Charge nurses

[turnforthenurse]

For those of us who are charge nurses, are you always in charge or does your unit rotate between several different individuals? Do you ever feel like some days being in charge just isn't worth it? What makes you come back to that role?

I have definitely had days like that. I think for me it is because I like the challenge of being charge and it helps me develop my leadership skills. This just got me thinking today and I'm curious to know why others decided to charge or keep coming back to the charge nurse role even after a horrible shift.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

There is a small group of us who more or less rotate.

This. In our facility acting as charge is the next step toward ANM.

[malestunurse]

At the hospitals where I have worked the charge nurse roll is a designated senior nurse position with assistant charge nurse managers. During the day the charge nurse is on with an ACNM then during the PM just an ACNM is on then during the nocte shift one of the more senior floor nurses takes up a coordinator role. If there is no ACNM then during the PM then once again one of the floor nurses coordinates.

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

I think it depends on what kind of support you get from administration/nurse manager.

If you find someone not doing their job and report them - what happens? Nothing?

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

If you find someone not doing their job and report them - what happens? Nothing?

Without revealing details, I have done this, and nothing has been actively done to the person reported. In another place, i'm sure they would have been fired. Apparently, the union seems to protect their members quite strongly here.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Very interesting to see all the different perspectives & ways of organizing this crucial role.

Organizations in my part of the world are starting to realize that rotating charge is much less effective than having permanent designated charge nurses. Although rotating this role gives everyone a chance to try it out, it does not support the development of skills/knowledge associated with the role or provide sufficient motivation to undergo training. Most 'temporary' charge nurses are just focused on getting through their turn in the barrel - - not making waves or creating any problems that will splash back on them when they are back in the staff role. Those reluctant charge nurses are frequently worse than no leader at all.

Also - and this is a biggie for organizations that are in the cross-hairs of organized labor campaigns... staff nurses rotating into charge nurse roles are not counted as 'management', but permanent charge nurses are considered part of 'management'.

My $0.02? Rotating charge nurse is a nightmare. All the accountability associated with management but without any real authority. Their colleagues simply ignore them (you're not the boss of me). Formalizing the role - and providing training to support the job responsibilities - is the only way to go. It provides a very effective first step on the career advancement ladder. Nurses who realllllly don't want the added responsibility can opt out without penalties & those who want to move up the responsibility ladder can give it a try.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I became the charge nurse when my manager asked me to take the role. I kept it because it paid more and my physical work load was less.

Must have been good at it because... I got a big old plaque from the health system I worked for that SAID SO!

Now I realize the charge nurse role is a joke.Daily responsibility for the functioning of the unit.

All of the responsibility with none of the authority. Authority of the charge nurse is ALWAYS a gray area.

Looks good on a resume, sorry I ever did it. All are invited for when I have that bonfire and throw the plaque in.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Without revealing details, I have done this, and nothing has been actively done to the person reported. In another place, i'm sure they would have been fired. Apparently, the union seems to protect their members quite strongly here.

I have also done this and nothing happened. In fact, the person I reported found out that it was I who reported them and that caused some issues. I thought that stuff was supposed to be anonymous.

On the floor there was a group of us who would rotate but I feel like some us would be in charge more than others. I was pretty much thrown into the CN role. We still had to take a full load of patients while being available to your staff. The differential was an extra $1.00/hr.

In the ED, specific nurses were chosen for the CN role. There are other administrative things involved as well. The CN does not take patients unless there is a dire need or a complaint with a particular nurse. The differential is also an extra $1.00/hr but there are some changes being made so I'm not sure if they're changing the pay or the differential, too.