What does a nurse manager/charge nurse do?

j621d · Jan 21, 2011

Responsibilities may differ with the various facilities, but basically, a nurse manager "manages" the functions of the nursing floor. They are ultimately responsible for the hiring and firing of nurses working on that floor. They deal with the budget (salaries, equipment, etc.), and they oversee unit policies. They may or may not perform direct patient care, but this would not be their main objective. I know of some smaller hospitals where the NM has engaged in patient care on occasion. In a nutshell, they are responsible for the overall functioning of the unit.

As for charge nurses, this will vary more by facility. The charge nurse oversees the functioning of the unit during the shift. In the chain of command you would see the floor nurse, charge nurse, assistant nurse manager, nurse manager, and supervisor. There may be more layers, again depending on the facility.

rockabye · Jan 21, 2011

Nurse managers and charge nurses are responsible for giving you a lousy schedule and assignments and making sure you don't complain about it!

Lol, I'm joking (mostly). In my unit managers are responsible for hiring, setting schedules, handling complaints, sending lots of emails about random things that are changing, holding staff meetings, etc. The charge nurses help handle shift assignments, assist with admits, help where its needed, attend dr rounds if possible, help handle patient complaints too, etc.

No, the nurse managers generally don't help with direct patient care, just outcomes and day-to-day operations of the unit. I have only seen my manager have a patient assignment once and that was because we had a really really high census at the time. The charge nurse generally doesn't have a patient assignment unless staffing is short. The charge nurse helps with direct patient care all the time.

Hope that helps and I'm sure things are a little different depending on the unit and specialty and place you work at.

nursbee04 · Jan 21, 2011

Nurse Manager - in charge of running the unit, administrative duties, committee meetings, staffing, budget, evaluations, payroll, policies, day to day issues that come up. Basically managing the unit, hence nurse "manager." Usually not involved in direct patient care but SHOULD be able to pitch in during staffing crunches.

Charge Nurse - usually (but not always) an experienced nurse who "runs" the shift. This can vary greatly from facility to facility. Sometimes the charge nurse takes no patients and helps with admissions, IV starts, PRNs, who gets the next patient, dividing up assignments, delegation, problems that arise, assisting physicians, etc. Sometimes they take patients, but less patients than the other nurses so they can still be of assistance. Sometimes they take a full load of patients plus all the added responsibilty, like I did when I was a newish nurse on nightshift. It also depends on where you are a charge nurse, nsg home vs hospital for example.

almostdoneyah! · Jan 21, 2011

Thanks for your help; I have never actually seen the nurse manager where I am a student (I think she's hidden away in an office somewhere) but I see the charge always. Some charges I've worked with as a student were really available and helpful, others; nowhere to be found:D

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2011

Depends where you work I guess, from reading the above answers. I work in LTC and our Unit Manager is responsible for:

Training the workers on the floor. Care Plans on and off the unit. Making appointments outside the facility like ophthalmology, hospital visits, etc. She deals with the families, admits and discharges, etc. Ultimately she is the nurse in charge of everything NOT r/t direct patient care.

Charge nurse: (that's me :) is at the desk and on the floor, doing direct pt care, making rounds alone or with the doctor, usually doing all of the treatments like wound dressings, creams, tube feeds, catheters etc. All the charting for the shift, in charge of the CNA's and their work and assignments, deal with whatever comes to the desk, getting and giving report, ordering supplies, etc.