Charge Nurse At A Nursing Home
Career review from a person working in the job
How I Got The Job
My Education: Quincy College (Quincy, MA)
My Prior Experience: I worked as a nurse's aide for six years before going to college.
My Job Profile
My Company: I work for a nursing home that is part of a larger corporation
Job/Career Overview: I am a charge nurse in a 41-bed nursing home. My responsibilities include calling physicians with any change of condition in a patient, delegating nurse's aides assignments, admitting patients when they come into the facility, discharging patients when they have completed rehabilitation, administering medications and treatments, inserting intravenous lines when necessary, sending a patient to the hospital if his condition worsens, and updating the charts with nurse's notes. Organization is as important in nursing as patience and good listening skills. I love my job and the interactions I have with the patients and families. It's a wonderful feeling to give back to someone and rewarding to see them get well and go home. I work 12 hour shifts overnight and, while it's challenging, I would definitely choose the same career path again. I have been a nurse for 15 years and in the nursing field for 21 years.
Love It? Hate It?
I rate this career 7 out of 10.
What I Love or Hate
The best part of my job is the rewarding feeling that I get by giving to someone who can't do for himself, or helping the patients achieve their goal of going home. Some don't go home, and it is a good feeling to bring a smile to their faces and do something to brighten their days.
The worst part of my job is telling someone that their loved one has died. No matter what or how you say it, they will remember that moment for the rest of their lives. I try to tell them in the most compassionate way possible. Besides that it would have to be the hectic nature of the job. You are on your feet the entire shift, busy, everyone wants you at the same time, and that's why organization is so important.
My Career Tips
Be organized! It will save you in the long run. Go for your R.N. As an RN, you have so many more opportunities than an LPN does. Buy the most comfortable shoes you can possibly afford, and the best stethoscope also. Buy a clipboard; you'll never lose your report sheet in someone's room with a big neon clipboard. Remember, a smile and kindness go a long way with your co-workers and patients. That patient could be you someday, so treat them as you would want to be treated. Always be honest and if you make a mistake, own up to it.
