How Much Experience for Charge Nurse

MrsWampthang, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2003

I graduated in May 2001 and have on occasion filled in as charge for the ER. A couple of times it was because I was the most senior staff member available, which in of itself is kind of scary to think about in an ER setting. A couple of times I was assigned charge when there was no one else working they could trust not to make everyone mad. I haven't done it very often, and I've always been told to call higher ups if I had questions, so overall it wasn't too bad an experience. I wouldn't want to even think about doing it on a full time basis as I don't think I have been in the department long enough nor have I been a nurse long enough, but occasionally filling in for four hours here and there is ok I think, as long as I have people to call if I need too.

Pam

webbiedebbie · Nov 20, 2003

Shoot, in PP where I work, any RN can be the charge nurse after completing orientation. It is divided up among staff (assigned by the scheduler). Go figure....

Trauma Columnist · Nov 20, 2003

In our ER - we have dedicated charge RNs - but we have 31 beds and the trauma bays. Usually charge RNs in our ER have at least three years experience, but...sometimes not too.

moonshadeau, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, APN, NP, CNS · Nov 24, 2003

On my unit, it is quite possible to be in charge on a night shift within 6 months of hire. Then it is hopefully about a year before you are in charge on days. There are people that are better at it than others and those are the ones that are "fortunate" to be in charge all the time....

XIGRIS · Nov 24, 2003

I think that your supervisor should make a thorouh assesment on who charges and if he is able to. Like on said here, some are good at it and some are not. Thre are times when I feel that I did not do good as charge one shift and sometimes feel the best on some nights. There is lot to learn out there. And as a charge nurse, who have to know a little bit if not a lot of everything.

I became the charge nurse 3 months after nursing school. I was very scaaaaared but I knew my tarining while I was in nursing school was to prepare me for this role. We had the enitre year devoted on charge nursing and leadership and while in school had to assume " charge nurse" capacity over senior and sophomore nursing students while the "real" charge nurse supervises and criticizes my decisions. It was very tough but Im glad I pulled throguh it, my first year as a charge was great.

Until now, I still learn every day. I have been a charge nure till these days ( nights , grins ) for almost 14 years since graduation in a busy CVICU. Also, is the resource person of the hospital night shift. And I have trained a lot of nurses who are charge nurses of various CVICU and Telemetry floor.

It is nice to see your "kids" practice what you teach.

Liz'02RN · Nov 28, 2003

i graduated in may of 2002, also. My manager has approached me about becoming a charge nurse on our telemetry med/surg floor, I have continuously declined her offers, because I do not feel confident in the role. I just now started to feel confident in the staff nurse position. It takes some time to understand the whole picture. On our floor though the staff nurse call's the physicians and handles most problems to the best of their ability then it goes to the charge nurse. Leaving the majority of duties to be bed assignments, and such. I know there are many different ways that units are ran. The hospital I externed with, it was not unusual for a new grad to act as charge nurse in three months. In fact it was a part of the preceptorship. My opinion: Can be very dangerous. It depends on the individual.

RNKPCE · Nov 28, 2003

Not unsual to be in charge after that length of time. I was a new grad on day shift and started doing charge after about 1.5 yrs. But the good thing was I was trained to charge and did charge while there were experienced charge nurses on the floor for back up. This is a better situation then when you are forced to do charge because no one else is qualified. That really is scary.

Also I think there are certain recent grads that will do a great job as charge and certain long time nurses who will never be good at charge.

Also more common to be in charge on the off shifts as that is where there tend to be more new grads.

mittels · Dec 16, 2003

Depends on how well this ns knows his/her telemetry rhythms or if there is a monitor tech? If you ask me, I worked for 8 years in a stepdown/tele unit. I was charge 5 of the last 8. It took me and most the majority of nurses I worked with at least one full year to become familar with the rhthyms to the point that it was just second nature. Then you have to remember this nurse has to be a mentor to the others, and be able to understand exactly what each pt has. Watch out because if there is a crisis. the CN is responsible for many things including her/his own patients.

live4today, RN · Dec 16, 2003

Not unusual at all. I've been in "charge" on many occasions in civilian hospitals in past years, and was often a "team leader" over half a ward in a military hospital. As a travel nurse, I was the 12 hour night weekend charge during one of my assignments. That role was also done on a rotating basis, and I started travel nursing less than 2 years out of nursing school. :)

kateRN · Jan 22, 2004

It seems that on our floor they wait until a person has about one year of experience before the orient them to charge. I was oriented to charge nurse after about 14 months of working. It's kind of nice for a change of pace, and we do have support staff available at all times if we have any questions. I feel pretty comfortable so far, however, I haven't had any big catastrophes happen during my charge shift yet either! That could definately change my opinion...

anoonan · Jan 27, 2004

i work on a 30 bed telemetry unit in RI and have never been oriented to charge. I've been there for about 2 years and on a recent shift was the most senior nurse available with a couple of new grads and 8 admissions, it was a fun night. I guess being charge really depends on how comfortable you are with your knowledge and the knowledge of the supervisors arounf you. If I had not been comfortable with the nursing supervisor that was on for the hospital, I would never have agreed.It is true that that in most hospitals anyone can be charge as long as they have been oriented.

:chuckle