Charge Nurse Job Description Template

Charge Nurse Job Overview

The Charge Nurse serves as the operational leader of the nursing unit during the assigned shift, balancing direct patient care responsibilities with shift-level supervisory accountability for the nursing team. In this role, you'll coordinate patient flow and bed assignments, make real-time staffing adjustments, support staff through complex clinical situations, resolve interpersonal and patient/family conflicts, and serve as the primary point of contact between the unit and hospital administration, physicians, and ancillary departments during the shift.

The role reports to the Nurse Manager and operates as the manager's operational extension during shifts when the manager is off unit. In most settings, the Charge Nurse carries a reduced patient assignment (1-3 patients) to preserve capacity for supervisory response. In smaller or lower-acuity settings, Charge Nurses may hold a full patient load while maintaining supervisory responsibilities.

Success depends on three things working simultaneously: clinical credibility with the staff, administrative judgment that keeps the unit running without constant escalation, and interpersonal skill to manage a team of nurses with different experience levels and, occasionally, competing priorities. The best Charge Nurses are the ones that staff ask for when something goes wrong.

Performance is measured by unit flow metrics (throughput, length-of-stay contribution), staff satisfaction scores, incident report volume, bed turnaround times, and feedback from the Nurse Manager and attending medical staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee nursing unit operations for the assigned shift, including patient flow coordination, bed assignment, and real-time staffing adjustment based on census and acuity

• Receive and conduct comprehensive shift change reports and facilitate organized, accurate handoffs across the full team using standardized communication tools (SBAR, I-PASS, or facility equivalent)

• Make immediate patient care decisions during emergencies, rapid response events, or unexpected deteriorations, activating appropriate teams and supporting staff through the event

• Assign and delegate patient care responsibilities to RNs, LPNs, and CNAs based on competency, patient acuity, and scope-of-practice appropriateness

• Serve as first-line resource for staff clinical questions, peer conflict, patient/family concerns, and escalating situations that require experienced nursing judgment

• Communicate proactively with physicians, hospitalists, and attending MDs regarding patient status changes, order clarification, and plan-of-care updates

• Monitor compliance with care standards, infection control measures, documentation requirements, and regulatory protocols across all staff under supervision

• Facilitate patient throughput by coordinating admissions, discharges, and transfers in collaboration with case management, bed management, and ancillary departments

• Document shift-level supervisory observations, incident reports, and near-miss events accurately and in accordance with facility risk management protocols

• Provide real-time coaching and constructive feedback to staff nurses, escalating performance concerns to the Nurse Manager with documented specifics

Required Qualifications for a Charge Nurse

• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice

• Minimum 3-5 years of clinical RN experience in the unit specialty (med-surg, ICU, ED, L&D, oncology, etc.) with demonstrable proficiency at the senior RN level

• Current BLS certification; ACLS required for critical care, telemetry, cardiac, or emergency unit charge roles

• Proven ability to function effectively under high pressure — experience managing multiple competing priorities simultaneously with accurate clinical judgment

• Demonstrated peer leadership: experience mentoring newer nurses, precepting orientees, or leading within a shared governance structure

• Strong working knowledge of the unit's EHR system at the documentation, order review, and reporting level

• Working knowledge of applicable regulatory standards: Joint Commission, CMS Conditions of Participation, state nursing board scope requirements

• Effective communication skills across all stakeholders: physicians, administrators, patients, families, and nursing staff at different experience levels

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); many acute care facilities transitioning Magnet designation prefer or require BSN for Charge Nurse eligibility

• Specialty certification relevant to the unit (CMSRN, PCCN, CCRN, CEN, RNC-OB, or equivalent)

• Formal leadership training: charge nurse transition program, Nurse Leadership Academy, or equivalent

• Experience participating in quality improvement committees, shared governance councils, or unit-based EBP initiatives

• Demonstrated conflict resolution or de-escalation training experience

• Prior formal Charge Nurse or supervisory experience in the relevant unit type

Essential Skills & Competencies for Charge Nurses

Clinical & Operational Skills:

• Senior-level clinical assessment: recognition of deteriorating patient status and immediate escalation decision-making
• Patient flow management: admission, discharge, transfer coordination, and bed assignment optimization
• Real-time staffing adjustment: call-off management, float pool coordination, overtime assignment, and acuity-based redistribution
• Scope-of-practice enforcement: assigning tasks accurately within RN, LPN, and CNA license boundaries
• Rapid response and code team support: team activation, coordination role, and post-event documentation
• Regulatory compliance oversight: monitoring and coaching for Joint Commission and infection control standards during the shift
• Incident documentation: safety event reporting, near-miss identification, and root cause communication
• EHR workflow: review of orders, documentation audits for completeness, and clinical decision support alert management
• Resource coordination: communicating supply needs, equipment issues, and ancillary service delays to appropriate departments
• Throughput metrics: active monitoring of discharge barriers and facilitating timely bed turnaround
  
  

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills:

• Situational leadership: adjusting supervisory approach based on individual staff member experience and confidence level

• Conflict resolution that de-escalates in real time without requiring manager intervention for every situation

• Direct, constructive feedback delivery that staff experience as helpful rather than punitive

• Physician communication that is assertive, concise, and clinically grounded — particularly during disagreements

• Crisis composure: maintaining calm and directive presence during emergencies that reduces staff panic

• Team morale awareness: sensing when team dynamics or staffing pressure is affecting performance before it becomes a safety issue

• Self-awareness about the dual pressure of supervisory accountability and personal patient care quality

Charge Nurse Salary Range & Benefits

Salary Overview

Charge Nurses are typically compensated as senior RNs with an additional shift differential or leadership stipend. Using the BLS median RN wage of $81,220 as a baseline, Charge Nurses typically earn 10-20% above standard staff RN rates through combination of experience level, unit complexity, and leadership differential.

Charge differentials range from $2-$6/hour in most markets, applied on top of base hourly rates. ICU and ED Charge Nurses at the senior level in California markets can exceed $160,000 total cash compensation.

Top-Paying Metropolitan Areas (Senior Charge RN):

• San Jose, CA: $150,000+

• San Francisco, CA: $145,000+

• Seattle, WA: $125,000+

• Honolulu, HI: $118,000+

• Portland, OR: $113,000+

Benefits Package

Competitive Charge Nurse offers in 2026 typically include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) or 403(b) with 3-6% employer match

• Paid time off: 18-25 days annually with tenure-based increases

• Leadership differential pay applied to all Charge hours worked

• Specialty certification reimbursement and paid CE hours

• Leadership development programs: charge nurse academies, supervisor transition programs, tuition support for BSN or MSN

• Shift differentials for evening, night, weekend, and holiday assignments

• Employee assistance programs and mental health support

• Magnet or shared governance participation recognition programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Charge Nurses

Q: What does a Charge Nurse do?
A: A Charge Nurse leads nursing unit operations during a shift, coordinating patient assignments, managing staffing in real time, supporting nurses through complex situations, and serving as the liaison between the unit and physicians, administrators, and ancillary departments. Charge Nurses maintain clinical accountability for their own patient assignment while carrying supervisory responsibility for the full team.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a Charge Nurse?
A: An active RN license and 3-5 years of experience in the relevant unit are the standard baseline. BLS certification is required; ACLS is required for critical care and emergency unit charge roles. Most facilities strongly prefer or require BSN, and specialty certification significantly strengthens a candidate's profile for the role.

Q: How much does a Charge Nurse make?
A: Charge Nurses typically earn 10-20% above standard staff RN rates through base pay progression and leadership differentials. Using the BLS median RN wage of $81,220, established Charge Nurses in most markets earn $95,000-$115,000. Senior Charge RNs in high-acuity California units can exceed $150,000 in total compensation.

Q: What makes a good Charge Nurse?
A: Clinical credibility with the staff, real-time judgment under operational pressure, and the interpersonal skill to give direct feedback without damaging relationships. The Charge Nurses who struggle are the ones who were excellent individual clinicians but haven't yet developed the supervisory mindset — managing through others while maintaining their own clinical standards.

Q: What is the difference between a Charge Nurse and a Nurse Manager?
A: A Nurse Manager holds 24/7 administrative accountability for the unit, managing budgets, hiring, performance reviews, policy development, and regulatory compliance. A Charge Nurse holds shift-level operational accountability: managing day-to-day workflow, staffing decisions, and real-time clinical and interpersonal issues within a single shift. Charge Nurses report to Nurse Managers and escalate issues that require managerial authority or off-shift follow-up.

Q: How do you assess a Charge Nurse candidate? A: Don't stop at clinical competency — that's table stakes at 3-5 years of RN experience. Focus interview questions on leadership scenarios: how the candidate handled a nurse who was falling behind on assignments, how they approached a physician who was rude or dismissive, how they responded when two staff members were in open conflict during a shift. Listen for candidates who take ownership of team outcomes rather than attributing problems exclusively to external factors. Ask specifically about a staffing crisis they navigated and the steps they took.