How long before being charge nurse?

Farawyn · Mar 18, 2015

I think you did the right thing.

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 18, 2015

You did the right thing. I was forced to charge on med/surg when I'd only been off orientation for a few months, and I hated it. I hadn't been trained, and I was the new grad who cried during work every night for the first 3 months or so. Luckily I only had to officially charge twice. Now I'm in a MICU and they won't even think about training you for charge unless you've been off orientation for at least two years. I don't charge in the MICU yet, and I'm planning on keeping it that was a long as possible!

VANurse2010 · Mar 18, 2015

Personal opinion - I think a year off orientation is sufficient.

To the OP - what they did was not cool and you were right to refuse, but don't feel like you're directly responsible for the entire floor as charge. The bedside nurse has ultimate responsibility. Think of it this way - "The charge nurse told me to" has even less of a leg to stand on than "the doctor told me to." It just doesn't fly.

Farawyn · Mar 18, 2015

Personal opinion - I think a year off orientation is sufficient.
To the OP - what they did was not cool and you were right to refuse, but don't feel like you're directly responsible for the entire floor as charge. The bedside nurse has ultimate responsibility. Think of it this way - "The charge nurse told me to" has even less of a leg to stand on than "the doctor told me to." It just doesn't fly.

I agree.

I just keep thinking what if there was a code or some other type of emergency and she was charge and not ready for it.

I'm glad she had the gumption to say no. As a new nurse I probably would have done it and been frantic the whole night.

nynursey_ · Mar 18, 2015

I've been a nurse for just a little over a year and a half. I've been a nurse with this particular organization for just shy of a year. Tonight is my first shift as charge.

I was forewarned during my year eval that this was coming. It was one of my "professional goals" laid out by my boss, so I can say I was forewarned. However, looking at our census, I can see why tonight had to be the night. Out of all the nurses on for that shift, not only have I been a nurse the longest, but I've also been with that hospital the longest. So it looks like I have to volunteer as tribute, as it were.

4 months is sketchy. Even at a year, I'm not entirely sure what my place as charge is. I definitely didn't have any formal training for it, so my plan is to wing it and rely on supervision for major issues.

All in all, you did the right thing, but understand that their assigning charge to you can be viewed two ways. They have done what they have to do for the needs of the unit and they also believe you're capable at this time. Length of time is all relative if you have the skill set to do it. Next time, believe in you as they do, and utilize your resources. You've got this. Good luck!

Farawyn · Mar 18, 2015

nynursey_ Good luck tonight.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2015

They seem to wait about 6 months on my floor. I think a year would be preferable. No training for us and no differential. You just kind of learn what your responsibilities are on the job.

Birdy2 · Mar 18, 2015

Farawyn...thanks for agreeing! That was my exact thought when they said I was in charge. What if someone codes, which by the way is pretty much a few times per week on my unit. We are supposed to be general med-surg but the hospital has been so short lately that we're getting ICU patients and ones that should be on a telemetry floor. The night they wanted me to be charge I had serious issues with 3 out of 6 of my patients. One with critically low bp, one with critically high blood sugar, and one who was supposed to be given blood in dialysis because of critically low

H/H (they never do it and then send them back to us). So I was frantic until about 4 am, running around, calling doctors, rechecking vitals and sugars frequently and trying to make sure none of my patients code. That's actually how most nights there go for me. It's like these patients are being mismanaged. The doctors don't make orders clear and so therefore patients end up in critical condition and also some floors don't do their job and so we end up doing everything. Like my pt with the Hgb of 6.4. She even went to surgery after dialysis and still no blood was given. Then they send her back and I've got to get new orders to give blood, which means I have to get a hold of a doctor in the middle of the night. For that particular doctor it can be impossible. Anyways, I really don't think that low staffing and me being the one with most experience justifies me being in charge, because I've still not had enough training or experience to do it. Someone would have died if I had to worry about charge responsibilities. This is why I plan on leaving asap. Until then I'll stand my ground

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 18, 2015

My department policy is two years, but we also have a permanent charge position for all 3 shifts. There are several other nurses who are trained to do charge for when those permanent staff are off and for weekends. All received training.

Expecting someone with only months of experience to do charge with no training is just plain wrong.

Birdy2 · Mar 19, 2015

Thank you!

EmergencyRN22 · Mar 19, 2015

The most experienced RN available (who makes wise decisions) should be charge.