Charge Nurse in ICU

[pjdRN]

Do you feel you are responsible as the Charge nurse in your unit for the actions of the nurses that work in that unit with you? We had agency nurses working in our unit that only have Tele experience. When the charge nurse balked at giving her an ICU assignment because she didn't want to be resposible if something happened (as well as concern for pt safety), she was told by management she WOULD NOT be ultimately responsible but the nurse accepting the assignment would be???? The charge nurse decided not to give this nurse an assignment and have her swat and help out and tripled 2 other CC RN's. Now she is in trouble with the Manager who felt she was insubordinate by not giving this nurse an assignment as told by the Supervisor. How would you deal with this problem?

[A/A/OX3]

Can anyone spell S-A-F-E H-A-R-B-O-R ?

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

I've been charge for 6 weeks now in our m/s ICU. We do not take a patient assignment. We have steady charge nurses so no one is forced into a charge role. I'm not sure of what my liability would be for another nurse's actions. I'll have to look into it.

Charge nurse pay is $1.00 more per hour. Should it come to taking a patient assignment along with being charge, I would resign charge. Not worth it. I like the role the way it is now but it would be impossible to manage the paperwork, staffing and bed placing issues with a patient assignment too. My humble opinion. Hats off to those of you who have to do it!!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

We did charge for free as well. l Loved it. Even when I worked with people that floated. I took them under my wing.

renerian

[CV CNS CCRN]

As both a practitioner and an administrator, I suspect that EVERY nurse that comes into your facility, whether traveler, regular staff or agency, has to have some kind of DOCUMENTED skills check list. Either with his/her agency or else on file in you staffing office. Ask for a copy of this to be FAX'ed to you, given to you, or ask the agency nurse to fill out another one and sign and date it. Do not then assign this individual anything that is beyond their stated competency This is not nearly as realible as demonstrated competency of course, but if you do this, keep a copy and give a copy to your manager next day along with your documentation that this was not an appropriate nurse to assign to critical care, they will get it before long. Alternatively, perhaps some of the patients may be able to have their status downgraded if appropriate to more clearly reflect the actual type of nursing care they need, which may be appropriately given from the agency book. In my opinion, you did the right thing, but did not take it far enough. ALWAYS go on written record with the shift supervisor that you are protesting the assignment of the non-qualified individual. KEEP A COPY. Good luck, and thanks for looking out for your patients.