Implementing a Charge Nurse Development Program

The Importance of Implementing a Charge Nurse Development Program

In today’s health care structure with the nursing shortage organizations are using charge nurses as gate-keepers to manage the day-to-day operation of the organization.

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According to Platt & Foster (2008) the charge nurse role is pivotal to the provision of high-quality care and effective charge management. However, many nurses are promoted to the role with no formal management preparation, or leadership skills, the may be apprehensive and in some cases reluctant to manage.

Sherman (2005) suggested that providing a formal and structured educational program would improve leadership skills and confidence, resulting in less frustration and greater satisfaction for staff assuming the charge nurse role. According to McCallin & Frankson (2010) organizations must provide charge nurses with formal support to facilitate management development.

Without the necessary preparation and ongoing in-service training these nurses may feel over whelmed, stressed and unsupported. Studies show nurses’ become a liability to the institution when placed prematurely in the charge nurse role without proper training (Sherman, 2005).

Additionally, they also play a central role in risk management for the organization (Sherman, 2005). Sherman & Pross (2010) state that a healthy work environment requires strong nursing leadership at all levels of the organization, but especially at the point of care or unit level where most front line staff work and patient care is delivered.

The purpose of this proposal is to recommend a charge nurse development program that will improve and enhance the leadership and management skills of the charge nurse. The paper will address the following elements: Project objectives, review of literature supporting the need for an ongoing educational program for charge nurses, project methodology, timeline, formative and summative evaluation.

Practicum Objective
The objectives are the specific accomplishments the researcher hopes to achieve (Polit & Beck, 2008). The charge nurse development proposal objectives are:
1. Review three sources of evidence, literature, professional organization standards and
information from networking on charge nurse job description
2. Analyze the organization’s charge nurse job description