New charge nurses

About 6-7 months after starting as a new grad on medsurg, I was assigned charge with full pt assignment. Its the kind of role you grow into as you're given that responsibility. If theres major issues you dont feel comfortable with dealing with on your own, then there's usually a more experienced nurse around to guide you, or theres always (at least in my hospital) a nurse manager somewhere in the house. Use your people skills, common sense. etc...

I am doing a paper on new graduate nurses and/or inexperienced nurses in the role of charge nurse. I'd like to know if you are intimidated by the role, if you feel overwhelmed in the role, etc...

Do you feel you have enough experiece to function properly in the role? What are your experiences, bad or good?

I was basically very inexperienced when I went from working a few months part time in a peds office to full-time in a hospital. I did not know anything it seemed! Yet I was scheduled to be charge nurse as well as the only RN on the floor after 4 weeks (med/surg). With full patient load by the way. Plus I wasn't even getting any orientation like I was supposed to (not given a preceptor or anything!). Among other things, being scheduled for charge was the last straw. I was definately NOT competent for that role, and I feared for patient safety. That was when I decided to leave. No inexperienced nurse should be made charge. Yes it is extremely overwhelming to even think about! I did talk to my manager many times, but she just kept citing "short staffed" as why things were the way they were. To me, though, safety comes first. I didn't have another job lined up but I knew I could not give adequate care at this place so that is why I left.

I personally think that new-grads or new nurses to a specialty should not be expected to do charge for at least a year. Actually two years would be better. That first year is so stressful for new nurses and they have plenty to worry about. They should not have the added stress and responsibility of learning to do charge. Using the excuse that they are short staffed as to why a new nurse would have to do charge is a lame excuse. It isn't the new nurses fault that they are short-staffed. It is the hospital's problem and they need to deal with it. Making new nurses do charge is just contributing to burn out and extra stress which will likely drive them away from hospital staff nurse positions.

I agree with humbled nurse, you have enough to worry about as a new nurse for at least your first year.

I was always told....You have the most time in this unit, you have to do it. Turnover and short staffing is not the new grads fault.

If you refuse, you are not a "team player". Refuse anyway!