Regretting charge nurse training...

[ama3t]

So, I'm a night shifter. I had the oppurtunity to train as a charge nurse so I took it. I knew that this mean I had to stay on nights but I wasn't expecting an oppurtunity to go to days to come up anytme soon...

Well it did, a week later. Of course I was skipped over becasue I was on charge orientation (just a note, at my facility I am considered "relief" charge and will only charge 1 or maybe 2 shifts/week and staff the rest).

Now I'm regretting this tremedously. I was just hinking about how good it might be for my career when I agreed to train. But now I'm so jealous I missed my chance for dayshift. I had a three year old at home and I hate being away from her three nights a week.

So my question is this: my employer put money into training me. Six 12s, and three approx 4 hour classes. How long would you feel obligated to stay on nights, should another chance to move to days arise?

Thanks.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

There may be a chance to move to days again when your child is a bit older and starts school. In the meanwhile, you will get experience as charge, and this could open up other doors for you in the future.

Take whatever training they are willing to give. The charge role, even a couple of shifts, will just add to your resume. Once established, keep an eye out for other opportunities on days.

Best wishes

[macfar28]

I'm not following why your experience charging on nights wouldn't be applicable to charging on days?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm not following why your experience charging on nights wouldn't be applicable to charging on days?

Although I am not the OP, I will offer a theory that definitely applies to the hospital where I currently work.

At my workplace, day shift has plenty of people who are trained as relief charge nurses if the need for them arises. However, night shift has just two of us who work as full-time charge nurses, and the only night relief charge nurse is a PRN employee who doesn't work for weeks at a time. However, we really need someone to fill the relief charge role at least once weekly, and sometimes more if one of the regular charge nurses wants to take vacation time.

So at the OP's hospital, there might be plenty of people trained to perform the charge role on days, and few people trained to fill the charge nurse role on night shift. Hence, the need for a relief charge nurse is greatest on nights.

[macfar28]

Right, I guess my question was more rhetorical as it appears OP is actually being punished for pushing herself further in her practice. It shouldn't be her problem that nights doesn't have more available charge nurses.

I would take a day position as soon as it's offered if that's what you need OP. Any decent employer should realize the training they paid for won't go to waste regardless of what shift you are on. You can always use those skills and with turnover, you could possibly be needed for day charge sooner than you think.