Forced to be charge nurse. Help!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2005

I definately wouldnt until you feel you are ready. If they are adament about it, ask when you get the raise to compensate for the added responsiblity. I wouldnt until they made it worth your while.

dinkymouse · Aug 18, 2005

I think that you should try charge but only with someone with you the first few times. As for the age discrimination-be one of the first to change that. Show them what you are made of. If you really don't want to be charge now tell them but it will probably effect your review and raises.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 18, 2005

Hey everyone, really need your help on this one! Was asked by another nurse if I wanted to do charge sometime. Well I told that nurse that I was uncomfortable doing charge, not because of my skill level, but because of some discrimination issues on our unit with age. Plus, there are many more nurse that are way more qualified than me for the job. Also, the manager agrees with the charge nurse that I should do charge. My questions are, do I have to?, what do I say?, etc. Some feedback would really help, thanks!

Being charge is part of the responsibility that comes with being an RN. You are a healthcare leader, whether you want to be or not.

Could you find a job where you didn't have to be charge? Sure. But if, in this job, you decide to make an issue of it, don't be surprise when your performance evaluations fall. Don't be surprised if you don't get a raise. You are EXPECTED to be a leader commensurate with your experience and expertise.

Do you absolute have to? You were given a Job Requirements sheet that listed everything expected of you, if it's not there, then you could contest being made charge. But everything has a price, and so will that.

Why don't you want to be charge? You're uncomfortable with it? That's how you grow, by ever increasing your comfort zones by challenging the uncomfortable.

The issues you site, discrimination, etc. are side shows. And if there were more qualified people, they'd of been tagged. Being in charge is more than who has the most experience, it's about who can motivate, encourage, etc. It's about who 'plays well with others' It's about leadership. If you stand up and be a leader, the other issues will fade.

I learn the most in nursing as a charge nurse, being forced to examine all sorts of issues from multiple perspectives.

And being asked to assume the leadership qualities that others see in you: that's a compliment. Accept it.

~faith,

Timothy.

PMHNP10 · Aug 18, 2005

Hey everyone, really need your help on this one! Was asked by another nurse if I wanted to do charge sometime. Well I told that nurse that I was uncomfortable doing charge, not because of my skill level, but because of some discrimination issues on our unit with age. Plus, there are many more nurse that are way more qualified than me for the job. Also, the manager agrees with the charge nurse that I should do charge. My questions are, do I have to?, what do I say?, etc. Some feedback would really help, thanks!

How long have you been a nurse? If less than a year, I'd say no way, unless it's a pretty simple floor...lol, that's an oxymoron. How long at that facility? If under 90 days, I'd hesitate. What kind of floor? Trauma ER, ICU, rehab? psych? Is there some orientation to charge before you do it on your own? I definitely would demand a couple shifts of orientation with the regular charge nurse.

If you are an experienced nurse, it is your duty to do charge. It's not fair for the others to have to be charge all the time (unless they want to, which obviously they don't).

malraymal · Aug 21, 2005

Thanks for all of the advice ladies and gentlemen, I think I will go ahead and go with it. I have been doing some thinking and feel more comfortable with the ideal than I did when I post this thread. Good luck to everyone, don't give up on nursing, I know it sucks at times, but just remember what you are doing for others, because one day your gonna need someone to do it for you!!!

BETSRN · Aug 21, 2005

Hey everyone, really need your help on this one! Was asked by another nurse if I wanted to do charge sometime. Well I told that nurse that I was uncomfortable doing charge, not because of my skill level, but because of some discrimination issues on our unit with age. Plus, there are many more nurse that are way more qualified than me for the job. Also, the manager agrees with the charge nurse that I should do charge. My questions are, do I have to?, what do I say?, etc. Some feedback would really help, thanks!

Definitely!! Step up to the plate and get some experience. Make sure you shadow a charge nurse a few times to see what to do. Always make sure that there is someone there to help you if need be. At my place, we ALL take a turn at charge. We share that burden, if you know what I mean.

Zoomer · Aug 21, 2005

Being charge is part of the responsibility that comes with being an RN. You are a healthcare leader, whether you want to be or not.
Could you find a job where you didn't have to be charge? Sure. But if, in this job, you decide to make an issue of it, don't be surprise when your performance evaluations fall. Don't be surprised if you don't get a raise. You are EXPECTED to be a leader commensurate with your experience and expertise.
Do you absolute have to? You were given a Job Requirements sheet that listed everything expected of you, if it's not there, then you could contest being made charge. But everything has a price, and so will that.
Why don't you want to be charge? You're uncomfortable with it? That's how you grow, by ever increasing your comfort zones by challenging the uncomfortable.
The issues you site, discrimination, etc. are side shows. And if there were more qualified people, they'd of been tagged. Being in charge is more than who has the most experience, it's about who can motivate, encourage, etc. It's about who 'plays well with others' It's about leadership. If you stand up and be a leader, the other issues will fade.
I learn the most in nursing as a charge nurse, being forced to examine all sorts of issues from multiple perspectives.
And being asked to assume the leadership qualities that others see in you: that's a compliment. Accept it.
~faith,
Timothy.

Very well said!! I know in my facility the management is now saying that if you are a registered nurse you are expected to take leadership responsibilities and if you don't it will reflect on your evaluation.

I am in charge frequently and it steams me that those nurses who never do charge are being paid the same as me. We get no extra compenstion for being in charge. I hope the managemnet sticks to what they are saying and starts giving less of an increase at evaluation time to those people who don't step up and take their turn.

Also, if you take turns being in charge then everyone knows how hard it is to make certain decisions about assignments etc...