Managers staffing???

[nimbex]

With the recent threads on short staffing and exhaused nurses.... led me to wonder...

When you are short, and it's barely safe, how often does management in your unit take any kind of assignment to lessen the load?

In 5 years my manager never has ONCE even helped with any type of patient care... I was the assistant for a year and a half and jumped in all the time... to the point of burn out... So now I'm back in staffing...where I belong.

[MQ Edna]

Our manager NEVER has worked even when we are short staffed. We are a small rural hospital and I work ICU all by myself. Some nights we have nothing other nights I might have 2 vent pts. (We don't have resp. therapist here, you do all care)

Currently my unit has 5 RN's that staff the department. We currently have one RN who had a car accident and will be out for and extended period. Our manager has not stepped in once to help out!!!

Show me where the good managers are and that is where I want to work.

[MPHkatie]

I've worked in two units in a huge hospital. In the ICU, I never actually knew what my manager looked like (no kidding), the assistant mgrs occasionally worked a shift, but mostly picked at the regular staffers throughout the shift.

Now, in my new unit. we have a mgr and 4 assistant mgrs. The assistants all work normally as well as taking care of multiple needs (staffing, meetings indeed, scheduling, call outs, materials shortages, etc etc etc) and indeed, while our actual manager is often in meetings, on days when our census is really bad, she transports patients, prepares meal trays, and handles any complaint. She, however, is a gem, and indeed, she almost alwyas supports her nurses first. It has made a difference.

[indynurse]

I have worked with both types of managers. My dept director doesn't do pt care, yet her boss will come to the floor (in her "power suit" and heels) and start an IV on a "hard stick".