I'm charging!?!

Graciegirlienurse · Jan 16, 2006

They cant force you to charge! Did they mention this before you accepted the position? If it was a known requirement then it would be different. I would tell her again that you are not ready for it at this point, and if you persists I would go above her head with the info that this requirement was not disclosed prior to your acceptance of the position.

Mississippi_RN · Jan 16, 2006

If it makes you feel better... you are not the only one being put in that position. I graduated last May. I now work on a postpartum unit/Med-Surg overflow where I alternate charge with another nurse. However, at first, before the other nurse was hired, I was going to be charge every single day. Now, I don't particularly care for charging anyway, but I am not going to pass up the opportunity. However, at first, I felt really overwhelmed. I mean, here I am not only responsible for my patients now, but also responsible for ALL the patients. Not to mention, whether all the other employees on the unit do their jobs. (Luckily I work with a really great group of people.)

Anyway, so now I am ok with charging on the PP/MSO overflow unit. Part of our rotation is that we cross-train in both L/D and NBN also, as part of the "Maternal Health Services continuity of care" (which basically means that if we are not terribly busy but the other units are, we can go back there and help...but it does not work the other way around.) I started in the NBN first and now, I am ok working there. However, I absolutely refuse to charge in NBN. I mean, I am fine admitting and taking care of a well-baby, or even a slightly sick baby, but I am not sure that I am comfortable with having the responsibility of catching a sick baby, much less handling one dying on me:o Therefore, until I get more comfortable with my experience I have explained to my director that I will not charge. But I don't think that means much, so I am waiting for the day I come in and I am put there as charge. About three months ago, I was charge in Holding Unit with 4 schizophrenic patients (I was the only licensed personnel.

Just take your time, go to the classes and ask if someone can orientate you. You deserve that much. I had a really good nurse orientating me and that meant the world in how I handled the responsibility.

Good Luck:)

ERNurse752, RN · Jan 16, 2006

Run!!!!!!!! You can't be charge on a unit you're brand new to, with hardly any other experience under your belt. Eek! Talk to them and see if you can get that changed, but even if they back off for now, you don't know that they won't try to force you back into it as soon as you get off orientation. Good luck.

ArmyWife,RN · Jan 16, 2006

Run!!!!!!!! You can't be charge on a unit you're brand new to, with hardly any other experience under your belt. Eek! Talk to them and see if you can get that changed, but even if they back off for now, you don't know that they won't try to force you back into it as soon as you get off orientation. Good luck.

Everybody is brand new on this unit. It's a new unit for the hospital that I work in. I am comming from ICU to Progressive Care - known to the rest of the world as step-down.

A.W.

perle1 · Jan 16, 2006

This may be an opportunity for growth! You will learn and gain confidence: some things happen for a reason, maybe this is a door opening for you. (just my :twocents: )

ArmyWife,RN · Jan 16, 2006

This may be an opportunity for growth! You will learn and gain confidence: some things happen for a reason, maybe this is a door opening for you. (just my )

Thank you!

This is how I'm looking at it too. I just need suggestions on how to be a good/great charge nurse. I have some insight from my own experience with charge nurses, but I'm looking for others insight too!

A.W.