RobbiRN

Several trends contribute to the toxic situation you described. 1.) Experience is valued less; a nurse is a nurse and one straight out of college costs less. 2.) Profits are more important that quality care. 3.) Policies protect the institution while insuring the nurse can be blamed when things go wrong. 4.) Charge nurses are no longer the most capable person on a team, just someone who will do it. 5.) Charge nurses spend a huge amount of time distracted fro the flow of the department because they are doing clerical tasks, compiling QA reports, doing call backs, etc.
I've worked in the same ER for 20 years. On some shifts I can add the years of experience in the department and the grand total of the other 6 RN's will still not equal 20. We do put young, new grads in as charge and some do well, as long as the rest of the team does what we are supposed to do. The toxic environment you describe goes way beyond a charge nurse assignment. If you stay, you could be the miracle worker to take a pathetic place and make it work like it is supposed to. The challenge appears to be massive. Anything is possible.
(By the way, I do take charge for limited periods on rare occasions because I work 11am-11pm. I prefer patient care, and a strong core of nurses each holding down their assigned area leaves a CCN little to do.)