A charge nurse must first qualify as a registered nurse by completing an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or diploma program. Bachelor’s degree programs are run through colleges and universities and offer the most comprehensive nursing training, taking around four years to complete. The bachelor’s degree program provides specific training in patient care, clinical technology and hospital administration. All of these skills are useful for prospective charge nurses.
Associate degrees are run through community and technical colleges and take around two to three years to complete. The diploma program is typically conducted in hospitals and provides significant clinical experience which may be of use to charge nurse candidates. Diploma programs, however, are not as extensive as the bachelor’s degree. Diploma programs typically last around two years.
Once you have completed a diploma porgam or nursing degree program, you can take the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN), which confers eligibility to practice as a registered nurse, as stated on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Anyone wishing to practice as a charge nurse should look out for any internship programs at local hospitals or health care centers during their studies. Internships provide invaluable first-hand experience of nursing and medical procedures. Newly qualified registered nurses can take on a range of entry-level roles in emergency rooms and hospital rehabilitation units. To qualify for charge nurse roles, however, you will usually need to work for a minimum of two years as a staff nurse in a hospital or clinic. During this time, you should strive to take on roles with added responsibility, such as cover duty for senior nurses or assist hospital management with policy plans. These positions will help you develop leadership qualities, organization skills and communication skills, which are essential attributes of a charge nurse. Some hospitals have staff rotation, whereby you can work as a charge nurse under supervision to identify whether you are suited to the job.
A charge nurse should have broad knowledge of medication types and their side effects, as stated on the Diploma Guide career and education website. Some hospitals also require CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification as charge nurses assist staff nurses in emergency situations. A charge nurse should also have good organizational skills to manage staffing schedules and excellent communication skills to instruct staff and field patients’ queries.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) provides certification to registered nurses in a range of specialist practices including pediatric and psychiatric nursing. Certification in a specific medical field is not necessary for charge nurses, but the ANCC states that it is likely to improve employment opportunities.
The average salary of a charge nurse as of July 2010 was between $54,432 and $75,803, according to PayScale.com. With sufficient experience and further education, a charge nurse can go on to other management roles as assistant director or chief nurse.