Number & Title: 5.

Charge Nurse Responsibilities

Owner: Childrens Emergency Department
Location / File name: policy manual 2007- policy ED.doc

Dates:
Originated: 5/95
Reviewed: 10/03, 6/07, 8/2008,
9/11
Revised: 1/97, 10/03, 1/06, 9/08,
9/11

Definitions:

Policy:
1. Registered nurses in the Childrens Emergency Department will complete the
Childrens ED Charge Nurse Clinical Orientation prior to assuming charge in the
department.
2. The Charge nurse will assist the physicians in expediting the flow of patients in the
department.
3. The Charge nurse will assume the following duties
a. Completes charge nurse checklist on daily assignment sheet and ensures the tech
checklist is completed.
b. Monitoring patient care activities by the staff and ensuring completion
c. Troubleshooting problems that may arise on the unit
d. Assuring orders are followed through by the staff
e. Informing unit management of potential problems in the unit
f. Resolving staffing issues for current and oncoming shift. Confirm staffing with
MeduFlex office and HSC
g. Assist nurses with discharges, admits, and patient care as needed
h. Complete charge nurse report sheet and give shift report to oncoming charge
nurse
i. Assures completion of daily patient call backs and culture board
j. Surveys unit/all treatment rooms for equipment and safety issues
k. Completes 5 leader rounding each shift.

Policy Number & Title: 5. Charge Nurse Responsibilities

Page: 1

Charge Nurse Competency-Based Orientation

Charge Nurse is responsible for schedules and coordination of the day-to-day activities of a defined
team of nurses and support staff ensuring compliance to all appropriate policies, procedures and
guidelines. Orientation will include one to three shifts of working with an experienced Charge Nurse.
Each competency will be reviewed with orientee and initialed upon completion by preceptor.
**Attendance at Charge Nurse Workshop is required within six months of assuming
Charge Nurse role.
Orientee: _________________________
Preceptor: _______________________

Date: ____________________
Preceptor: ____________________
PRECEPTOR TO INITIAL
EACH ENTRY WHEN
COMPLETED

Staff/Assignment Competencies
Ensure adequate staffing for next shift

Assign patients to nurses and coordinate zone assignments

Sick calls and policies (documentation and time frame)

Resources for short staffing (HOP, unit staff)

Make assignment for oncoming shift (zone assignments)

Assign meal times, help facilitate breaks as needed

Unit Operations Competencies

Charge Nurse report, charge nurse report book

Ensure distribution and return of assigned telephones

Patient rounds

Update MD on-call board at nurses station

Admit Transfer Center (ATC) Bed Management

Ensure Hourly Rounding logs completed

Ensure White boards updated

Isolation guidelines and procedures

Glucometer controls, cleaning and troubleshooting

10

Check crash carts/defibrillator/Broselow Cart

11

Procedure for requesting a sitter/Ensure Sitter Flowsheet

complete per policy
Review and Resolve Accudose Discrepancy Report every
shift

12

Preceptor

13

Check Broselow Bands and ID bands

14

Ensure PCT/ST checklist completed

PRECEPTOR TO INITIAL
EACH ENTRY WHEN
COMPLETED

15

Unit Operations Competencies

Procedure if drug diversion suspected

16

Controlled substance inventory (Monday and Thursday)

17
18

Pull all patient charge forms from RN-to-complete bin and

MD-to-complete bin
Ensure Medication Refrigerator Temperature checked

19

Ensure all charts are broken down and collected

20

Emergency Response Plan

21

Supervise room stocking

22

Equipment failure

23

Work related illness or injury (ACCORD reporting)

24
25

On-line resources: PSN reporting, E*Value, intranet

toolboxes, Mosbys nursing skills, Central Supply feedback,
forms, online order forms
Procedure for patient death

26

Unapproved abbreviations

27

Ensure glucometer and iSTAT machines are downloaded

28

Print record of admissions

29

Conflict resolution and recognizing lateral violence

30

Chain of command

31

Restraint and seclusion (ensure proper forms are complete)

32

Ensure discharge phone calls completed

(DAYS: divide evenly among staff each morning)
Boarder patients (ensure proper forms are complete,
including admission database)
Confirm par level of oxygen tanks, Pharmacy, nourishments
and supplies
Unit specific issues:
a. Fax RSV/FLU results to Infection Control (MONDAYS)
b. Culture Board:
-NIGHTS, check labs, discuss with MD, create plan
-DAYS, call and follow up per culture board policy
c. Ensure that trauma nurse checks Broselow Cart in 1West
d. DAYS, order floorstock meds, med room supplies (Mon/Thurs)

33
34
35

Preceptor