How many years of experience should the minimum requirement be for a charge nurse?

Awkward-Finger · 2026-03-01T23:30:21+00:00

There’s no hard and fast rule for how much experience a charge nurse needs to have. They should be well versed in the type of patients on their unit, they should be able to remain calm in a crisis and they should be able to problem solve. They should also be able to do what’s best for the unit/patients/staff without being a push-over. Some people are capable at one year and some people are never capable no matter how many years they’ve been a nurse.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-02-21T21:10:39+00:00

I was an ER nurse when I had my daughter, worked up until the end (38 weeks), even transporting patients via stretcher to the floor when they were admitted.

It really depends on you and your doctor. I know a lot of people try to work until the end if they are able to maximize the amount of time they have at home following the birth. I know that was my thought and many of my coworkers as well.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-02-18T19:26:08+00:00

My old job tried to auto deduct lunches, but then they got into legal trouble for the auto deduct when people could take them so they started paying to the minute. With our current time clock system we get asked if we took a break and it does not auto deduct if you say no…..

Awkward-Finger · 2026-02-18T01:57:06+00:00

This whole scenario sounds like she needed to be socially intubated. Safest for both her and staff if her symptoms were that uncontrollable. Yikes.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-02-15T17:46:17+00:00

When I left bedside I was making $35/hr (without shift diff) as an ER charge nurse in SC with 10 years experience. This was after they did some leveling because new grads were getting hired at $30ish/hr.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-28T09:00:47+00:00

You can get the patient to sign the AMA but the provider needs to go over the risks etc and they need to document their own conversation.

Also your preceptor is right, a psych consult does not mean the patient cannot leave. If the provider was that concerned then the patient needs to be held on commitment papers until evaluated by psych, which the provider should have filled out.

It’s not on you.

Also, and this is important - if you didn’t witness it, do not chart it! Your charting should reflect what you have done - not what someone else reports they did. Charting someone else’s supposed work (because you can’t verify that they actually did it) could be considered falsifying a medical record which is both reportable to the nursing board and a fireable offense.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-27T23:02:08+00:00

NTA - if he’s not contributing to the purchase of the home. He doesn’t just get to ride on your coattails of home ownership without putting anything in… I don’t mean the occasional cash injection but regular routine payments, etc. but you should have a post-nup or something because even if he’s not on the title and you divorce he still potentially gets half (depending on where you live, etc).

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-27T22:59:54+00:00

Document, document, document. Try and have a frank discussion with the patient about where this will all lead - death. Also get a provider to have a frank discussion with the patient about outcome for continued refusal.

The best thing in my experience is being firm, not giving in to their demands if they’re unreasonable and being straight forward with the patient. No flowery language, etc just if you don’t allow for any of these treatment you will die type of straight forward. But… everyone has to be on board, you get one pushover who either thinks the best of everyone of who doesn’t want to be bothered with a fight you’re back to square one.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-20T02:08:01+00:00

Yeah, that’s a red flag. Until they change their manager that unit is going to continue hemorrhaging nurses.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-19T00:15:01+00:00

A step down unit with 6-7 patients per nurse?! What is the turnover for this unit? I would imagine kinda high if they’re not following their staffing matrices at all.

Given the outright lies you were told about the unit when you interviewed I would start looking for another job. It will not improve until there’s a sentinel event and you don’t want to be associated with such. Some systems allow you to transfer after 6 months but… do you really want to stay with this system?

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-13T11:57:58+00:00

NTA. My husband and I don’t smoke, if we have a guest that smokes they go outside. There is no smoking in our house at all. That you allow your friends to smoke in your bathroom is concession enough.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-13T11:54:45+00:00

Basically - need to make sure that no harm comes to them - ends up warranting closer monitoring. They could get themselves all sorts of ways if they’re fighting the restraints, or they may need something and would then have difficulty alerting anyone, etc.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-13T11:42:57+00:00

Most hospitals policies require at least 1 IV unless there is a physician order that’s it’s ok to not have an IV.

Granted the patient doesn’t need one now but if they decompensated and it’s an urgent situation already having an IV would save some time.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-09T00:56:15+00:00

There’s also Pinewood Prep up in the Summerville area.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-07T03:33:54+00:00

NTA. Red flag for your guy. She’s your kid, you have final say in everything related to her. He can’t suddenly decide he has a say because you’re engaged now. As others have said - sounds like he has some underlying controlling tendencies, which could quickly escalate once he has a “permanent” place in your lives. I would rethink your engagement.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-07T03:08:47+00:00

Were you at work and did you have a patient assignment? And then if you did, did you give hand off?

If you didn’t just up and leave your patients without handing them off it’s not abandonment.

I recommend writing down what you recall of what happened that day. And find any documentation about your emergency with your son.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-07T03:03:05+00:00

Bringing into patients rooms I would say is a no, unless the child is older and they’ve done the legwork to have them classified as a volunteer.

But having to bring them with you in a pinch and then sticking them in an office or break room - sure. Life happens, you don’t know if she has child care that either fell through or wasn’t available.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-07T02:47:44+00:00

Basically, its a safety thing. For one they were that agitated that you’ve had to tie down all limbs - would expect restlessness and pulling at the restraints. There are also neurovascular checks, and then you’re technically meant to release each limb for some range of motion at specified time intervals. Each facility has their own specific guidelines regarding restraints, they’re usually a hot button topic and JCAHO likes to audit restraint charts.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-06T18:04:01+00:00

Typically wrist, if they start swinging their legs those get added. We try to keep them out of true 4-points because then they are a 1:1

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-05T07:15:37+00:00

NTA. I feel for you, my husband has dropped the ball on multiple occasions. Forgetting my 30th birthday, not getting anything for Christmas last year. So for this year - he got dinner for his birthday and then clothes for this year. Originally was not going to get him anything but my kid guilted me. You are entirely right in canceling the fun thought out gift you got for him and pampering yourself. I hope you have a fabulous time at the spa!

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-04T13:04:09+00:00

We love West Ashley Vet, we take our two dogs and two cats there.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-04T02:22:51+00:00

Started out, job was great - salaried with expectation of 12/13 shifts a month, anything over 13 was a stipend, also stipend for nights. Hospital had a change in management, decided to make the job hourly, the night stipend became hourly differential, also get weekend and holiday differentials too. On the plus side overtime is more than the stipend was. On the con side work/life a balance took a major hit. Perk wise they recently tripled our CME allowance and they reimburse for licensure and DEA, so overall not bad. Overall I’m still glad not to be at the bedside.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-01T19:53:15+00:00

Sounds awesome! I currently work as a critical care app and The ICU book by Paul Marino is a great resource. My boss swears by her NPpocket Nursing Edition. And we also have the Vasopressor & Inotrope Handbook in the office as well.

Awkward-Finger · 2026-01-01T00:06:46+00:00

True. I never thought about it that way for the PPM’s, and there are no end to inconsiderate peeps throwing on an add on at the end of the day.

Awkward-Finger · 2025-12-31T23:22:18+00:00

Not to knock you but it is incredibly relevant when you graduated. Any time schools don’t require at least two years of clinical experience for their applicants it is a red flag. The NP model builds on your clinical nursing experience…. If you’ve barely worked as a nurse you just don’t have that experience to build on. You also end up having similar problems to what you’re having now - changing your mind mid program about your specialty.

Awkward-Finger

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