Taking CHARGE for the first time.....

Did I understand you to say that you have not had any orientation time with your current charge nurse? I suppose that could happen... Don't hesitate to call on those who said they would be available for you.

Just keep your eyes & ears open, you've made it this far, I'm sure you'll do fine. It is just another aspect of your job.

Good luck.

A few thoughts on being charge:

Always remember that being the charge does not mean being the boss. A great charge realizes that he or she is simply a team leader, responsible for orchestrating the flow of the shift and supporting the other nurses as they provide care that day. The charge should be a resource person that the nurses feel free to come to for help and support.

The charge very much sets the tone for the other nurses. If you are agitated, stressed, and harried the other nurses will pick up on that and will reflect it in their practice. If you are calm, pleasant, and happy, they will be also.

I have had charge nurses who have everyone so wound up and stressed all day long that it's pure misery to be at work. One in particular has picked up a chart with orders, shoved it into a nurses hands and said "Why don't you do your ****** job!" She hovers over the order rack and gets worked up if orders sit there for more than 30 seconds (because as you know, nurses are capable of doing physical tasks in more than one room at the same time.) She'll do orders in your rooms and then say something like "I hung the antibiotic for you since you weren't getting it done." Very inspiring.

I have other charges who seem totally unflappable no matter how badly things are crumbling down around us that it gives me the energy to keep pushing through. One in particular comes around about once every two hours, pats you on the back and says "You're doing a great job. Do you need any help, need a quick break? Anything I can do for you?" He's sincere, you can feel it, and it makes all the difference.

Do what you can to get people their lunches and breaks. It means so much to nurses to get to sit down for a few minutes. I can offer a trick I've learned from one of my favorite charges. When it comes time to start lunches (assuming there is not a major crisis unfolding), she'll send the first person for lunch, and then 15 minutes later send the second person. She's told me that the first will be back in 15 minutes, and it's easier for her to just deal with whatever happens in that 15 minutes and tread water than it is to spread the lunches out so far.

I have several charges that I work with. Three are truly outstanding. Two or three get the job done and do it well. One is a total hag and I check the schedule first when I'm asked if I'd like to pick up overtime. One is a nice guy, but he has a chair with a permanent impression of his backside.

Strive to be the kind of charge that people are happy and encouraged when they find out that you'll be there to support them and you'll be one of the best. Good luck with your new role!

At least you got the charge class. I was just thrown to the wolves, with no class or orientation. I have to do it again in a few days. Its scarey, it still is to me, but you will do fine. I agree with the other posters. Your attitude and mood will rub off onto the floor nurses. Just remember that you are not alone. You have your fellow coworkers to help. We also have a nursing coordinator to help out, hopefully you do too. Just stay calm and remember....if they didnt think you could do it, they wouldnt have given you the responsibility. Just take one thing at a time and stay calm. As you go along, maybe write down things you know you have to do so you dont forget. We have a "charge board" with a check off list to help us out. Let us know how it goes!

I was in charge for the first time last night. No orientation, I was just randomly assigned to it. I have been pretty observant as to what charge nurses do so I didn't feel it was something I couldn't handle. It was a good experience and I actually enjoyed the extra responsibility. I think my coworkers also felt relieved that they weren't in charge for once!

Also, on my floor the charge nurses also take a full assignment so if you have really acute patients it can get crazy! Now if only they paid us more to be in charge....