Charge RN with charge RN pay

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Next question, Have you ever heard of a place hiring charge RN and paying them extra for that charge day. That is common. Well, at my hospital some of the RN didnt apply for those Charge RN position because they didnt want that riding on there License. So here is the question....

Can they float a regular RN to perform Charge RN duties with out the pay increase (for that shift). Extra information, they train all RN to be charge.

It just seems like they are cheating the regular RN out of the pay? And making them charge anyways, saying they cant refuse the "float"

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Since when is doing charge on your own unit a float? Bizarre.

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Right. One of the reg RN, said she wasn't comfortable doing charge, the DON told her she could refuse a float? Confused me! I just don't want to risk my license and be forced to be a charge and then to not receive the charge nurse diff, is just above and beyond crazy.

Make me risk my license and not pay me for it.

If that the case don't pay anyone for it, and make all RN's be charge! I just think upper management got this wrong!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

your lis. is at risk for VIOLATIONS OF NURSE PRACTICE ACT. Each nurse is held accountable for their standard of care as it relates to the nurse practice act.

what is your fear of your lis. being in charge? I know other post you have mentioned that you are a new nurse, and that is a little understandable. How much orrientation were you afforded? Best of luck to you.:yes:

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Very new! I guess being responsible for the staff working under the charge and something going wrong.

Orientation is 6 weeks, and during that time regardless of how long you have been a RN they teach you how to be a charge. Which is fine.

But I don't understand if your in the charge role you should receive the same charge RN pay as every other person who does it

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Very new! I guess being responsible for the staff working under the charge and something going wrong.

Orientation is 6 weeks, and during that time regardless of how long you have been a RN they teach you how to be a charge. Which is fine.

But I don't understand if your in the charge role you should receive the same charge RN pay as every other person who does it

You are not responsible for what other RNs do in their practice. If another nurse steals a Vicodin, hits a patient, or commits a *serious* med error - that's not on you or your license.

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To answer the question about pay: if you're doing the charge role on any given shift, you should receive the differential pay that goes with it. Never seen that refused anywhere.

As for "refusing" charge, I was informed years ago that any RN should be able to delegate assignments and tasks to any LPN or CNA on that unit. That's part of your schooling, and it was covered on your NCLEX. ANY RN should be able to do charge, PROVIDED there are appropriate resources in place to assist---in the case of a new grad, it doesn't make sense to put the new grad in charge if there is a more experienced RN option available, that's just common sense. IF, however, there IS no one else, the RN should certainly be able to call upon the Nursing Supervisor or Unit Manager for "final word" kinds of things, as a resource.

Every RN is responsible for his or her own practice. If the charge RN delegates inappropriately based on what he or she SHOULD know to do, that's on them. If the nurse or aid who got the assignment botches it (and it was appropriately delegated) that's on THEM.

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