Husband and wife working together

Nurses Relations

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Okay, new to this site! Have a question! My husband and I have worked together as RNs in a local ER for the last 4 years (VERY well I might add). I recently got promoted (demoted) hehe to Charge Nurse. The one before me HATED IT AND WAS BURNED OUT. So she stepped down and DA DA DAAAA... I was deemed the one to do it. Okay, so at first I did NOT want it. It is a headache and not worth that extra dollar.... That's right, ONE dollar more an hour for charge. Well, i got over my own aversion for the position and started coming up with a plan to make it better for everyone, bring the morale back up, better our patient care. Anyhow, I find out today that, oh no.... Someone messed up and all of a sudden I can no longer charge because its a rule that one spouse can't be "over" the other spouse. Does anyone have any info on this? It's not in the BON. Apparently they have known about the situation but haven't said anything as there is no one else that wants to take on the position. I'm confused as to how I should feel and what I should do.

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Specializes in ICU.

I am surprised that your facility will even allow you two to work together. (Most won't.) I personally don't think it is a good idea. Even if your BON doesn't have a position on this, your hospital apparently does.

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Well since you decided to throw in your own personal opinion... I guess the fact that him and I study together for certifications, keep each other up to date on the latest and greatest, and SAVE lives doesn't matter? Then we get to come home and kiss on our little girl, and spend the same days off with her as a family. Guess all that is NOT a good idea.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

We have had husband/wife combos on several units and they can not be in charge when the other is there.

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This is actually quite common for companies to not allow this and not just in the hospital setting. I think it falls under nepotism.

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I think this is most jobs. Similar situation happened with a friend at McDonalds.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

My facility's policy is that a married couple/parent-child duo/etc. can work on the same unit, but neither one can hold a management/supervisory position. This meant that when one of our employees took a coordinator role, his wife had to transfer into another department.

My personal opinion is that family members of any type should not work in the same unit. Although it may not be true, other employees may see a favoritism component. In many cases, it does turn out to be true. Also, there have been instances where personal issues become departmental issues (such as a fight between a couple that continues during the work time and affects the morale of the entire team).

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I understand the opinions. I can see how that would be an issue...However not in our case. I can defiantly see it happening with others. And what you do for one guy you must do for the other guy. Okay, I'll just tell my husband to transfer. ;)

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On our current floor we had mother/daughter charge nurses. They couldn't be charge if the other was on their shift. I also have worked in a small outpatient department where two partners held a similar position and the manager was the ex partner of one of them for 20+ years before the other two got together.

It worked fine most days but if they happened to be fighting at home....it was tense!

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

It's an pretty much an industry standard or norm from my experience.

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The fact that they KNEW this though but pretended not to just so we could get through the last weeks, kind of... Urks me. I never thought one thing of it honestly... Policy is policy I understand. But, when the original charge stepped down I refused it and they begged me... So I buckled and gave in. I'm more upset that they knew it was wrong. I guess.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

First, look up your facility's policy regarding this. If it indeed says (it probably will) that a person can't be in a supervisory role over their spouse, you have two options:

1. Stop being the charge nurse, return to your regular staff nurse position and continue working together. Be willing to put aside your plans and ideas and leadership aspirations.

2. Have your husband put in for a transfer to another unit. Hope that unit still allows him to work the same days as you. Agree that if he ends up hating this new unit A. he will not blame you and B. you will consider stepping out of the staff nurse role so that he can return to working where he enjoys.

If he does decide to transfer, go to HR and speak to them about the situation. Ask for an exception to allow you to continue working as the charge nurse until there is an opening in a unit where your husband really wants to work.

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