Which term refers to the supervisor of a nursing unit who oversees care for a limited number of residents?

• A. Floor supervisor
• B. Charge nurse
• C. Unit coordinator
• D. Nurse manager

Answer: (B)

A charge nurse is the nurse who leads a nursing unit during a shift and oversees the care for a limited number of residents. This role coordinates daily patient care, assigns tasks to other staff, monitors residents’ conditions, and communicates changes to the team and to physicians, all for the residents on that unit during that shift. The scope is focused on a single unit with a manageable number of residents, which fits the description perfectly. Other terms describe different responsibilities: a unit coordinator handles administrative tasks like scheduling and paperwork rather than direct clinical supervision on the floor; a nurse manager oversees broader operations across multiple units; and floor supervisor is not a standard term in many facilities.