needs input to keep my inner peace

Don't interact with them as much. Don't ask them questions when you can find the answers yourself using your P&P manuals or the manufacturer info included w/ the device or med or whatever.

Go about your own business.

Stop critiquing them. I'm not criticizing you when I say that - - what I'm saying is that if they get under your skin then leaving them alone is for your own peace of mind. The less you know about what they're doing/saying, the better. CN isn't an easy role; doing it while being in any kind of assignment is worse. Who cares if they're privileged, anyway.

Quit worrying about them. You are being paid to do something regardless of what they do; just do it to the best of your ability.

Focus on taking great care of your patients and helping others when you can.

Agree with JKL33. Just focus on yourself and your work. You will always work with people that you don't necessarily like or that you have problems with. It is not worth sacrificing your inner peace. Let them do what they are going to do. Also, having been a Charge RN while also taking patients I can tell you it is difficult, so yes, the Charge will get the "easy" patients but that doesn't mean the day is easy for the Charge RN (being a Charge RN is difficult enough without having patients!). If that is the only reason you plan on staying only a year I might reconsider.

So now you know not to ask them clinical questions. Maybe instead of getting annoyed at a lack of knowledge, you can propose a chest tube refresher at your next skills day, ekg review, etc. It just seems like an enormous waste of emotional energy to be hot and bothered by them.

they are so wrong always clamp

I feel your pain. I know that it's my responsibility to look up policy, procedure, etc. I also know that if I don't have time, I am *hoping* my charge will know. But now you know that your initial assessment was correct, and now you know that if you rely on their quick answer, you might be explaining yourself and "but the charge said it was OK" will def not fly.

Hang in there. You are going to do the right thing by your patients, even if you have to do it alone.

So now you know not to ask them clinical questions. Maybe instead of getting annoyed at a lack of knowledge, you can propose a chest tube refresher at your next skills day, ekg review, etc. It just seems like an enormous waste of emotional energy to be hot and bothered by them.

^^ Great response.

And in regards to the charge nurse and assignments ... I just started doing charge, and due to short staffing the charge nurse also takes a full case load. It's HARD. There is just so much to the charge role that you bet your sweet aunt Fanny I'm taking some of the easiest patients.

I think the trend these days is that the charge nurse is more of a unit coordinator, not necessarily a seasoned nurse to turn to for clinical expertise. You see a lot of young, smart, capable newer nurses filling the position who don't have years and years of nursing experience, but understand computer systems, and overall work flow of the unit.

You may have a more seasoned nurse in the unit with vast clinical knowledge, but no inclination, desire, or talent to be in a charge nurse role. Find out who that is for your questions.