allnurses is a Nursing Career & Support site. My biggest hurdle is management. Also known as “lead” nurses or “unit supervisors,” charge nurses are frontline managers on the nursing floor. This trick will reduce the pain caused by the tourniquet rubbing against their hairy skin. I worked side by side with the staff for 8 years (I've got 10 in the department working with newer staff members), and dispite my work ethic, building "team" processes that the former charge person lacked I am finding that the resentment factor is a hurdle that I can't seem to get over. When I charge, I NEVER leave the floor until all of the people working the shift with me are ready to leave also. Working in CV-ICU, charge nurses in my unit don't take patient assignments. (And I don't work charge more than a few times a month, because we have a night AHN who does it regularly). But the charge nurse is crucial to the smooth operation of a patient care unit, and spending time on training and development can reap dividends in organizational efficiency. I would anticipate having her on the insulin protocol during labor. She edits www.StrategiesForNurseManagers.com and manages The Leaders' Lounge blog for nurse managers. A charge nurse is responsible for more than overseeing day-to-day operations. (it's a CV-ICU unit). I forgot; but through the years I've worked with several nurses who had "special needs" which would affect how the shift went. Unexpected admits, codes, deaths, nurse or tech has to go home sick, you name it. They assign tasks, workloads, and oversee the care provided to patients. I try to keep them informed, ask suggestions for processes that are being changed and make sure every one knows a change is coming before it's implemented. Many organizations promote nurses into the charge position simply because they are good nurses and no one else wants to do it. This nurse can be your touchstone while you’re there. Tiffany was surprised and flattered when her manager approached her. Hospitals, nursing homes, and similar other facilities mainly hire charge nurses with at least a degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing. For those reasons, it's important to train charge nurses so they are up to the job. The worst charge nurses, in my experience, are the ones who map out a detailed plan for how the shift is going to go and then can't cope when circumstances change. I really don't care who gets the credit, but back it up when you implement it. Of course, I also believe in team nursing as much as possible. I do the please and thank you, good job, and truly appreciate the staff in every way. along with what the others have already said, there is one more thing you can do! I once had made a list of charge nurse duties that were very specific to my unit, but I lent it out and it never came back. You can't know what's going on if your stuck with a labor patient and don't show your face for the rest of the night. Know your stuff and know your staff;Don't give orders, suggest; Listen; Gain trust and cooperation from the staff by letting them know you are there for them; Last but not the least...DON'T BE A *****!! Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU. I'm one of the two night charge nurses in a busy ER and I always take pts - with the nursing shortage, this is a must. Fear and respect are a fine line, and I think my care aides respect me. Speaking mainly from experience as an OB charge nurse. 8 Successful Strategies for the Charge Nurse Nurse/Forward % Some time spent focusing on implants. The best way to outline expectations and ensure competency is to spend time orienting them to their new role. It was always necessary to get new moms off to break on time because of the need for them to pump their breast milk before they "leaked." talk about headaches. In addition, the charge nurse takes goals for the unit, sometimes set forth by hospital management, and creates concrete, actionable steps staff nurses can take to bring these goals to fruition. It included some of these previously mentioned tips. I also try to be fair with assignments and keep an eye on the more inexperiences nurses to help them along and not be so overwhelmed. :). the bottom line is to throw some of the responsibility back at the staff. We look to you to reassure us that we are doing ok, and we need to you notice when we're drowning. Many charge nurses also work closely with care managers and physicians in an effort to create or update patient care plans. Address their concerns as soon as you can. To be effective, charge nurses must know their responsibilities. It helps to have a good rapport with other depts who are likely to send you admits, also--ER, PACU. Charge nurse gift, charge nurse mug, charge nurse cup, funny nurse gift, nurse coffee mug, nurse appreciation, best nurse gift, nursing gift ... and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. As a charge nurse, you can expect to assist with monitoring and caring for patients, including recording vital signs and administering medications. remember, there are usually many different personalities. Rebecca Hendren is a senior managing editor at HCPro, Inc. in Danvers, MA. When I have to work charge, I ALWAYS make sure that I make frequent rounds (because I'm supposed to be a "resource" to the rest of the staff) and keep on my toes for possible problems. She says these frontline leaders—the eyes and ears of the patient care operation—are vital to ensuring patient safety, quality, and satisfaction, and staff retention. Every unit is different so there is no universal recipe for what a 'good' charge nurse is or does.....but it has more to do with leadership ability than ability to task, IMHO. They must also be competent in making quick decisions, evaluating the quality of patient care, resolving conflicts and anticipating problems before they arise. That way, we'll turn into strong team members! Needless to say, I'm more of the Nurse Manager than a charge nurse. Every nurse remembers the impact, whether positive or negative, nursing mentors have had on them. Many nurses today are reluctant to take charge nurse roles. Of course, this always made the other Charge Nurses wonder why I would take a patient assignment AND be Charge at the same time when they absolutely refused to take a patient assignment. The mentorship we give to future nurses is a reflection of the gratitude we have for our profession. They should hold the certification of a registered nurse … The charge nurse also seeks ou… Our morale has fallen because of the way she abuses her position as a CN. Top 5 charge nurse interview questions and answers. Specializes in around 25 years psych, 10 years medical. In addition to practicing responses, get tips on how else to prepare for your nursing interview, as well as how to impress interviewers.