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Nursing vocabulary · Ward Routines and Handover

Charge nurse

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˈtʃɑːrdʒ nɜːrs/nounCore term

In nursing, charge nurse means: The nurse who leads a ward or unit during a shift: organising staff, allocating patients and dealing with problems and emergencies.

In Turkish: sorumlu hemşire, servis sorumlu hemşiresi

How it is used

Used in the US and the UK. In the UK you will also hear 'nurse in charge', 'ward sister' (traditionally a senior female nurse) or 'ward manager' for the person who runs the ward overall. Nurses ask 'Who's in charge today?' and say 'I'm in charge tonight'.

Example sentences

  1. If the family wants to make a complaint, send them to the charge nurse.

  2. The charge nurse has given me the patients in bays A and B today.

Common collocations

  • speak to the charge nurse
  • act as charge nurse
  • charge nurse on duty
  • wardA section of a hospital with beds where patients with similar needs stay and are cared for by a team of nurses.
  • shiftA fixed period of work, such as day, evening or night, after which another group of staff takes over.
  • handoverThe passing of information and responsibility for patients from one nurse or team to the next, usually at the change of shift.
  • escalateTo pass a concern about a patient to a more senior or specialist person, such as the nurse in charge or a doctor, so that they can act on it.

More terms: Ward Routines and Handover

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.