They’ve been compared to educators, mediators and even air traffic controllers. They may perform managerial tasks such as scheduling and evaluations, while also acting as liaisons to hospital leaders and physicians. They may often resolve conflicts and usually are agents of change setting a positive example for the entire staff. Ultimately, they must ensure the safety and care of patients in their unit.
These are just some of the roles and responsibilities of charge nurses. They are decisive and resourceful “veterans” who have gained experience on the job. In addition to their clinical competency, here are three nurse leader skills that will help charge nurses succeed:
1. The Ability to Lead and Motivate Others
Leadership is dependent on the ability to motivate others. A leader recognizes the individual strengths of every member of her team as well as their areas for improvement. The leader outlines the objectives for the team and clearly outlines each person’s responsibility. To motivate the team, a leader will offer empathy, advice, positive reinforcement or even terse but respectful orders. Of course, all these forms of direction require the charge nurse to have excellent communication skills.
2. Strong Critical Thinking Skills
In addition to being excellent communicators, nursing managers must also possess strong critical thinking skills. Charge nurses are responsible for making sure that staff members have appropriate training and qualifications for their respective assignments. They must match colleagues’ competencies with the needs of patients. Nurse leaders must also ensure adequate resources are available, policies are followed and regulatory requirements are met. In other words, they must be problem solvers throughout the process: recognizing issues before they arise, addressing them in real-time as they happen and providing measures to prevent similar issues in the future.
3. A Willingness to Embrace Change
Finally, charge nurses must possess a willingness to not only embrace change, but also champion it. As nurse leaders, they are in a unique position to see the big picture as well as the details that will improve patient care and staff morale. NCharge, a charge nurse leadership training program developed by Catalyst Learning Company, stresses the importance of being agents and champions of change. Leaders will challenge the status quo when it benefits the team and their objectives.
As leaders, charge nurses must embody all these qualities as they reinforce the strengths of the team and help ensure the greatest care for patients.