Here is a question for all you experienced nurses. When you are charge nurse on your unit what do your duties become? Are you responsible for admissions, new nurses, CNA's, and the next day's staffing? Are you required to take a full patient load while trying to accomplish this? What is the pay diff?
I have been out of school for exactly one year. For the last four months I have been charge nurse every shift I work. My floor is poorly staffed and we have more travelers than regular staff. On an average night I have to field questions from four other nurses (many answers I don't know myself), place admissions, monitor the CNA's and deal with staffing issues for the day shift...all while handling my own patient load and admissions of my own. When is enough enough? This is not what I got into nursing for!
I am extremely frustrated with this situation. I spoke with my director who basically told me there was no one else to be charge so I was out of luck. I am continually drving home after my shift feeling like I completely ignored my own patients to do paperwork and deal with other people's patients.
I need some advice before I talk to my director again. Am I being unreasonable? Do I have the right to refuse to be the charge nurse?
Thanks to everyone for listening, please tell me if I am being a baby!
