I work the ED and we utilize the Charge Nurse Position a bit differently than the floors. Our Charge Nurses do not take an assignment. They are responsible for making the assignments; they make sure that each nurse is managing their patient load appropriately and sends help as needed. They also make sure triage is moving smoothly and in times of "overflow" they decide which patients can be placed in halls so that the patients waiting can be seen quicker. The Charge nurse is also responsible for any "problems" that arise with staff, patients and other floors. They direct the flow of the ED and are the ones that have to notify the powers that be with problems (like overcrowding, not moving patients to rooms, the floors trying to bed block....etc.) The Charge Nurse multitasks, takes responsibility when things go wrong and does get paid extra for doing so.
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