Forced to be charge without the pay???

[Nacki, MSN, NP]

I'm fairly new on the unit I currently work. On the unit I work I was told all nurses rotate being charge at some point and time. The nurse is oriented to charge after 1 year on that unit. I asked one co-worker, after seeming to be having a trying day as charge, what incentive she got from it. You know what she told me? NONE. All the extra responsibility and managing of the unit without any extra pay. Everyone is forced into it. I'm not too keen on being charge in the first place because of all the extra stress involved, especially not without any extra pay for it. This is one of many reasons I want to switch units when I'm eligible to transfer. What do you guys think about this?

[Batman24]

I know the CNs get extra money where I work and I think they should. I don't blame you for wanting to get out of that unit.

[shellsgogreen]

we are compensated on my unit when we take charge. the primary reason i take charge is for the experience, however my feathers would be ruffled if there was no extra $$ to account for the quadruple amount of work.

your manager, payroll or whoever the powers that be in charge of that decision should recognize that charge nurses on your unit need to be compensated accordingly.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

25 cents an hour where I am.

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

When I've been charge, I haven't been paid extra. I did hear that the regular charge nurses were paid an extra buck at a previous hospital where I was never charge.

[BEDPAN76]

Yes, you SHOULD get extra pay for charging. However, I wouldn't make too much of an issue of it until you have been there a year. Things might change. Also, you don't want to let your coworkers know that you are planning a transfer yet.........

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

When I worked nightshift, I had to do charge and didnt get any extra pay either. Their excuse was "you havent had the charge class". I even posted on here about it. It isnt right. I wanted to refuse, but didnt feel I could/should. We nurses are constantly taken advantage of.

[CHATSDALE]

it usually runs like an extra $1.00/hr in most places

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

$1 per hour at my hospital

[oramar]

You know a friend told me UPMC got rid of there charge pay about 4 years ago. She said she figures she lost over $2000 a year when they did it.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Charge pay is up to the facility ... it's not a matter of law. Without a contract, the only thing binding on the facility is their own handbook and federal/state law.

Sounds like they are at least trying to spread the pain around ...

[morte, LPN, LVN]

i would bet the "every body has to do it" is why there is nothing extra.....