Please tell me when you started doing charge

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · May 7, 2007

I was wondering how long you were on your job when and if you started doing charge? Also, how did the staff treat you when you started doing it?
Do you like doing it?
Also, do you feel you "know everything" when you are in charge, or still might have to look up protocols, etc.
Thanks for the info...

1. I had to do charge one night after I had been a nurse for 9 months in my NICU. It was only because we had 2 callouts and I was the most senior person there. I began to regularly do charge after about 12 months.... I now do it about once a week.

2. The staff was glad, since most of them would rather not do it. As long as I am competent and keep things running smoothly, there is no problem.

3. Yes, I find I am a more organized critical thinker from having to juggle responsibilities as charge. I am more often exhausted at the end of the day, but I take pride in it.

4. I can never "know everything" as charge. I have a pretty good grip on how the unit works, how to get us out in a fire/crisis, etc. I also have to know where to look for answers when questions come up. When doing charge on nights, I had to keep using the P&P book, but on days there are more resources if I have questions.

They also recently increased our charge pay to $2.50/hr, which at least buys me lunch and some gas money!!!

Stevern21

MA Nurse · May 13, 2007

1. I had to do charge one night after I had been a nurse for 9 months in my NICU. It was only because we had 2 callouts and I was the most senior person there. I began to regularly do charge after about 12 months.... I now do it about once a week.
2. The staff was glad, since most of them would rather not do it. As long as I am competent and keep things running smoothly, there is no problem.
3. Yes, I find I am a more organized critical thinker from having to juggle responsibilities as charge. I am more often exhausted at the end of the day, but I take pride in it.
4. I can never "know everything" as charge. I have a pretty good grip on how the unit works, how to get us out in a fire/crisis, etc. I also have to know where to look for answers when questions come up. When doing charge on nights, I had to keep using the P&P book, but on days there are more resources if I have questions.
They also recently increased our charge pay to $2.50/hr, which at least buys me lunch and some gas money!!!
Stevern21

Thanks for your response. I'm surprised to get only 1 reply! Maybe nobody does charge or they don't like it?!

Charity, RN, APRN · May 13, 2007

Well, I am not a NICU nurse, but I shall reply anyway. I first charged the day after I got my nursing license. It was the same with many nurses I know. There was no pay differential at that time. As far as how I was treated: All went well unless I tried to interfere with the "routine" as it was. One weekend, the NA's were taking their time getting vitals and I told them that it needed to be done. From that point on, I was Miss Charge Nurse. "Yes, Miss Charge Nurse. "Oh, Charge Nurse. But hey, sometimes you are so right, you don't even have to argue. I answered with a smile.

lovemyjob · May 16, 2007

On our unit, we have permanant charge. They are nurses who have been on our unit for about 5-10 years or more and are very knowledgable of our policies and emergency procedures and act as manager when she is not on the unit. Once in a rare while a seasoned nurse (who has been there since the begining of time) will take charge when there is no permanant charge. Charge usually doesnt have an assignment, unless we r short. And, they get paid an extra 2/hr.... maybe a little more. They are someone we can go to for answers to questions wether it is for an exchange transfusion or dealing with difficult parents.

With the responsibility that comes with charge, I would be very weary of taking charge even after being on the unit for 2 years speaking of myself.) If somethin g went wrong, if a mistake was made by another nurse, you can be named in the lawsuit if a family tries to sue. I would hope to be paid for the additional responsibility!!

twinkletoes53 · May 16, 2007

I started working in 1976, and was in our children's hospital for 1 1/2 years as a med-surg. floor nurse, then 2 1/2 years in PICU. I started doing charge on those floors a year after working on them. I did "relief charge", which was doing charge when the regular charge nurse was off or on vacation.

Our NICU opened with 12 beds in 1980. I transferred to the new unit the day we opened, and did charge on the 3-11 shift for 3 years. Then, I did relief charge for 2 years. I had no NICU experience when I started doing charge in NICU. I studied a LOT before our unit opened.

I always had protocol and policy books available if I needed them. I had the Nursing Supervisor I could call for assistance if needed. I enjoyed the challenge of helping to coordinate a brand new NICU, although it was exhausting to me, sometimes mentally more than physically.

I am a very non-confrontational person. I got along well with most staff nurses. The worst thing I hated doing was making patient assignments. I worked hard on trying to pair the right nurse and patients. I soon found that no matter how hard I tried, there would always be people who were not happy, and they would complain, loudly, because they did not care for the assignment they had been given. I actually cried at work one day, because I had worked hard on assignments, and it seemed NO ONE was satisfied.

At the time, we did have a pediatric surgeon who had a horrible reputation, and would terrify some nurses. He would yell, curse, etc. He was reported multiple times. These nurses usually would come get me when he arrived on rounds, and they would stay as far away from him as possible. So I went and rounded on all surgery babies with him. When our DON spoke to him, he denied yelling at the nurses. I developed a good rapport with him. Probably because I stood up to him and refused to be intimidated.

Twenty six years later, I am still in the NICU. We now have 65+ beds. Cant' believe it myself, sometimes!