- Featured in:
-
More Charge Nurse Resumes
Use these Charge Nurse samples as a guideline or visit our extensive library of customizable free resume templates.
Select
Customize
Download
Looking for cover letter ideas? See our sample Charge Nurse Cover Letter.
Find out what is the best resume for you in our Ultimate Resume Format Guide.
Additional Nursing Resume Samples
Charge Nurse Resume Samples
No results found
0-5 years of experience
Assessed, treated and cared for tracheostomy patients. Initiated and conducted therapeutic procedures; maintained resident records; selected, assembled, checked, and operated ventilator equipment.
- Responsible and accountable for the nursing care function, activities and, development of the Certified Nursing Assistants in the unit.
- Assessed resident’s condition upon admission and daily thereafter. Participated in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the plan of care.
- Communicated patient’s condition to the physician. Noted and carried out physician orders.
- Administered medications and treatments as ordered by the physician following facility protocol. Accountable for maintaining accurate narcotic count every shift.
- Responsible for maintaining documentation, which reflects health care needs of every patient, care and treatment provided, patient’s response to care and treatment, and patient disposition.
0-5 years of experience
Maintained direct responsibility for providing comprehensive and quality nursing care including assessments, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Assisted with examinations and various procedures, performed tests, administered medications, and observed, evaluated, reported, and documented any changes in patient condition.
- Proficiently carried out all duties with responsibility for providing quality and skilled one-on-one patient care.
- Promoted patient independence by teaching self-care skills and an understanding of conditions and medications.
- Implemented nursing plans of care, reviewed progress/status of patients, and revised plans of care as needed.
- Skillfully rendered patient care in accordance with all recognized nursing standards, procedures, and protocols.
- Identified and provided additional assistance and support to ensure quality patient care and positive outcomes.
- Built rapport with patients and families and maintained productive working relationships with medical staff.
0-5 years of experience
Report changes in patient’s condition or other matters that needs immediate attention.
- Work collaboratively with MD, Case Managers and other members of the health care team to discuss patients’ conditions and medical needs.
- Performs head to toe assessment and medication administration.
- Evaluated patient care needs, prioritized treatment and maintained patient flow.
- Provided ad hoc nursing support during periods of heavy patient loads or absence of personnel to skilled nursing facilities.
0-5 years of experience
Registered Nurse in a full service emergency department with trauma unit
- Provided full head to toe assessments of the emergency department patient and reported to the emergency department
- Provided emergency and critical care to the patient experiencing an emergency crisis
- Assessed the need for and provided ACLS care to the necessary patients
- Obtained and interpreted laboratory results and initiated IV lines as needed
- Administered diagnostic tests and medications as ordered by the physician
0-5 years of experience
Provided quality patient care on 28-bed Vent unit of Nursing Facility. Supervised certified nursing assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, assisted in training new licensed staff. Performed patient assessments, developed care plans, and coordinated with other disciplines including: physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, dietary, activities, and consulted with psychologists, physicians, pharmacists, and social workers on a regular basis. Distributed medications as per MD orders. Performed assessments, treatments, and documentation.
- Served as Acting Charge nurse
- Organized staff/patient assignments and patient care
- Provided direct patient care to vent-dependent patients
- Assessed patient status and notified physicians of clinical changes
- Monitored and maintained patient charts
- Wound care and medication administration/Intravenous therapy
- Performed clinical tasks according to center policies
0-5 years of experience
Managed case load of 40 clients, providing education,
treatments, IV Therapy and wound care
- Assured the maintenance of safety, respect and dignity of residents and staff
- Acted as patient advocate and implemented total patient care through a team nursing process
- Instructed patients and family members on proper discharge
- Delegated staff nurse duties
- Strong leader for nursing personnel assigned to the unit/shift
- Works as part of the team to ensure safety of patients
0-5 years of experience
Documented and recorded patients’ health status and nursing care.
- Participated in inter-disciplinary nursing team meetings to improve policies/procedures and to ensure adherence to safety procedures
- Supervised and assessed vital changes in patient’s condition by monitoring vital signs and symptoms
- Administered medications, Injections, started IV’s, catheter and PEG tube care.
0-5 years of experience
Assisted with the admittance and discharge of patients and assure continuity of service and care.
- Assisted in the orientation of new staff members.
- Assisted patients and family members in the education of health care needs.
- Administer medication and treatments; wound care, NG/G-tube care, catheterization, suctioning, IV’s, PICC line care, oxygen therapy, etc.
- Maintains accurate documentation of medication administered and care as rendered.
- Make rounds with physicians and transcribes orders.
0-5 years of experience
Provided direct nursing care to residents and supervised the daily nursing activities of nursing staff in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guide lined by regulations that govern the facility.
- Ensured that all nursing personnel assigned, complied with the written policies and procedures established by the facility.
- Cooperated with other resident services i.e.: physical therapy, social work, etc., when coordinating nursing services to ensure the resident’s total regimen of care was maintained and various needs were met.
- Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
- Complete accident and incident reports as necessary.
- Received, transcribed, and followed through with orders from physicians.
- Administered medications and treatments to residents.
- Performed assessments when changes in conditions occurred in residents.
- Documented care provided to the residents, as well as their responses to the care, in an informative and descriptive manner.
- Performed rounds during the shift to ensure that proper care was being applied and nursing personnel were performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.
- Reviewed care plans daily to make certain appropriate care was being rendered specific to each resident’s needs and goals.
0-5 years of experience
Assess and provide high quality of care for up to 28 residents on a sub-acute unit.
- Handles all aspects of treatment from medications to wound care to providing resident and family education, and discharge instructions on self-management.
- Review, transcribe, and implement physician orders, and review lab results and report abnormalities to physician.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to enhance care outcomes.
- Assure all nursing care plans, monthly summaries, nursing notes, 24 hour reports are descriptive, concise and up-to-date.
- Supervise and delegate care assignments to staff in accordance to the needs of residents to promote customer satisfaction by complying with facility policies and procedures.
- Responsible for managing unit, administration, and attending all clinical and IDT meetings in absence of unit manager.
0-5 years of experience
Coordinates and evaluate patient care and safety through collaborative efforts with health care professionals in accordance with the nursing process and the standards of care and practices.
- Work closely with other nursing team, providing guidance and oversight to Mental Health Technicians.
- Plan, provide, and evaluate nursing care provided to assigned patients utilizing the nursing process.
- Coordination and supervision of the direct patient care activities. Assess the patient care needs, develop the initial plan of care and then implement and coordinate the delivery of patient care for the duration of the hospital stay.
- Provide safety and crisis management for the patient populations, and assures a safe and therapeutic environment.
0-5 years of experience
Assess resident conditions and report changes from baseline to supervising RN or MD.
- Started as float charge nurse and progressed into charge nurse on the lock down dementia unit.
- Oversee the ADLs provided to resident under my care and delegate tasks to the appropriate professionals.
- Maintain written records of resident’s conditions.
- Direct resident care for catheter insertion, tracheotomy maintenance, medication administration, wound care, G-tube care and assessments associated, IV medication administration and assessments associated, diabetic monitoring.
- Communicating within HIPPA regulations resident condition to the appropriate family members.
- Participate and advocate for resident during the care planning process.
0-5 years of experience
Performed all tasks with a patient-centered focus while seeking opportunities for improvement of processes and treatments.
- Received telephone orders from physicians and recorded on the Physicians’ Order Form
- Utilized strong assessment skills to determine necessary patient care.
- Worked as part of team to ensure proper care of body mechanics and safety of patient.
- Administered medications per physician orders
0-5 years of experience
- Administered medication (PO, IM, SQ, Intradermal, GT, Peripheral IV, PICC); monitored for side effects.
- Performed treatments such as wound vac care and ostomy, measured and charted vital signs, I/O, blood sugar.
- Monitored lab data, blood work and urinalysis.
- Performed assessment, planning implementation, care management, and comfort care.
- Directed day-to-day functions of nursing assistants.
- Worked closely with physical/occupational/speech therapist in planning the care of the patient during their stay.
- Super user during transition period from manual charting and MAR to computer charting and E-MAR using Point Click Care software system.
0-5 years of experience
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care of an assigned group of patients.
- Implement legal physician orders appropriate for coherent patient care.
- Document information using medical information system.
- Apply principles of teaching, learning, and rehabilitative principles to promote health and prevent illness.
- Establish effective lines of communication with patients, families, peers and health care team members.
- Serve as patient advocate to ensure the optimal level of care.
- Responsible for delegating task to staff, ensure a smooth and effective operating unit according to protocol.
0-5 years of experience
- Worked as Staff Nurse, specializing in care of patients with heart and heart- related ailments
- Performed health teachings, medication administration, discharge instructions,
- Acted as an effective Charge Nurse responsible in ensuring proper carrying-out of doctors’ orders and hospital policies, facilitated inter-disciplinary communication,
0-5 years of experience
Serving as a charge nurse to residents on short term and long term care and directing resident care with special needs.
- Administering oral, g-tube, intravenous medications and wound treatments.
- Monitoring residents for changes in vital signs and implementing care to return back to baseline.
- Performing monthly edits and summary of residents’ charts to ensure accuracy in continuum of care.
- Supervising care administered by nursing assistant and creating nursing assistant assignments.
0-5 years of experience
Provide direct nursing care as necessary.
- Planning and developing programs which meet the needs of residents and families of residents with dementia and dementia & Alzheimer’s associated illnesses; which in return allows them to enjoy their highest practicable level of function.
- Review resident medical records and documentation to ensure clinical programs are in place per policy and procedures.
- Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled.
- Attend and participate in continuing education programs to remain current with standards of nursing practice and to maintain licensure requirements.
- Identify educational needs of staff and discuss findings with the Facility Educator and work collaboratively to meet those needs
0-5 years of experience
A 44-bed unit, with many Medicare A post-operative patients who return home with support following physical therapy and nursing care.
- Specializing in IV medication administration and maintenance, enteral feeding, staple and suture removal, and post-op care of hip, shoulder, and knee surgeries.
- Collaborating with Physical Therapists to care for patients with Spinal Cord Injuries.
- Collaborating with Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and other members of the Interdisciplinary Team to deliver the highest quality of patient care, and modify Care Plans to enhance quality of life.
0-5 years of experience
Serve as charge nurse providing and coordinating quality and total nursing care to residents; implementing specific procedures and working cooperatively with director of nursing.
- Perform various duties to provide quality nursing care to residents, and maintain the highest practical level of functioning
- Obtain information to develop appropriate intervention to prevent decline, and also record signs of change in condition
- Ensure CNAs complete activities of daily living of residents
- Maintain and ensure patient safety
6-10 years of experience
Supervises and performs direct patient care including but not limited to recording and monitoring vital signs, initiation and termination of dialysis, documentation, assessments, transcription and implementation of physician orders.
- Reviews dialysis orders, documents observations in patient medical records.
- Analyzes patient assessments, laboratory data and, when concerns are noted, bring issues to the attention of the physician.
- Participates in short term and long term care planning and monthly progress notes.
- A resource for new RNs.
0-5 years of experience
Supervision of up to three LPN’s and three health service technicians.
- Communicating with referring agencies, assembling information in an effort to determine if a consumer is appropriate for our facility, then presenting to on-call physician or nurse specialist for final determination.
- Monitoring and assessing the medical and mental health needs of up to 16 substance abuse and mental health consumers and making recommendations as needed.
- Coordination of daily treatment team meeting.
- Documentation of consumer status and any changes to treatment plan.
6-10 years of experience
Peer interviews for potential employees and precept new hires
- Member of Skin Prevalence Study
- Oversee the care of patients and perform invasive procedures
- Float between Acute Rehab, Medical Surgical, Joint Club, Telemetry, Oncology and Renal Units on weekly basis to best serve hospital needs
- Lead weekly team conference meetings and provide informative minutes to ARU Director
- Commitment to exceed hospital standards and patient satisfaction
0-5 years of experience
Supervise both unlicensed and licensed personnel.
- Plan and organize the nursing care and scheduling of patients.
- Participate in patient care planning both short and long term.
- Access patient for treatment by venipuncture or central line.
- Anemia and Bone Mineral management
- Administer all ordered medications including IV and IVPB.
0-5 years of experience
Coordinate the daily staffing assignments for the perioperative staff of 12
- Assist with the creation and updating of the surgeon preference cards
- Complete the surgical charges and reconciliations for the operating room and for anesthesia
- Facilitate staff education with yearly competencies, and act as a resource for staff
- Coordinating with supply chain with the creation of specific supplies that are required by surgeon’s
- Assisting with the preparation of the patients for operative and invasive procedures.
- Provide education for patient and family of the process of their operative or invasive procedure.
- To assist with the motivation and dedication by providing the highest quality of care to each patient.
0-5 years of experience
Responsible for the function of the unit, patient safety, and quality of care through
- Assigning patients to staff members
- Assessing patients and initiating contact with doctors and NPs to order labs, x-rays, medications, and other diagnostic procedures when needed
- Contacting hospitals and specialists to schedule procedures, such as CT scans and G-tube replacements, and schedule appointments
- Working closely with hospice organizations to provide quality end of life care
- Critical thinking and making decisions about patient care on a daily basis
- Working with the admissions office to admit and discharge patients
- Following the 6 rules of patient identification
- Being flexible to changing needs
- Providing medications based on patient’s preferences and needs
0-5 years of experience
Placing orders for medications with the pharmacy.
- Daily monitoring, recording and evaluation of medical conditions of up to 24 patients per day.
- Lead and mentored newly licensed nurses and nursing students in developing professional expertise.
- Collaborated with 3 other nurses in maintaining a calm environment and caring for patients.
- Reviewed discharge summaries with patients and their families.
- Providing daily reports, periodic reports to physicians and supervising appropriate personnel.
- Assesses residents on admission to develop interim care plan and further assesses in depth to contribute to the care plan.
- Updated care plan as warranted and required.
- Attended and participated at care plan meetings as scheduled.
- Observing and recording patient behavior
- Performing all the duties of a certified nursing assistant when required.
0-5 years of experience
Responsible for the care of patients with acute neurological and/or spinal cord injuries
- Ventilator management including ventilator weaning trials, tracheostomy care
- Wound care, rehabilitation, IV, PICC management
- Gastrostomy care, g-tube medication administration and feeding
- Orienting new nurses to the unit
10+ years of experience
Successfully transitioned from a solely clinical nursing role to a dual role of staff/charge nursing
- Competently manage daily staffing of 9-12 staff members in outpatient procedural area to ensure safe, comprehensive patient care
- Implement nursing care and manage competing priorities with admissions documentation, assessment, care, education and discharges for a broad range of cardiac patients
- Serve as team leader to identify and evaluate problems, manage patient census, and coordinate staff/patient assignments
6-10 years of experience
Performing duties and responsibility according to the scope of practice as a charge nurse in the skilled facility
- Point click charting
- Wound care
- Follow up labs
- Ongoing communication and follow up with MD
- Supervising the Certified Nurse Assistant
0-5 years of experience
During my experiences as a charge nurse I was able to successfully perform the following skills:
- Start IV’s
- Tracheostomy care (cleanse and replacement)
- Draw blood
- Administer medications and feedings via G-tube (bolus and pump feeding)
- Wound Care
0-5 years of experience
Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients’ charts.
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients’ conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Answer patients’ calls and determine how to assist them.
- Measure and record patients’ vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
- Supervise nurses’ aides or assistants.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
0-5 years of experience
Medication administration and reconciliation, Vital signs, Wound Care
- Clear and concise documentation, following all policies and agency protocol.
- End of Life care
- Supervision of CAN’S and RNA’s
- Implementation of safe and therapeutic care of patients with Behavioral Issues, such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, as well as Neurological Issues such as, Parkinson’s, ALS, and MS.
0-5 years of experience
Charge Nurse, managing CNAs with daily assignments
- Med Pass, developing care plans, wound treatments, patient safety, maintaining Proper infection control, and carrying out physicians orders
- Responsible for 26 patients daily
- In contact with physicians in multiple fields
- Maintaining safety of residents and staff members
- Patient and family education
- Admissions and discharges
0-5 years of experience
Provide direct patient care to residents
- Administration of medications with the FIVE RIGHTS of MEDICATION
- Documenting residents’ care and informing physicians of any changes in health status
- Recognizing the signs and symptoms of any infection
- Minimum Data Set Coordinator (MDS) – Doing assessments for the Long Term Care residents according to CMS
- Attending PPS and IDT meetings
- Developing care plans for each residents, including assessments, evaluations, interventions, and implementations
- Preparing discharge papers and physicians orders and giving safe discharged orders to family members
0-5 years of experience
provide initial assessments for patients admitted to the facility.
- provide comprehensive nursing care post-operative orthopedic patients
- conduct ongoing surveillance to immediately identify medical and surgical complications
- communicate with physician regarding changes in patient status, patient needs and recommendations
- utilize clinical expertise in intravenous therapy, catheterization, ventilation care, wound care and pain management techniques
- monitor and maintain established safety, environmental and infection control standards
10+ years of experience
12 Bed ICU Unit – Staff assignments – Resource person – CodeTeam – Rapid Response Team, Adhoc member of Rapid Response Committee – Unit Counsel Member – Policy and Procedure Committee
- Demonstrate organization and the ability to function well under stressful situations.
- The ability to assist physicians during procedures with minimal instruction.
- Interact and communicate professionally with doctors, patients and family members. Devoted to service excellence in patient care and patient advocacy.
0-5 years of experience
Manage the care of 25+ patients
- Perform necessary assessments, wound care, blood draws, and documentation
- Coordinate care with all members of the treatment team
- Administer prescribed medications, injections, TPN, Enteral feedings, and IV fluids
0-5 years of experience
Administer prescribed medications according to physician’s order, and noting effects of medications administered.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as wound dressing, catheter care and diabetic care amongst others.
- Observe, document and report changes in patients’ conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Supervising and directing CNA and other unlicensed personnel.
10+ years of experience
Recorded condition and nursing requirements of residents
- Supervised teams of STNA when required
- Documents treatment plans and procedures in accordance with regulations
- Assist with emergency response to sudden patients illness
- Assist residence with health techniques
- Spend quality of time with residents
- Provide companionate support and understanding for patients
0-5 years of experience
Perform assessments of the psychic patients of all age groups in the hospital.
- Deal with different mental illness and mental distress like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis and depression/dementia.
- Administer medications and treatments as ordered by a physician.
- Assist in hygiene, nutrition and sleep.
- Provide psychosocial interventions, behavioral therapy, family therapy and milieu therapy.
- Document observations of patient’s behavior and maintain the medical records of the patient’s continuous progress.
- Coordinate with medical and paramedical professionals to provide appropriate input and effectively plan treatment plans for the patient.
- Ensured to carry out physician orders and implemented basic nursing interventions
- Act in accordance with facility policy and appropriate nursing standards of care.
0-5 years of experience
Care of long term as well as short term/rehab patients.
- Admitted/discharged patients. Paperwork/Charted.
- Administered medication, IV therapy, wound care.
- Responsible for trach care, G-tube feedings, and other general nursing duties.
- Supervising nursing assistants and medication aides.
6-10 years of experience
Attended nightly meetings with staffing supervisor
- Performed joint commission surveys
- Handled issues or concerns of patients and their families
- Provide patient placement according to staffing requirements
- Worked diligently to provide a safe and comfortable environment for patients as well as staff
0-5 years of experience
Assisted Living, working all shifts.
- Admission assessments, communication with MD for rounds, apts. and new orders.
- Reorder of meds, med pass, and unit manager assistant when needed.
- All electronic records including MAR and TAR.
- Giving the best quality care and good repour with res, family members, and staff to the best of my abilities.
0-5 years of experience
Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients’ conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Supervise nurses’ aides and assistants.
- Work as part of a health care team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care and implement interventions.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, and note times and amounts on patients’ charts.
0-5 years of experience
Prepare and administer medications ordered by healthcare provider
- Ensure adequate supply of floor stock is on hand
- Monitored assigned patient and perform services, routine procedures and bedside nursing care
- Document patient care and condition in accordance to Policy and Federal regulation
- Admit patient for rehabilitation from acute care
- Initiate and update Nursing care plan
- Do weekly Summary assessment of patients
- Communicate with Interdisciplinary team regarding progress of patient and make appropriate recommendation
- Supervise LVN and CNA assigned to the nursing unit
10+ years of experience
Provide direct patient care to patients on Medical/Surgical Telemetry Units. Duties include but not limited to the following:
- Monitor and assess patients for improvements or worsening of disease process
- Provide rapid interventions to treat clinical conditions including the use of ACLS protocol
- Frequently insert intravenous catheters and perform venipunctures with the highest level of skills
- Administer all forms of medications and treatment modalities based on the patients’ needs
- Assess and monitor the maternity patient requiring acute medical care for signs of complications; record and report findings
- Assume charge roles; assign duties, and lead team based on hospitals policies and procedures
- Serve as a resource for new nurses, students and ancillary staff
- Assist with education and training of staff on new standards of practice
- Educate patient and families on disease entity and plan of care for successful outcomes
0-5 years of experience
- Supervise and assign duties to GNAs (Geriatric Nursing Aid) in my unit
- Assessment of patients documents and communicate pertinent information to Nursing team including Doctors, Director of Nursing etc
- Provision of skilled Nursing care, wound care, respiratory care and psychiatric nursing care
Charge Nurse Duties and Responsibilities
Based on postings that we analyzed, most charge nurses share several core responsibilities:
Manage and Schedule Nurses
One of the central duties of a charge nurse is directing a team of nurses throughout the shift to provide patient care and support doctors throughout the hospital or medical facility. This aspect of the role typically involves assessing current needs, determining how to best use available staff, and assigning duties to nurses. Additionally, charge nurses provide hands-on support during busy periods.
Determine Patient Care Needs
Charge nurses play a key role in assessing patient care needs and developing care plans. In many cases, charge nurses oversee nurses tasked with collecting patient data, and they may interview or screen patients to determine the best course of action to help them resolve their health issues. Charge nurses also monitor patient well-being throughout the patient’s stay in the facility.
Conduct Nurse Assessments
As part of their leadership role, charge nurses conduct assessments and performance reviews for nurses on their teams. This typically includes direct observation while a nurse performs their duties and patient procedures, along with one-on-one meetings to discuss areas for improvement and provide constructive feedback. Charge nurses may also prepare reports related to their team’s activities.
Collaborate with Doctors and Medical Teams
Throughout the patient care process, charge nurses work closely with doctors and other medical professionals to address urgent and ongoing patient care needs. For example, if a doctor requests that a nurse conducts periodic observations of a patient’s vital signs before determining the next steps, a charge nurse will assign a member of their team to this patient.
Resolve Team Conflicts
Charge nurses ensure team cohesion and efficiency by resolving conflicts between members of the nursing staff. This requires the charge nurse to work closely with team members in conflict to understand the nature of the dispute and to develop a solution that helps the team run more effectively without interrupting the flow of patient care.
Maintain Administrative Needs
Most charge nurses also support hospital or medical facility activities by maintaining administrative records, particularly those related to their teams or to the patients in their care. This can involve collecting and filing nurse or patient data, submitting certification paperwork to oversight organizations, and providing reports related to patient care procedures and outcomes.
Charge Nurse Skills and Qualifications
Charge nurses oversee teams of nurses while performing the day-to-day duties of an RN. Most charge nurses have a bachelor’s degree and the following skills:
- Nursing expertise – charge nurses should have a solid grasp on the responsibilities of an RN and the ability to perform duties that support doctors and other medical staff
- Patient support skills – effective patient support is central to this role, so charge nurses need excellent bedside manner and observation skills to assess patient health needs
- Team leadership – charge nurses lead teams that include RNs and other nurses, so they should be effective team leaders and coordinators, able to direct team members to where they are most needed
- Critical thinking – critical thinking is central to a nurse’s role, so charge nurses should be able to examine and assess situations and patients and make quick decisions to support patient health outcomes
- Organization and time management – charge nurses often manage their teams’ schedules and direct their activities throughout the shift, so organization and effective time management are key
- Communication skills – written and verbal communication are central to this role, since charge nurses need to communicate with medical professionals and patients and prepare reports and other paperwork related to their duties
Charge Nurse Education and Training
This role requires a significant amount of education, beginning with achieving an RN license. Most RNs have either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in nursing, along with additional training. Some RNs opt to complete courses through hospitals or medical centers. Bachelor’s degree programs typically provide students with additional preparation to take on leadership roles, so nurses who intend to become charge nurses generally opt for a bachelor’s degree.
Charge Nurse Salary and Outlook
Charge nurses are RNs, although they have additional leadership responsibilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs earn a median annual salary of $70,000. The highest-paid 10 percent of RNs earn more than $104,100 per year, while the lowest-paid 10 percent of workers in this role earn less than $48,690 annually. The BLS expects employment of RNs to increase at a much faster-than-average rate of 15 percent through 2026.
Helpful Resources
If you’d like to learn more about starting a career as a charge nurse, we found several resources on the web for further reading and information:
Strategies for Nurse Managers – this website features articles and resources specifically tailored toward charge nurses, with information to help them lead more effectively and improve patient care processes
A Charge Nurse’s Guide: Navigating the Path of Leadership – read this book to build effective leadership skills and learn how to resolve conflicts, manage change, and support patient outcomes
American Nurses Association – ANA is the largest professional organization for nurses, providing career and professional development resources, opportunities to connect and network with other professionals, and certification programs
The Nurse Leader Handbook: The Art and Science of Nurse Leadership – this book explores effective strategies for balancing patient care and nursing team leadership, providing charge nurses with a quick reference while making decisions on the job
Nursing Cover Letter Examples
Rate This Article
Charge Nurse
Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CONTENT STRATEGIST -
Gabriela Barcenas
CONTENT STRATEGISTGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.
