So upset got passed for charge

AOx1 · May 29, 2009

I used to want to be charge until I was. Then when a bazillion pts flood your ICU or ER and everyone wants to know what you're going to do, but staffing won't give you any help and there are unhappy pts and families, whiny docs, and overworked coworkers afoot, while you try to assist with all the admits, you suddenly realize.....

Is it too late to go back to NOT being in charge? $24 a shift typically isn't worth the headache.

Not to mention the assignments, giving breaks, assisting in any/every way, mentoring new nurses, paperwork, checking of crash carts and defibs, going to the rapid responses, blah, blah blah.

RNperdiem, RN · May 29, 2009

Are you worried that you are being put on the equilavent of the B team and your coworker is being groomed for an A team position?

Since you are both fairly new, it is too soon to tell.

At least where I work, the more career oriented nurses stand out early.

I was regarded differently when I went per diem after having kids.

Emilysmom2, RN · May 29, 2009

Thanks everyone. I talked to a seasoned nurse that is charge alot of the time. She said that all the RNs who work nite will be trained to be charge nurse. She was not sure why the other girl is learning first but it could be she is there more often than me. But she said not to worry I will become one soon enough. She said they usually want to wait a yr before they train you to be charge but for us she is going to train all of us. I guess that is good, it made me feel alittle better.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 29, 2009

For about 2.5 years now, I've been a charge nurse in the newborn nursery. It's enough. I wouldn't want to be charge on the whole unit - deciding who gets what patients, handling call-outs, making assignments for the next shift, deciding who/when to flex, etc. Nope, nope, nope.

As it is, my butt is already in the frying pan enough. Multiply that times the whole floor? Uh-uh. I enjoy being a peon - I go to work, take care of my patients and go home.

To the OP - this in no way is me saying that you wouldn't make a great charge nurse. Not at all. I'm just saying......charge is not all it's made out to be, and it's not necessarily a bad thing to be a 'nobody.' Where I am, we all love being 'nobodies.'

I am, however, glad you were able to talk with someone about this and got a little bit of insight. :)

SweetLemon · May 29, 2009

i am a 45yr old mom of 2 that graduated from nursing school may 08. got a job in a large hosp that is 45min from home. now i work 3 nites a week was 4 until i asked to decrease with summer coming up. i found out last nite that a girl 21 who started exactly 1month after me is going to be trained to be a charge nurse. now she is a 1.0 and is 1/2 my age with no kids.

sorry not to come off as completely non-supportive but what does age have to do with anything. age does not equal experience and regardless of if someone has or does not have kids does not make them more or less qualified as a nurse. i work with someone 3x my age that after many months still does not seem to get the basics, will not take charge in stressful situations and does barely enough to get by. also last i heard at 21 you get to be a woman.... again i am sorry that you feel passed up on this opportunity and i agree with some of the above responses that encourage you to seek out your manager and find out why. :twocents:

allnurses Guide · May 29, 2009

for about 2.5 years now, i've been a charge nurse in the newborn nursery. it's enough. i wouldn't want to be charge on the whole unit - deciding who gets what patients, handling call-outs, making assignments for the next shift, deciding who/when to flex, etc. nope, nope, nope.
i enjoy being a peon - i go to work, take care of my patients and go home. :redbeathe
i go to work, take care of my patients and go home. and it's not necessarily a bad thing to be a 'nobody.' where i am, we all love being 'nobodies.'
:)

in complete agreement here!:bowingpur

steph

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 30, 2009

In complete agreement here!:bowingpur
steph

Nobodys have more peace. :yeah:

elthia · May 30, 2009

My floor has people who are designated charge nurses, and when they are off, the other nurses fill in. The designated charge nurses apply and interview for the position. On their days off, the nurse manager assigns someone, it usually goes by performance versus seniority, IMO, I seem to charge a lot more than some nurses that have been there a lot longer than me. I have also been floated to charge on other floors, which royally sucks. I really don't like to charge all the time, but I'll take my turn at it, and if I'm going to, I'd rather do it on my floor, where I'm much more comfortable.

allnurses Guide · May 30, 2009

nobodys have more peace.

yeppers!!:onbch:

steph

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 30, 2009

i am a 45yr old mom of 2 that graduated from nursing school may 08. got a job in a large hosp that is 45min from home. now i work 3 nites a week was 4 until i asked to decrease with summer coming up. i found out last nite that a girl 21 who started exactly 1month after me is going to be trained to be a charge nurse. now she is a 1.0 and is 1/2 my age with no kids. but i am still upset i feel that i am not doing it. i have not been told anything bad, i do ask alot of questions vs many other nurses. but i am the one who is left on the floor alone when the others are on break, i am the nurse answering call bells. i am the nurse who goes around to other nurses and aides asking if they need help. i am the one who empties trash cans. i am the one who gets 2 admits while others have 3 empty beds. i feel so used and like i am not making it. i truly try my best i do not sit and gossip or read the paper or play on my phone. i am always checking labs looking things up. why.
thanks for listening

i don't work with either of you, so i cannot give you a definitive answer. what i can do is give you some questions to ask yourself.

what's a 1.0? is that full time? and you've asked to go part time because of the upcoming summer break for your kids. perhaps there's a requirement that one be full time to do charge? or perhaps full time to be oriented to charge and once you're oriented you can drop back? perhaps managment things you're not interested in doing charge because you've asked to cut your work hours.

perhaps it's as simple as that she's asked to be oriented to charge and you haven't. maybe you hadn't thought of it yet, or she happened to have her evaluation before yours and it came up during the evaluation.

on the other hand, there are some work environments that reward people they like more than people who do a good job, and it's possible that your younger, single colleague is more fun going out after work than you are rushing home to your family.

whatever it is, if you're interested in doing charge, ask! and if they tell you they're not ready, ask what you need to do to be ready.

diane227, LPN, RN · May 31, 2009

First of all, there may have been a good reason whey this other person was chosen. If his happened to me, I would sit down with my manager and ask her right out where my weaknesses are and what can I do career wise to improve myself toward this goal in the future.

pawsomepooch47 · May 31, 2009

Please don't feel bad for being passed over for a charge position--i have to be in charge alot--hate it--it increases the stress astronomically. Believe me, they probably did you a favor. As they say, be careful what you wish for!