I look at it this way: when I'm a bedside nurse, I work for the patient. When I'm a charge nurse, I work for my coworkers...my job is to help them take care of their patients. Obviously I have other duties as a charge nurse, but patient care and safety have to come first. I work with with a couple other charge nurses who don't share that philosophy.
It is a harder day when I work with a charge nurse who doesn't help as much, so I try to lead by example. Ideally, we'd all work in an environment where this role is rotated, which helps our leadership remember what it's like to be a bedside nurse!
No matter what, I never complain or say anything (except in a safe place like AN!), as I don't want to start a war. Some charge nurses or team leaders are favored or friends with management, and you have no idea until it's too late!
