Careers in Nursing: What Is a Charge Nurse?
Nursing is a vast field, and many healthcare facilities have multiple nursing units working at the same time. With such a large staff, it can be difficult to manage everyone at once. This is why charge nurses exist.
In addition to typical nursing duties, charge nurses are also responsible for supervising their unit and making sure every shift runs smoothly. This position offers rewarding work, the possibility for increased salaries, and extensive leadership opportunities.
What is a charge nurse? What does this position entail? For the answer to these questions as well as how to become a charge nurse, continue reading.
What Does a Charge Nurse Do?
If this is your first time hearing about this nursing position, you may be wondering: What does a charge nurse do? The answer: quite a few things.
Charge nurses are essentially the lead nurse for that day, supervising the nursing staff to make sure that they meet the needs of the patients through coordination of assignments and workflow for that day. This means that charge nurses have a wide variety of responsibilities on a daily basis, including:1
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Caring for patients (assessing vitals, administering medication, assessing symptoms, etc.)
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Creating shift assignments for the unit
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Delegating assignments
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Overseeing patient admission, care, and discharges
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Training staff
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Helping other nurses with new admissions of patients requiring urgent attention
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Addressing and solving problems throughout the shift
Not to be confused with the more administrative role of a nurse manager whose role is to oversee the nursing unit in their healthcare facility. A charge nurse will be the point person for the shift to ensure all patients and staff on the unit are supported. Depending on the health care facility, the charge nurse may or may not have their own patient assignment for the shift in addition to their duties as charge nurse. Without a charge nurse on duty, a nursing unit would be far less organized and efficient.
Where Do Charge Nurses Work?
Charge nurses work in a number of healthcare settings, but some of the most common places where you’ll find this type of work are:2
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Hospitals (particularly nursing, emergency, and surgery units)
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Medical offices
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Community and public health clinics
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Nursing homes
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Rehabilitation centers
Any facility that employs a larger number of nurses can benefit from hiring a charge nurse. This means that job opportunities for a charge nurse role are quite common in many branches of healthcare.
How Much Do Charge Nurses Make?
Due to the increased responsibilities, charge nurses tend to earn higher salaries than registered nurses (RNs). A charge nurse salary in the U.S. typically ranges from $81,499 to $97,563, with an average annual salary of $87,752. This is quite a bit more than the average RN salary, which falls around $70,335 in the United States.
Of course, certain variables will have an effect on these figures—particularly experience, location, and health system. For example, Payscale reports that charge nurses with 20 years of experience earn an average of $9 more per hour than those in their first year.1
The state and city you work in can also have an impact on your hourly wage. Some of the highest paying areas of the country for charge nurses are:3
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San Francisco, CA – Median salary of $112,157 per year.
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Boston, MA – Median salary of $101,094 per year.
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New York City, NY – Median salary of $107,940 per year.
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Washington D.C. – Median salary of $99,883 per year.
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Dallas, TX – Median salary of $89,142 per year.
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Miami, FL – Median salary of $87,349 per year.
Qualities That Make a Good Charge Nurse
Every nursing position comes with different responsibilities, rewards, and challenges. For these reasons, your traits and characteristics can make certain nursing jobs a better fit than others.
If you’re interested in a career as a charge nurse, consider whether or not you possess the following strengths and leadership skills associated with success in this position:4
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Communication skills – As a team leader, communication is key when scheduling, assigning, and assisting other nurses.
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Organization – Organizing goes hand-in-hand with communication as a charge nurse. This position involves keeping track of not only your own duties, but also those of the entire nursing staff. Proper organization skills will help keep everything running smoothly during your shift.
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Decision-making – As a charge nurse, you may be responsible for solving problems and making decisions on behalf of the staff at your healthcare facility. Charge nurses should be able to make informed decisions, think on their feet, and solve problems in a timely manner.
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Leadership – This one may seem a bit obvious, but it’s important to note that charge nurses must possess the qualities of a good leader. This includes being level-headed, approachable, and knowledgeable of healthcare protocol. As a charge nurse, the nurses and nursing support staff in your unit will look up to you, and you’ll want to make sure you’re setting a good example when working in this position.
Is Charge Nursing a Good Career?
Now that you’re familiar with the roles and responsibilities of a charge nurse, one final question remains: Is charge nursing a good career?
The answer: absolutely! Charge nurses perform rewarding work, lead their fellow nurses, and make healthcare facilities a better place for both staff and patients. If you’re ready for a leadership role that incorporates the work of a clinical nurse, then a career as a charge nurse may be the right fit for you.
Sources:
- Nurse.org. 3 Steps to Becoming a Charge Nurse. https://nurse.org/resources/charge-nurse/
- Registered Nursing. How to Become a Charge Nurse. https://www.registerednursing.org/specialty/charge-nurse/
- Salary. Job Salary Select Location. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/select-location
- Diversity Nursing. Leadership in Nursing: Becoming a Charge Nurse. http://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/leadership-in-nursing-becoming-a-charge-nurse
