what is a charge nurse

A charge nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who oversees the operations of a specific nursing unit during a set period while working alongside the team. The primary role of a charge nurse is to ensure that all nursing functions within the department run smoothly and efficiently. They also provide guidance and support to help staff through challenging situations as they arise. Charge nurses perform many of the same tasks as general nurses, but they also have some supervisory duties. They delegate tasks, prepare schedules, and monitor admissions and discharges. Charge nurses must have a strong foundation of clinical knowledge and skills on which to base judgments and make decisions, as well as organizing abilities to direct nursing tasks and operations, and interpersonal skills to facilitate communication and the work of others. To become a charge nurse, an RN typically requires three to five years of clinical experience. The median annual salary for RN charge nurses is $71,342.