We no longer have a charge nurse, we now have "Senior Nurse" which is one big headache. We still have the same number of patients as everyone else but we make patient assignments, take care of problems on the floor, obtain rooms for admissions and just trouble shoot whenever there is a problem. I miss the good days when the charge nurse basically would supervise the shift, take off orders, make rounds with physicians, help out with admissions and discharges. I know the doctors have made comments about not having anyone available to make rounds with them since they did away with the charge nurse on the floors

Charge Nurse
Hello
I currently work in a 14 bed ICU, having previously worked in a CVRR-Open heart unit, as charge. I have always taken patients. However I am looking into a position at another hospital where you do not take patients. I enjoy the patient care aspect, however the flexability of being able to assist other nurses, as well as being able to spend time with the patients, is appealing. I have my BSN and enjoy education aimed at empowering my patients. Discussion with patients with regard to plan-of-care, and treatment options, creates a satisfied patient. After all now people do have a choice where they will gain health care. Having the time to speak with a patient unhurried and able to answer questions and eleviate fears truly makes a patients stress drop. So I guess I am an advocate of no patient loads for charge nurses. Hope this helps.