what.......

kimmicoobug · May 31, 2004

I have been a nurse for 10 months now, and I am now a charge every Sunday. I hate it. It is two more an hour and to me not worth it. I could really care less about staffing and checking the crash cart. I still just want to learn my job as a nurse. I still have to carry a patient load of up to eight patients, and since I work with floats very frequently, still take the admits. I got no orientation and the first three times I did charge, it seemed hell broke loose on the unit.

LPN4Life · May 31, 2004

A charge nurse in a LTC setting is usually an LPN, they have to fill out the nursing section of the MDS's yes, and in some places they will write the careplans too. They do monthly summaries, pass meds, IV's, charting, pt assessments, assist in feeding, wound care, supervise and assist CNA's, notify doctor of any deviations in pt's conditions, physician orders.....basically you (and hopefully) a couple other LPN's are in charge of roughly 120-160 resident's, with anywhere from 3-8 CNA's.....If you don't have an admission nurse you will also have to do admissions, and follow up on any thing that needs to be finished from the previous shift.

FROGGYLEGS, LPN · May 31, 2004

The term charge nurse in LTC has always puzzled me. In my experiences there all the nurses on the floor were charge nurses.