charge nurse duty

[lifejourney]

Hello, allnurses.

I am wondering if you all could let me know what you think is a reasonable amount of experience that a person needs to serve as a charge nurse in an inpatient telemetry setting.

Before I had been nursing a year, I had been asked to serve as a relief charge nurse. I think this is too soon, considering the acuity of the patients we serve. Being a "second-career nurse," I am okay with the administrative side of things. However, I don't have the clinical experience or knowledge base to really handle tough clinical situations that can occur on the night shift with limited resources.

I know you all have good opinions and experience to share.

Thanks,

lifejourney

[jmgrn65, RN]

I think that at least a year if possible not all places give you a choice. Also it is important to feel comfortable with it.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I am a charge nurse on a Telemetry unit and I think it has to do with how comfortable you feel about your critical thinking skills, your ability to deal with staff issues, and above all being able to recognize abnormal EKG patterns as they occur. I personally would not have accepted the position after only a year. I've been a nurse for 30 years but was on the Telemetry floor for over 3 years before I accepted. Do what your gut tells you. It's not all it's cracked up to be. $1.00/hr for me which is not worth it except for the fact that I'll soon be 50 and 12 hours on the floor is becoming increasing difficult!

[salaroma]

Does anyone have an idea of how one could record microbiology results?On my unit we send the copy of the result the Infection Control Nurse.How does one incorperate damp dusting as part of daily checks in ITU ?