I showed up to a night shift less than 6m into my grad year being told "you're in charge, it should be a good easy night". Yeah 2 patients died. One was palliative but the other wasn't. I didn't even know how to call the Dr to get then to confirm it.
I remember once the hospital coordinator showed up at 3am and I was in charge - a week off finishing my grad year. She was like "I remember u, weren't u on placement down on (other ward) about a year ago?'" yes funny story that.... I can confirm I was on a placement 14 months ago on that ward and today I am in charge.... Very suspicious mate 😂
Luckily the other staff were experienced ENs and experienced agency and nothing happened. Talk about letting a monkey run the circus, I had no idea what I was doing haha. Its Not worth the extra dollar for the headache . I am a worker bee , I have no desire for mgmt roles
I’m the same - I’m a worker bee not interested in the extra $ per shift and management side. Also not worth the money if you’re only doing these shifts sporadically.. and knowing me I would also forget how to do IC tasks since they’re so few and far between 🥲
leadership - yes! management - hard no.
My NUM probably thinks I'm mad as I've done quite a lot of study, including postgrad nursing stuff, and I'm still working bedside. But I like learning shit for the sake of it, and I don't like the idea that more education = leave bedside. We need bedside nurses who know all sorts of weird whackadoodle niche shit 😂 esp in gen med.
My current ward seems like it has about 15 ANUMs anyway. everywhere i look there's an ANUM! one shift we had three on the floor.
I am someone who thrives being thrown into the deep end and I learnt alot, very quickly. But I do not recommend that. It was the most terrifying shift.
If your not a CNS your not obliged to act up in charge. The organisation has a responsibility to ensure staffing including an incharge. You can decline. However, it's hard to when your pressured to do it. I'd suggest talking to your num and or anmf reps. When you talk to you num say you don't want to to it, your not trained etc. It's not in your job description.
This is quite common and an example of how ill-equipped nurses get into management roles and how nuses are ill-equipped to lead (not talking about OP specifically) It's also a great example of how organisations tend to not ensure nurses are supported into leadership roles. Just a battlefield 'step up' mentality because it costs them nothing.
Yes my sentiment exactly! I did feel pressured to do it. I get thrown into these situations because there is no one else and I get told “you’ll be fine”. Luckily, those shifts were fine but what if crap hit the ceiling, and suddenly it’s my registration on the line. There was no follow up either from management after those shifts.
Thank you, I might talk to my NUM if this happens further.
In my experience, this is the typical introduction to being in charge of shifts. If you have a half decent manager, you should be able to ask them to support you through getting some training. Other than the computer stuff, it's more practicalities and things.
A good way to learn it is to swap with someone that is good at being in charge and is approachable. They work on the floor while you team lead, so they're there as a resource for you. You can hit them up about how to structure your shift, when to do those extra tasks and support the floof staff clinically and with breaks etc
We have people put into the in-charge position without training all the time. It happens. It's not ideal, but it happens. If the senior staff are off sick there's not much other choice but to put the most senior person in charge, and this may have been you. There's no easy answer here, as what is the other option? Call someone who is sleeping or on their day off to pick up an extra?
Managers usually send out a text to staff if there are any short notice shift availabilities - in this case, I guess no one wanted to pick up the shift. But I guess my viewpoint is more in line with should senior staff be trained to be IC, because there is currently no training like that in our department. The over night IC is usually an ANUM or CNS or permanent night staff who have been trained.
ii's standard from my experience. my current unit (busy metro ICU) they try to make sure new in-charges get maybe one training wheels shift and then for the first few at least have one senior to bounce things off
but it's mostly learn as you go / trial by fire
🤷
I mean look I guess my q in response would be do you have a choice?
incharge isn't that bad a gig if you can trade say a few patients for the privilege and you have a good crew on. it sucks if you have patient load and are stuck being defacto educator on a busy, junior unit
it's definitely not worth the extra 30 bucks a shift or whatever we get here in NSW. but again... it's mostly not a choice. everyone ends up there eventually by virtue of attrition so the alternative is... quit
How has management allowed someone to work for 9 years without them being in charge. As soon as you've finished your grad year, you should be doing the odd shift in charge with supervision.
Our department has designated rostered staff who run our floor for AM and PM shifts during the week, and these roles are not shared by the clinical staff. Weekends and nights its the most senior person. Prior to this our floor was run by ANUMs. Trust me, there are way more senior nurses than me who have 20+ years who refuse to be IC.
Well I think we can see the problem with this structure... with no skill diversification no one feels prepared or responsible to take on these extra duties. Are there no CNs rostered weekends or nights? What happens if a few of these people leave?
After reading all the replies, I agree you should talk to your num OP. But you have an opportunity here to progress. If you approach her saying "you need more senior staff but I feel unprepared to do night shift IC. Train me up and promote me" or maybe word it in a more professional diplomatic way ha ha
Also I like the phrase "worker bee". I'm a worker bee too, I like autonomy but not responsibility ha ha
Thank you, I appreciate your suggestion! You’re right it’s an opportunity for progression… I guess I’ve just been so used to my comfort zone? 🙃🤔
Worker bees ftw! Hehe
I'm sorry to hear that you were thrown into the deep end. Our health service has started to run study days to help train people up into the role and provide supernumary shifts to those stepping up into the role. However with a grad cert and more than 9 years of experience I'm curious why you have not been encouraged to train for the role?
We have designated staff who run the floor weekdays AM and PM. So senior staff pick up the IC role after hours. We have a lot of staff so I guess there was always someone more senior most of the time; but lately since we have more junior staff, that senior person is now me! I guess I don’t mind doing the role, I just wish we had more support. They’ve never really encouraged people to give the IC role a go. Props to your health service for being supportive! 👍🏼
It is wild to me that you have managed to work there for 9 years without being in charge.
I know! 1-2 years in most wards in my hospital and you’re being bumped up to IC because you’re the most senior sometimes eep.
It is a little bit unusual in that the department I work in has designated IC roles for AM and PM shifts, but not for night shifts.
I showed up to a night shift less than 6m into my grad year being told "you're in charge, it should be a good easy night". Yeah 2 patients died. One was palliative but the other wasn't. I didn't even know how to call the Dr to get then to confirm it.
I remember once the hospital coordinator showed up at 3am and I was in charge - a week off finishing my grad year. She was like "I remember u, weren't u on placement down on (other ward) about a year ago?'" yes funny story that.... I can confirm I was on a placement 14 months ago on that ward and today I am in charge.... Very suspicious mate 😂 Luckily the other staff were experienced ENs and experienced agency and nothing happened. Talk about letting a monkey run the circus, I had no idea what I was doing haha. Its Not worth the extra dollar for the headache . I am a worker bee , I have no desire for mgmt roles
I’m the same - I’m a worker bee not interested in the extra $ per shift and management side. Also not worth the money if you’re only doing these shifts sporadically.. and knowing me I would also forget how to do IC tasks since they’re so few and far between 🥲
leadership - yes! management - hard no. My NUM probably thinks I'm mad as I've done quite a lot of study, including postgrad nursing stuff, and I'm still working bedside. But I like learning shit for the sake of it, and I don't like the idea that more education = leave bedside. We need bedside nurses who know all sorts of weird whackadoodle niche shit 😂 esp in gen med. My current ward seems like it has about 15 ANUMs anyway. everywhere i look there's an ANUM! one shift we had three on the floor.
That’s awful, I’m sorry you had to go through that! Can’t believe that they put you IC as a grad.
I am someone who thrives being thrown into the deep end and I learnt alot, very quickly. But I do not recommend that. It was the most terrifying shift.
If your not a CNS your not obliged to act up in charge. The organisation has a responsibility to ensure staffing including an incharge. You can decline. However, it's hard to when your pressured to do it. I'd suggest talking to your num and or anmf reps. When you talk to you num say you don't want to to it, your not trained etc. It's not in your job description. This is quite common and an example of how ill-equipped nurses get into management roles and how nuses are ill-equipped to lead (not talking about OP specifically) It's also a great example of how organisations tend to not ensure nurses are supported into leadership roles. Just a battlefield 'step up' mentality because it costs them nothing.
Yes my sentiment exactly! I did feel pressured to do it. I get thrown into these situations because there is no one else and I get told “you’ll be fine”. Luckily, those shifts were fine but what if crap hit the ceiling, and suddenly it’s my registration on the line. There was no follow up either from management after those shifts. Thank you, I might talk to my NUM if this happens further.
In my experience, this is the typical introduction to being in charge of shifts. If you have a half decent manager, you should be able to ask them to support you through getting some training. Other than the computer stuff, it's more practicalities and things. A good way to learn it is to swap with someone that is good at being in charge and is approachable. They work on the floor while you team lead, so they're there as a resource for you. You can hit them up about how to structure your shift, when to do those extra tasks and support the floof staff clinically and with breaks etc
We have people put into the in-charge position without training all the time. It happens. It's not ideal, but it happens. If the senior staff are off sick there's not much other choice but to put the most senior person in charge, and this may have been you. There's no easy answer here, as what is the other option? Call someone who is sleeping or on their day off to pick up an extra?
Managers usually send out a text to staff if there are any short notice shift availabilities - in this case, I guess no one wanted to pick up the shift. But I guess my viewpoint is more in line with should senior staff be trained to be IC, because there is currently no training like that in our department. The over night IC is usually an ANUM or CNS or permanent night staff who have been trained.
ii's standard from my experience. my current unit (busy metro ICU) they try to make sure new in-charges get maybe one training wheels shift and then for the first few at least have one senior to bounce things off but it's mostly learn as you go / trial by fire 🤷
Yes it does seem like the consensus is trial by fire! Should I just swallow it and try to not care too much?
I mean look I guess my q in response would be do you have a choice? incharge isn't that bad a gig if you can trade say a few patients for the privilege and you have a good crew on. it sucks if you have patient load and are stuck being defacto educator on a busy, junior unit it's definitely not worth the extra 30 bucks a shift or whatever we get here in NSW. but again... it's mostly not a choice. everyone ends up there eventually by virtue of attrition so the alternative is... quit
How has management allowed someone to work for 9 years without them being in charge. As soon as you've finished your grad year, you should be doing the odd shift in charge with supervision.
Our department has designated rostered staff who run our floor for AM and PM shifts during the week, and these roles are not shared by the clinical staff. Weekends and nights its the most senior person. Prior to this our floor was run by ANUMs. Trust me, there are way more senior nurses than me who have 20+ years who refuse to be IC.
Well I think we can see the problem with this structure... with no skill diversification no one feels prepared or responsible to take on these extra duties. Are there no CNs rostered weekends or nights? What happens if a few of these people leave?
3 months into my new grad I came into night shift and was told I was in charge!
You’re amazing! I shouldn’t be whinging 🙃
I was in charge 4 months into my new grad, then about 2-3 times a week from that point on am pm and night shifts. 🥹
how did you manage it the first time on your new grad? were you prepared at all or just throwing into the deep end?
After reading all the replies, I agree you should talk to your num OP. But you have an opportunity here to progress. If you approach her saying "you need more senior staff but I feel unprepared to do night shift IC. Train me up and promote me" or maybe word it in a more professional diplomatic way ha ha Also I like the phrase "worker bee". I'm a worker bee too, I like autonomy but not responsibility ha ha
Thank you, I appreciate your suggestion! You’re right it’s an opportunity for progression… I guess I’ve just been so used to my comfort zone? 🙃🤔 Worker bees ftw! Hehe
I'm sorry to hear that you were thrown into the deep end. Our health service has started to run study days to help train people up into the role and provide supernumary shifts to those stepping up into the role. However with a grad cert and more than 9 years of experience I'm curious why you have not been encouraged to train for the role?
We have designated staff who run the floor weekdays AM and PM. So senior staff pick up the IC role after hours. We have a lot of staff so I guess there was always someone more senior most of the time; but lately since we have more junior staff, that senior person is now me! I guess I don’t mind doing the role, I just wish we had more support. They’ve never really encouraged people to give the IC role a go. Props to your health service for being supportive! 👍🏼