Never been charge.

I think that's an excellent question to ask your manager(s) in your next performance evaluation. If you feel that less-experienced nurses are performing these functions, then it is appropriate to request the training/classes that would allow you to assume them. Show that you're interested and willing to step up to the plate.

At our facility, they start making us assume charge and preceptor roles after the first year. They have even started mini-training the new grads barely 6 months in, which I think is wrong. Btw, we don't get paid extra for charge or precepting so I'm not complaining when I am not recruited. I have enough experience with both to put it on my resume tho ...

Sent from my iPad using allnurses.com

I am speaking from a managerial standpoint, we have nurses with more experience that are not in charge for certain reasons.

1. They do not work well under stress.

2. They have negative attitudes.

3. They do not work well with others.

4. They are bullies.

I am not saying that this pertains to the OP, if you feel you would be a good charge nurse, then I advise you to ask your manager what qualities you need to work on to be considered for the position.

And finally, charge really isn't all it's cracked up to be. IJS

I'm in the same boat as you, OP- I've been a nurse for 4.5 years now but because I've done the job-hopping thing, I'm just getting to the point where I should be doing charge- and yes, people that have started after me have started doing charge and precepting but I'm being left behind...it hurts, to be fair, these people had done charge at their previous jobs, and I had not (short length of employment at these former places- barely more than a year, but I've found my "home" now. And I would like to progress up to do charge, and precepting, as everyone else is. So, I feel ya, sister.

You don't say how long you've been in your current job, but 4.5 years isn't 4.5 years worth of experience if you're starting over at a new job every year. That's just one year of experience 4.5 times. After you've been at your current job for 2 years or more, talk to your manager about what you would need to do to be considered as charge or a preceptor.

I think some people just aren't cut out for charge, not that that makes them bad nurses, but either way it's not based on years of experience but more so personality, involvement on the floor, and work ethic. I work on a busy surgical floor and was asked to charge my first time less than a year after I began nursing (and started precepting shortly before that), but I believe it was because I'm the kind of person that gets along with everyone on the floor, handles stress and new situations well, is assertive, helps others out whenever I'm able, and I'm aware of what's happening with most patients on the floor whether I'm charging or not. This is in contrast to some older nurses who keep to themselves, don't get along with some of the coworkers, have bad attitudes, and only do the minimum of what they're required to do. Not that they're bad nurses, they're just there to do their job and that's all.

If you feel like you deserve to charge, or are even just curious why you haven't been asked, first assess your position, involvement, attitude, and relationships on the floor, then ask your manager or whoever makes the decision of who charges. Make yourself involved, be assertive, help everyone else out, show that you are aware of and understand the whole picture, care about what's going on across the floor and aren't just there to only take care of your handful of patients.

Thanks for the great feedback! I feel like my attitude is good (positive). I get along with the nurses and aides I work with and I try hard to help coworkers when I can. Having said that, I do tend to focus on my patients before the facility (not that I pay no attention to the facility, it is just that I'm more involved in my patients than I am the politics... which I don't really like anyway). Maybe that's where it is coming from. No skin off my nose really, I was just wondering if it was odd. Thanks again!

I consider that I charge myself during my evening shift on my sub acute floor. Besides passing meds I make assessment, speak to MD, APRN, PCP, call family, refer things to APRN, made decisions about lab results. In the morning there is nurse that does that and a nurse who passes meds, does orders and assessments.

I've been a nurse for a lot longer than 4 years and I've never been in charge. Gathering all the surgeons for a early AM conference call to get them to either transfer someone out of the ICU or scratch their cases for the day does not sound like fun. (and for NO extra $!)

I know nurses that have way more experience than you and do not charge. I think it's a completely different role where you need to be trained anyways. Just because you have a certain amount of experience doesn't mean you HAVE to move on up and take on another role. It's like saying a secretary should then become the supervisor just because she has gotten more experience.