Charges at Level 1's

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Any coordinator/charge nurses out there at a level 1 who has advice for the role? Anything you'd wish you had been told when you started in the role that you figured out on your own?

I'm most concerned about high volume and Boarders, how do you handle volume when the hospital is full.

Diversion, etc. I've been a nurse for 14 years and 11 of those in the ER, so they all essentially run the same way. I would like to hear some tidbits of wisdom about difficult situations, staff, etc, that I may run across and have to involve the house sup or higher.

Thanks!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Wow, surprised there aren't nurses out there that are coordinators who won't provide words of wisdom.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Wow, surprised there aren't nurses out there that are coordinators who won't provide words of wisdom.

The last Level 1 where I worked didn't have dedicated coordinator — anyone could be assigned charge after orienting to the role. I don't know if that is common or not, might be why there is a lack of dialog. Have you ever been a charge nurse elsewhere?

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Sorry, I just signed back onto Allnurses and have been off enjoying the summer. No, I haven't been charge elsewhere. I start as Coordinator soon - we are designated Coordinators. We will work with providing feedback for peer annual evaluations, and I'm sure more will entail this position but am unsure of what that will be at this point. I figure all I can do is to stay out of the fray, help when coworkers need help, help with lunch breaks, etc. I want to be able to do the right thing and be a resource for my coworkers. I soon will see what it is like "on the other side" and I'm sure will be frustrated more often than not about the ER flow and my role in that. This is at a level 1. Thanks!

[offlabel]

Sorry, I just signed back onto Allnurses and have been off enjoying the summer. No, I haven't been charge elsewhere. I start as Coordinator soon - we are designated Coordinators. We will work with providing feedback for peer annual evaluations, and I'm sure more will entail this position but am unsure of what that will be at this point. I figure all I can do is to stay out of the fray, help when coworkers need help, help with lunch breaks, etc. I want to be able to do the right thing and be a resource for my coworkers. I soon will see what it is like "on the other side" and I'm sure will be frustrated more often than not about the ER flow and my role in that. This is at a level 1. Thanks!

Not now, but was a day charge at the busiest level 1 trauma center in the Bay Area. It's like steering a super tanker used to be before auto pilot...Make small infrequent corrections but know exactly where you want to end up. A good team is essential when making decisions about stuff like going on diversion and the reality is that for a big place, going on divert isn't a hard decision to make because it is so evident that you need to. It is never a decision that will fall solely to the person in charge.

My biggest challenge was dealing with interpersonal crap and keeping the flow through the ER going. Nurses complaining about nurses, shifts complaining about shifts...It was great when we got slammed because everyone was so busy they couldn't slow down to complain!

[MassED, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the response! I love the concept of steering a tanker.