![]() Ideally, a nurse will have a minimum of 3 years of experience to perform as a skilled charge nurse. Mentoring is important to both the charge nurse and the mentee, because it establishes supportive relationships and encourages positive growth. A major reason is their prior experience troubleshooting the same problems nurses deal with every day. The clinical history and ingenuity of charge nurses are valuable assets in their relationships with colleagues. After graduating, they pass the NCLEX-RN exam and seek licensure by their state’s board of nursing. Successful registered nurses earn a nursing degree at any level, including an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree. To become a charge nurse, you must first become a registered nurse. A charge nurse is a crucial resource for the staff, since they are intimately familiar with the floor nurse’s job. ![]() The path to being a charge nurse requires training and experience. However, the actual pay depends on your location, shift, and experience level. Charge nurses can often receive overtime, while nurse managers are usually on a salary. Nurse managers tend to make slightly more than charge nurses, though their salaries both reflect their additional responsibilities. The career tracks of nurse manager and charge nurse provide a respective pay increase in the field. Many hospitals prefer that their nurse managers have, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree. Nurse managers are usually held to a higher educational standard. Charge nurse roles are generally based on career history, and can range from a diploma nursing program to a college degree. While charge nurses and nurse managers are both registered nurses, there is no universal educational requirement. Nurse managers also deal with critical patient or family situations. Nurse managers have extensive responsibilities, including creating schedules, ensuring compliance with regulations, managing and communicating with staff, recruiting and training nursing staff, and improving the quality and efficiency of patient care. In contrast, the nurse manager addresses both short- and long-term problems, with lines of reporting to senior executives. A charge nurse is given the staffing schedule and patient census, yet will create the assignments, procedure schedules, and physician communication. Charge nurses also monitor patients, provide education, and jump in where needed. Differences in rolesĪ charge nurse provides staff guidance, supports challenging situations, and implements urgent policies and procedures. Charge nurses are at the ground level and deal with immediate problems as they arise. Nurse managers take a higher-level view and recruit, retain, and manage nursing staff and advocate for the betterment of their unit. While being a charge nurse and a nurse manager both involve a leadership aspect, the two careers are rather distinct. Support colleagues with resources and hands-on collaboration as necessary Monitor and assist with admissions and discharges Manage shift safety, adherence to policies, and compliance with regulations Identify potential patient safety issues that may result in injury, illness, or other complications Many nurses who move up to leadership may lament leaving patient care, but charge nurses are still immersed in bedside care.Īmong the various duties of a charge nurse are the following:Ĭoordinate with physicians to ensure adequate nursing unit supportĭelegate tasks and patient assignments to nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel A skilled charge nurse also promotes resilience in the team by demonstrating healthy decision-making and excellent communication. ![]() They ensure the unit runs smoothly and the day-to-day tasks are completed successfully. They are experienced in clinical encounters and often act as a resource for decision-making for the nurses’ unit.Īs unit leaders, charge nurses must exemplify leadership abilities. What do charge nurses do?Ĭharge nurses delegate tasks and share their up-to-date skills with colleagues, new nurses, and students alike. Here’s a closer look at what charge nurses do, the career pathway required, what they earn, and why they are crucial to healthcare teams. There are many reasons a nurse may aspire to be a charge nurse, like supporting colleagues, gaining a career promotion, and becoming a nurse leader. Being a charge nurse, who manages the daily activities of nursing staff in a specific department, requires significant experience, skill, and leadership abilities.
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