I have recently been promoted to Director of PCU, I love the position but am facing problems from staff. The 42 bed unit has been without a director for the last 6 months, there was no monitoring of what the charge nurses were doing (director of m/s was trying to supervise both floors). Orders were missed on a daily basis and we were losing the trust of doctors and patients. We have started a charge nurse report book and I have instructed charge nurses to keep track of labs, procedures, history and any other pertinent information in this book for staff and doctors. I was told this took too much time and kept them at the desk instead of on the floor. Am I wrong, or is this their job! They have been working as overpaid CNA's for the nurses for too long. Secretaries were entering orders and putting the charts away assuming nurses were going through charts regularly and signing off their own orders (doesn't work), there were no checks and balances. I am having a charge nurse meeting next week for current and aspiring charge nurses. I would welcome any thoughts, and would appreciate any resources that spell out charge nurse duties.
Thanx all