Resource Nurse vs. Charge Nurse: What Are the Differences?

Nurses play an important role in the medical field by providing care and support to patients. There are many different types of nurses, each with their own set of responsibilities. In this article, we compare and contrast the job titles of resource nurse and charge nurse, highlighting the key duties of each position.

What is a Resource Nurse?

A Resource Nurse is a Registered Nurse who has been specially trained to provide assistance and support to other nurses in their unit. They act as a resource for nurses who have questions or need help with a particular patient. Resource Nurses also help develop and implement policies and procedures for their unit. They may also be responsible for orienting new nurses to the unit and training them on unit specific procedures. Resource Nurses typically work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities.

What is a Charge Nurse?

Charge Nurses are responsible for the daily operations of a nursing unit. They oversee the nurses and other staff members to ensure that patients are receiving the best possible care. They also handle scheduling, budgeting and other administrative duties. Charge Nurses typically have several years of experience working as a registered nurse. They may also have a specialty, such as pediatric nursing or critical care nursing.

Resource Nurse vs. Charge Nurse

Here are the main differences between a resource nurse and a charge nurse.

Job Duties

Although both charge and resource nurses have daily duties, their responsibilities can differ. As a charge nurse, your primary job is to oversee the patients in the department you manage. This means that you’re responsible for ensuring all staff members complete their tasks and helping patients recover. As a resource nurse, you assist the patients who need additional care or assistance. You may do this by providing emotional support or assisting them with completing daily activities like bathing or eating.

Another difference between these two nursing roles is that charge nurses are more likely to train new staff members. They often give new employees on-the-job training and instruct them on how to perform certain duties. Resource nurses rarely train other nurses because they usually work in the same facility often and already know each other well.

Job Requirements

Both resource nurses and charge nurses typically need to have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. They may also need to have a master’s degree, depending on the size of the facility they work in and the specific requirements of their position. Additionally, both resource nurses and charge nurses must be licensed as registered nurses (RNs) and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Some states may require RNs to complete continuing education credits to renew their licenses.

Work Environment

Both charge and resource nurses work in hospitals, nursing homes or other medical facilities. However, the environment of a resource nurse may be more variable than that of a charge nurse. Resource nurses often travel to different locations to provide care for patients. They may also work in private practices, clinics or doctor’s offices.

Charge nurses typically work in one location throughout their careers. This allows them to build relationships with colleagues and develop expertise in certain areas of nursing.

Skills

Both resource nurses and charge nurses require excellent communication skills. Resource nurses need to be able to communicate with patients, families and other members of the healthcare team in order to coordinate care. Charge nurses need to be able to communicate with staff, physicians and patients in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.

Both resource nurses and charge nurses also need to have strong organizational skills. Resource nurses need to be able to keep track of patients’ needs and make sure that they are getting the care they need. Charge nurses need to be able to keep track of staff assignments and make sure that everyone is where they need to be.

Resource nurses also need to have good problem-solving skills. They need to be able to identify problems and come up with solutions that will work for both the patient and the healthcare team. Charge nurses also need to have good problem-solving skills, but they also need to be able to delegate tasks and make decisions about how to best use the resources of the unit.

Salary

The average salary for a resource nurse is $80,673 per year, while the average salary for a charge nurse is $77,459 per year. Both of these salaries may vary depending on the size of the hospital or healthcare facility, the location of the job and the level of experience the nurse has prior to pursuing either position.