Is this standard procedure?

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I have a full time job in the PICU. I love it. I trust everyone there from the monitor techs to the unit supervisor. We're a great team that works well together. But that's not my problem.

I also have, or had, a part time job at another hospital in town. A few weeks ago I had mentioned that I could charge if they really needed me to on a very limited basis, but having never been a charge nurse, I would need to be oriented first. At that time I was given a 2 page letter that listed what the charge nurse was responsible for. That was the last time I've worked there until tonight. Tonight I walk in to find that I am the charge nurse. 17 patients, myself, one staff nurse and one float pool nurse. No Nurse tech, no unit secretary, but I might get another nurse if I take an admit. It was the last straw. I'm done with them. Anyone else had anything like that happen?

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Sorry about your experience :( I don't know which hosp. your referring to but my friend who graduated about 1 years ago was working at a hosp. and walked in one night to learn she was in charge and basically had NO CLUE what she was doing and quit because she felt she would endanger the patients or something (and was very scared to boot!). I have no clue if that is common but wanted to share her experience. Shes working for Integris now and loves it though.

I'm just trying to figure out which places to stay away from!

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
I have a full time job in the PICU. I love it. I trust everyone there from the monitor techs to the unit supervisor. We're a great team that works well together. But that's not my problem.

I also have, or had, a part time job at another hospital in town. A few weeks ago I had mentioned that I could charge if they really needed me to on a very limited basis, but having never been a charge nurse, I would need to be oriented first. At that time I was given a 2 page letter that listed what the charge nurse was responsible for. That was the last time I've worked there until tonight. Tonight I walk in to find that I am the charge nurse. 17 patients, myself, one staff nurse and one float pool nurse. No Nurse tech, no unit secretary, but I might get another nurse if I take an admit. It was the last straw. I'm done with them. Anyone else had anything like that happen?

17 PICU patients and only 3 nurses? Run, run like the wind!

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17 PICU patients and only 3 nurses? Run, run like the wind!

Sorry, I wasn't very clear last night. In the PICU we run 2 to 1, sometimes 1 to 1. Some of us more experienced nurses will take 3 to 1 if we're baby sitting floorbait. This was just an adult med surg floor, mostly homeless and mentally challanged folks.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Sorry, I was very clear last night. In the PICU we run 2 to 1, sometimes 1 to 1. Some of us more experienced nurses will take 3 to 1 if we're baby sitting floorbait. This was just an adult med surg floor, mostly homeless and mentally challanged folks.

Still 17 high-acuity patients. I still say, "Run!"

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

That's 1:6 on night shift, which isn't bad at all. It can be intimidating to be in charge at first, but you have the house supervisor for backup. You did mention to them that you were willing. You should have been oriented to charge first, but shoulds fall by the wayside when everyone is so short-staffed. If no one died, pt or nurse, I would say you did OK. It will get better.

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