Anyone doing charge/management?

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

Hi,

I have been working in a Level III NICU since June, and have been asked to think about doing charge, and also consider applying for our vacant Nurse Manager position!!!! Any of you in this position? The thing is, our last NM had to leave b/c she didn't get her BSN, which is required for the NM position, She also was hired without having any NICU experience before becoming NM. I am one of 2 nurses on my floor with my BSN, and HAVE NICU experience. Should I even consider it?

[SarasotaRN2b]

My question would be, how long have you been an RN? Also, have you worked previously in a NICU before your current position? If so, why not. If not, I would suggest more experience, you'll be a better charge nurse/NM for it.

[mich_01085]

Hi Steve, I'm a LPN but I was hire before graduation from school to be Charge Nurse on a Sub-Acute unit in a LTCF. It was scary but after 2 months I'm getting the hang of it and love it. Good Luck on what ever you decide.

[Jolie, BSN]

Steve,

Do you have NICU experience other than the time you have worked in this unit? If not, I would strongly advise you against taking this position at this time.

RNs practicing in specialties like NICU need a good 1-2 years of full-time practice to develop the knowledge base, skills, and expertise needed to serve in a leadership position. Gaining this experience is absolutely necessary to prepare one to lead a unit where so much is unique, and so few people within the institution are capable of assisting you.

Having worked as a staff nurse, charge nurse, assistant head nurse, and nurse manager, I can tell you that the higher up the ladder you go, the lonelier it gets. By the time I was managing a NICU, I had no one within the institution who could advise me on nursing issues, because I was the only one with any significant amount of NICU experience. By that time, I had 6 years of progressive experience to draw upon, and even then, it was tough.

You sound like an excellent clinical nurse, and I believe you will make a good manager some day, but don't rush into it without proper preparation. Start out shadowing a charge nurse. When you have a year of experience, ask to be given occasional charge duties when a more senior nurse is on duty to assist you. Request conference time to attend sessions on assuming the charge nurse role.

It is also typical of hospitals to promote nurses into management without offering proper formal education on matters such as Human Resources issues, budgeting, scheduling, etc. Prepare yourself for those aspects of management, and you will do well!

Good luck!