Help me to be a better charge nurse(little bit long)

YellowFinchFan · Mar 21, 2008

Hi all!
On my unit there are a few girls that all started within a month of each other including myself. Latley we have been working together with no "more senior" person and the charge role has sort of fell to me. It is a little awkward for me becuase I don't have seniority over these girls. I have heard in the past that they are a little resentful that they havn't been in charge and I have offered it to them a few times but they never want it.
Here is the issue:
One of the more senior people let me know that one of the girls came to her with a concern. She said that the girl thought I "act like a know it all and I must think she is stupid" when I am in charge. I don't think I do this, but it is possible that out of my own nervousness and insecurity in the charge role I make her feel this way. I know that I always want to know what is going on with new admits and I am always making sure everything got done for the admits, I usually try to ask if the person getting the admit needs help. I also like to know what is going on with our more critical patients throughout the night and i ask lots of questions to be sure that everything is getting done. (Keep in mind that there have been issues in the past with this particular nurse where things were getting left for dayshift and/or just not getting done and not getting reported undone. On my unit this can easily fall to the charge nurse and force me to stay late)
So here is the question:
How can I make sure the floor is flowing well and everything is going well with this specific nurse without making her feel this way? I don't want her to resent me and I don't want to make her feel "stupid". Basically what is a good way to "check up on her pt's w/o insulting her?"
Thanks in advance for any responses

Do you have confidence in this particular nurse? Does she have a very different style than you?

I would welcome you as my charge nurse (I also am charge often with no other willing takers for the thankless job)

I see no problem with checking on new admits, asking if they need help - that's what you are there for!

Maybe you can address this nurse who seems unhappy with you at the start of shift (not letting on that you already know she complains about you) and say "Let me know if you need any help today or if you get busy I can help"..... Who wouldn't like that? Tell all the nurses this so she's not singled out...but still.....unless you criticize her excessively I don't get it!

Good Luck!

:nurse:

liebling5, MSN, RN · Mar 22, 2008

I've been charge myself over the last few months, although I have no previous charge experience either. I agree with the previous poster: let everyone know they can ask you for help. As charge, you need to know what the critical issues are with each patient. Sometimes, the person doing the tattling is actually the culprit of insecurity. Remember, no one can "make" anyone feel anything. We choose to respond to a situation. I'd like to have you as charge on my team, too. :bowingpurIt's normal to feel nervous and overwhelmed in a new situation. If there's a supervisor or DON at your facility, you might try talking to one of them. They can be tremendous resources. You might be pleasantly surprised how much support you get. :up: :heartbeat

newlywedRN · Mar 22, 2008

Thank you so much for the reply's, I think maybe if I address the whole bunch rather than approach each one it will go over better.

To answer the question if I have confidence in her...the unfortunate answer is NO!! She doesnt like to ask for help and will get in over her head often(sticking a 3 year old with noone to hold). I always let her know that I am available as do the other nurses. There have been other issues as well and I always try to give her light assignments to ease my own fears of what will happen if she gets a critical patient.

Has anyone ever dealt with someone like this? how do you deal with it?(manager has been approached and no changes have been noted in this nurses behavior)

Thanks again

icunurse36 · Mar 22, 2008

Hi:

Here is my thought....especially when you are new to a job or area....show you will help, instead of saying you will be there if they need help. Don't ask them if they need help, just go in there and start helping them. Start with the little things. You obviously need a develop a relationship with this particular nurse as well as the others. So, develop a routine, check with all the nurses for a status report say every 4 hours out of the 12 hour shift....call it your status report. But make sure that you do it to all the nurses, so that they don't feel like you are just factoring in on one nurse in particular. I think most people have a beef with a charge nurse saying call me if you need me....just volunteer yourself...you don't have to wait until someone is getting slammed, jump in there and help them before they get overwhelmed. Just my 2 cents!! Good luck...you will continue to be fine...don't let your nerves mess you up....

Chris

maryloufu · Mar 23, 2008

Thank you so much for the reply's, I think maybe if I address the whole bunch rather than approach each one it will go over better.
To answer the question if I have confidence in her...the unfortunate answer is NO!! She doesnt like to ask for help and will get in over her head often(sticking a 3 year old with noone to hold). I always let her know that I am available as do the other nurses. There have been other issues as well and I always try to give her light assignments to ease my own fears of what will happen if she gets a critical patient.
Has anyone ever dealt with someone like this? how do you deal with it?(manager has been approached and no changes have been noted in this nurses behavior)
Thanks again

Maybe this won't help, but your mention of giving her light assignments because you fear a patient may become critical made me think. I have worked with a charge nurse who had precepted a nurse from another division. The new nurse had been working at the hospital for the year when she came to telemetry. If this woman got someone on a drip or a patient who was 'needy' she would have a pity party in the nurses station. And this would happen even when she got the easiest patients on the floor. This was so frustrating to me because I would have several trainwrecks and she was crying because she had to take vital signs every 2 hours. So please do not overlook your other stronger nurses- they will become frustrated if they notice she gets the lighter assignments. :smokin:

litbitblack, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2008

Sometimes there is no satisfying everyone. One nurse may need more help on thier assignment than the others on any particular day. I would definately not give the easier assignments to her all the time as the others will notice and start complaining. some nurses think they have the worst assignment when it is actually the easiest. And you will still find the nurses still complain if you get tied up with one n urse most of the day. I really just jump in to help, do the discharges, note orders and place on the mar. ect ect. I still check in with the nurses thru out the day to see how they are doing. I had one nurse who requested not to charge anymore (leaving me the only one qualified to charge) that basically started telling me off saying she was drowning. I said well so am i and so are the others. We are all swamped and I have to help the lvn's first. I have 3 new lvn's who are still getting there feet wet. So I really do get tied down with them but I just try to help where i can...you can't be everywhere.