Nurse Administrators can be a varied lot. I am the supervisor for nights at my hospital - I work 80 hrs every 2 weeks, plus about 5 hours extra for meetings. I'm salary so don't get paid for those extra meetings (which makes my natural desire to join in and help out on new projects a bit problematic since I could easily fill up another 40 hours or so with new projects.)
My job entails keeping through-put moving in the hospital - basically I help manage the flow of patients from the Emergency department into the hospital. I also field calls from doctors wishing to schedule emergency surgeries or add-on, families inquiring about their loved ones, other hospitals looking for beds or medical records. I also am the clinical support on nights - if the charge can't answer a question or help with a procedure they call me (anything from NG tubes, foley's, concerns on restraints, applying a sitter, etc). I also will admit patients for the floors if we don't have a housefloat (sometimes even if we do, depending on how many are coming from the ED.) I also run the medical response team (if yo have a concern about a patient you call me and RT before it becomes critical) and I run the code team along with the doctor. Finally, I am an all-purpose gopher - need tube feedings at 0200? call me. Need special IV tubing? Blood on uniform? Needlestick exposure? That's me.
Some nights I can be swamped with issues needing my attention. Other nights (like tonight) everything is running smoothly and I can browse allnurses (to extend my education of course
).
I find this job a lot of fun, very stimulating, and very educational. I see what works and what doesn't throughout the hospital and I serve as a bridge between ED and the floors.
Hope this helps,
Pat
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