Charge nurse??

Midwest4me · Mar 1, 2008

Follow your heart. If you don't feel ready, then speak up. It DOES seem a little soon to be placing that kind of responsiblility upon you but in 2 weeks you may be feeling differently. I wish you the best of luck!

Dolce, RN · Mar 1, 2008

Most places wait at least a year before giving charge duties to a new grad. Two years is usually a fairly safe bet that you are going to have to take your turn in charge rotation. I would just tell your manager that you really don't feel comfortable in that role until you have had more experience. I would hope he/she would have had the common sense to realize that for themselves, but I really can't speak for some managers.

I know a nurse who worked in the Seattle area with many travelers/agency nurses. She was placed in the charge nurse role with only 3 months experience because she was the only staff nurse on the unit. Everyone else was a traveler.

sugarsmom · Mar 1, 2008

You know your limitations as well as anyone. If you don't feel ready you truly do need to speak up and let her know. I feel this is a big responsibility for someone new just trying to find their way. Make sure that you are ready.

weesyanne · Mar 1, 2008

When I first got out of school, I was waiting to see if I had passed my state boards. One day when I went to work, I was the only nurse on the unit. :uhoh21:Everyone else was a tech, and I didn't even have my license and was the only one scheduled to be there! So I'm not surprised to hear that has happened to you.

I wouldn't feel comfortable taking on the responsibility that soon, so I would speak up asap. Tell her you cannot take the charge responsibilities as a new grad.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

It seems like it works differently at other facilities, but at my facility, Charge Nurse is an actual hired position, and the amount of responsibility they have would make me very uncomfortable having a new grad in that position.

randomramblings · Mar 1, 2008

Congratulations on passing the boards!!! I'm not surprised to hear they have you scheduled as a charge nurse, either, but I agree that it seems pretty soon and that if you don't feel ready you should speak up. It's your license on the line, no one else's. You should be able to focus on learning your job right now, not on managing other people's jobs. If they don't support you and change it, I'd think about whether you really want to work at a place like that. Unfortunately in nursing, administration will take advantage when they can, including putting a brand new RN as the charge rather than pay for the extra nurse. And don't feel guilty--I think every one of us would feel the same way in your shoes, and every one of us deserved to have help when we were so new.

nghtfltguy, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

congrats~~

it seems to me you are a bit scared about being the *charge* nurse..

that is fine....

what it also seems to me is that your nurse manager/unit cooridinator/ whatever has enough faith in you......

im guessin that you were put in charge of a shift of mostly LPN's.... and your the only RN?

if not... and there are other RN's there on that shift..

well...

you did something right and you showed your leadership....

either way..... take the assignment.... show that you can do it...

be scared on the inside... not on the outside~~~

you will do fine... good luck~~

:cool:

cloister · Mar 1, 2008

I showed up for work the night after I finished new grad orientation and the off going nurse said, "You're in charge. Make out the assignments."

What the hell! I didn't even have my license!

My guess is you're more capable that you think you are, and that you'll do fine, if for no other reason than that you have enough sense to be concerned about being in charge. If you're really uncomfortable, however, speak up. You have good reasons for wanting to wait.

In my case, I made friends with the LPNs real fast, the combined work experience of which was more than my years on the planet. I think they thought I was going to come in and boss them around. Once they realized that I was willing to work and needed their help and advice to keep from killing my patients, they were kind to me. I sure needed their help!

al7139, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

Yikes!

As a new nurse with less than one year of experience, I would feel really uncomfortable with being in charge. After all, I am still learning, and still in need of help caring for my patients if I run into something new or am in doubt about what to do in a situation. How could I advise and run the whole unit?

I look at it as my license, so it is my responsibility to cover my butt...You have to cover yours, and if I were you I would flat out refuse to take on the charge role after only two weeks. There is too much room for error that could result in you losing your liscense and not being able to work as a nurse or in health care.

Just my opinion.

Amy

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2008

Depends on what your role is going to be. If it's simply holding the keys and making an assignment or two with the other nurses doing their own thing, then you're ready. "Charge Nurse" means different things different places.

But if it's beyond that, then you're not ready and need time to hone your own skills and orient to the position.

Speak up for yourself.

wearingmanyhats, RN · Mar 1, 2008

As an LPN, I have been the "charge nurse" in many LTC facilities.... that usually means that I am in charge of the unit, and 6 or so CNAs.... there is an RN in house somewhere (finding that person can some times be a challenge...)

The one place that I go, I am the only license on the premises on 11-7 -- I was a little uneasy the first time I went, but I do feel good about my assessment skills (I have been an LPN for more than 20 yrs) and the RN on call is available by phone if need be.

Faye