Good morning

queenjean · Apr 5, 2007

Hello, I am new to the site and have been told all the nurses out here could help me out. So here is a few questions for all of you.......
I just was promoted to NSC of a ICF facility and the nurses are not working as a team. We have several who are unhappy and some who just hate their job. Now some are happy and just do not like management. Well anyway, I need to build our nurses into a TEAM. Most of the nurses like each other as far as I know. I need to do some serious damage control for management. I need the nurses to come together and be one. Any ideas..... I know it is a big one. The ages are from 21 and up. Some have been there 16+ years and say nothing will work and some are new grads. Most are LPNs and a few RNs. We need help fast. ...Thanks any help would be greatfull.

Welcome!

Since no one else has had a go, I'll give you my two cents.

I have no idea. Why don't you ask the nurses? What makes them happy about their jobs, what makes them unhappy? What suggestions do they have for getting everyone to work as a team? What does that even mean, to work as a team? Do you mean improved relationships between nurses and aides; do you mean between different departments, or shifts, or what? Be honest with them about what are possibilities, and also what framework you have to work with, but instead of handing down the decisions from on high about how to be a team, let them take some ownership in how the facility is run. Get their input and then try to implement their suggestions. Give lots of feedback. Encourage them to give you lots of feedback.

Good luck!

TazziRN, RN · Apr 5, 2007

I was going to suggest asking the staff too. Find out why they're unhappy and try to change that. You will not be able to change everything or make everyone happy, but if the majority turn around then you have succeeded. Once the staff sees you trying to fix the problems, their attitudes will change and they will feel valued, and they will be more enthusiastic toward management.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2007

most of the problems that staff have with management can boil down to a few simple issues:

1. No input is asked for before changes or improvement is attempted.

2. Issues are brought up, addressed once, and then things never change.

3. some managers are promoted before they are ready, and then try to run departments with a "my way or the highway" approach.

Our own department has no way to deal with issues, we set up meetings that are MANDATORY (4 people show up from nights, the 2 working that day, and that's it). Nothing is done with follow-up. I personally haven't seen my manager in about 2 months. (she's days/ I work nights)

I speak from the exp of working as a manager for 3.5 years in a LTC/healthcare environment with MI adults. I didn't start off the best, but I felt that I made a difference and was a fair/understanding boss who tried to explain why things had to be done a particular way.

Ask your nurses and go from there.

RN BSN 2009 · Apr 6, 2007

:monkeydance: welcome!:balloons: