How does one become charge?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I'm a new nurse, but was wondering, how does one become charge or team leader?

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

When the charge nurse calls out sick, you will be the charge. Get ready! :nuke:

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Specializes in NICU.

In our unit, you have to have been there for over 2 years, and take a specific class/test about P/P and leadership.

It's likely a question best answered in your specific unit.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
In our unit, you have to have been there for over 2 years, and take a specific class/test about P/P and leadership.

It's likely a question best answered in your specific unit.

I wish that was the case in anywhere I worked. When I was a new grad I was working the floor one night and the charge called in and the other nurse on was from Canada and this was right after 9/11 and she couldn't cross the bodrer. I was the only nurse from my floor on and from then on I had rotated into charge. I was off orientation for only about 3 weeks and I was scared out of my mind. I was on a 32 bed unit and had 10 patients of my own and one aide. The 2 nurses that were floated there were awesome and helped me a lot with their experience.

I ended up being charge within weeks of orientation again at my present facility as well becasue the charge called in and I had been charge before in other facilities.

I DESPISE being in charge.

I wouldn't mind so much if we really were in charge and had an actual say when it comes to staffing and such.

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Specializes in NICU.

We usually staff between 15-18 RN's in a shift, and several of those are "resource nurses" for questions and another set of hands in an emergency....people who have been there for 3+ years. The odds of someone just off orientation being charge are slim to none.

I have several friends who have gone through similar experiences to yours, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Many of them have changed jobs because of the inadequate staffing.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
We usually staff between 15-18 RN's in a shift, and several of those are "resource nurses" for questions and another set of hands in an emergency....people who have been there for 3+ years. The odds of someone just off orientation being charge are slim to none.

I have several friends who have gone through similar experiences to yours, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Many of them have changed jobs because of the inadequate staffing.

I try to get out of charge as much as possible. We all do. We usually have 8-9 RN per shift. I am now in a 16 bed neuro ICU. I have to be in charge when I go back tonight and I am not happy. I am the only one trained to be in charge who is scheduled. Otherwise I would have changed it when I saw it on the schedule.

A RN just off orientation has no business being in charge. I think they should be a RN for at least one year before being trained to be in charge. And should be given adequate training on how to handle uncooperative staff members and disruptive visitors, and visitor complaints. Something I never really recieved.

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Specializes in NICU.
A RN just off orientation has no business being in charge. I think they should be a RN for at least one year before being trained to be in charge. And should be given adequate training on how to handle uncooperative staff members and disruptive visitors, and visitor complaints. Something I never really recieved.

Totally agree. When I first started, there would have been NO WAY I would have been even half-assed...heck....even one-eighth assed at charge.

The visitors and families I could probably handle okay. Nurses who have years of experience on me in this unit? No way. They don't even trust new nurses with answering the phones. I can't imagine how it would go over for a noob to be charge. Just the thought....:scrm:

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Specializes in med/surg,ortho, tele,.
When the charge nurse calls out sick, you will be the charge. Get ready! :nuke:

:lol2:lmao

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At my facility, you must be there for at least 1 year before being assigned to charge. I really don't ant to ever have to charge. We only get like 50 cents more per hour to charge, and with all the BS the charge has to deal with, it's just not worth it.

Let me just take care of my patients, and leave me out of it!

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You know what, it's a matter of readiness and believe me, sometimes a 2 years of experience can still scare the hell out of you to take charge...

Major decisions are yours on how to balance work inside the ward. Most of which is PRIORITIZING.. One must master how to prioritize which one should be attended first or which one needs immeadiate actions...

I tell you it's hard. Especially if you are understaff..

Like spiderman had said "Great power comes great REsponsibilities" and that means when you are in-charge, uh-oh, when something end up wrong, fingers are pointing on one direction... ON YOU...

Hahahaha....

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

unfortunately i was not that lucky. i was a new grad, just out 1 month and put on charge duty. i work at a small community hospital where we only have 1 maybe 2 other rn's on shift with an aide and 1 lpn. i was totally overwhelmed but was told to "suck it up". i have been a nurse for 1 year now and am still doing charge. i just pray every morning before i head out the door that i don't totally screw up and do the best job i can. i think all "charge" nurses should have adequate training prior to taking on such a high pressure job but my nurse manager thinks otherwise. one person i believe said "prioritize" and thats ultimately what i had to do. good luck!! :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC.

They lose an extremely fierce match of rock, paper, scissors.

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