Misguided Charge

[LifelongDream]

I recently graduated from a second degree BSN program and have started working in Pediatrics. My charge nurse is a very nice and young nurse. Unfortunately, she is all to willing to answer questions when she doesn't know the right answer. I've discovered after the fact that she has given me inaccurate guidance on certain tasks. Example, I asked if I should check the residual before starting the feeding on one of my babies. She says, no it's not necessary because she has a button. After coming home that morning, I should went back and looked at my fundementals book and I should have checked the residual..... Grrrrr!!!! Also, she discourages me from calling the doctors at night for any reason. My thought is that, sure the MD may be mad that I woke him up, but if my patient's status is declining, shouldn't I notify the physician??? She is a BSN prepared nurse just as I am. I'm worried that after following her advice, I may end up being held responsible for doing something wrong. I'm scared to death. I've been spending my downtime studying treatments for common things we see (RSV, Dehydration, etc.). Any advice???

[elkpark]

In my opinion, charge nurses should be chosen from the most experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled candidates. It just floors me that nurses without a whole lot of experience or preparation are placed into this position. The charge nurse should be a resource and an asset to the entire unit. It is so frustrating to read of yet another charge nurse who doesn't know what the heck they're talking about, yet are in this position. What gives??????

[/rant]

ITA. However, in a lot of facilities, there isn't much of a pool of candidates from which to choose -- sometimes young, inexperienced nurses end up being in charge because a particular unit only has young, inexperienced nurses (or they are the only ones willing to take the job).

[Blackheartednurse]

I recently graduated from a second degree BSN program and have started working in Pediatrics. My charge nurse is a very nice and young nurse. Unfortunately, she is all to willing to answer questions when she doesn't know the right answer. I've discovered after the fact that she has given me inaccurate guidance on certain tasks. Example, I asked if I should check the residual before starting the feeding on one of my babies. She says, no it's not necessary because she has a button. After coming home that morning, I should went back and looked at my fundementals book and I should have checked the residual..... Grrrrr!!!! Also, she discourages me from calling the doctors at night for any reason. My thought is that, sure the MD may be mad that I woke him up, but if my patient's status is declining, shouldn't I notify the physician??? She is a BSN prepared nurse just as I am. I'm worried that after following her advice, I may end up being held responsible for doing something wrong. I'm scared to death. I've been spending my downtime studying treatments for common things we see (RSV, Dehydration, etc.). Any advice???

Maybe I'm biased but this is the reason why I think "young" or unexperienced nurses should not be the charge nurses...from what you described it looks like this young nurse is either not experienced enough or just plainly "unsafe" which is totally scary if you asked me..I mean the examples you provided as with are the basic fundamental knowledge and every nurse knows that residual should be checked unless always and the MD should also be notified of an ongoing issues that deserve medical attentions..I just dont know what to say about that one,kinda freaky if you ask me...I wish (and this does not come from being vicious) that nurse managers would STOP making nurses without an extensive bedside experience be charge nurses!! Come on is the staffing in hospital so bad that they cant find someone with more experience,really a puzzle to me? Also so what she has BSN--that doesnt mean she has more bedside experience than any other ADN fresh nurse...

[McBx3]

In my opinion, charge nurses should be chosen from the most experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled candidates. It just floors me that nurses without a whole lot of experience or preparation are placed into this position. The charge nurse should be a resource and an asset to the entire unit. It is so frustrating to read of yet another charge nurse who doesn't know what the heck they're talking about, yet are in this position. What gives??????

Something just as scary as being on the floor w/ an inexperienced charge nurse, is BEING that inexperienced charge nurse... I had only been on the floor about 8 months when I came in one night and SURPRISE! I was charge that night I had no clue why, either, seeing as there was another RN on duty w/ twice as much experience as me. It also ended up being the busiest night of the season (each of us had 10 - 11 pts apiece, myself included - thrown to us w/ absolutely NO regard to acuity and they just kept a-comin'), and I was terrified. It turned out alright, everyone survived but it was NOT a night I'd want to repeat! I can only imagine how the rest of the staff felt w/ me in charge!