Micromanagement of Nurses

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2015

Define "micromanaging". To some, any amount of supervision, even if appropriate, feels like "micromanaging". For others, a hands-off approach feels like not getting enough support. Feeling micromanaged is subjective- there is no objective measure of what is too much or not enough.

In other words, there is not enough information to answer your question.

JerseyGirl2010 · Oct 28, 2015

Good point. Allow me to explain a bit more- I am currently a nurse in a family practice office and I like working with the doctor however, I feel like I get bossed around by the receptionist and I get scolded for silly things by a practice manager who is MIA (she manages several other practices and makes a once a week visit-usually when I'm not there because I do housecalls with the doctor) for very petty things. These are little things I feel I should not have to deal with as much in this setting. But maybe it just comes with the territory of working in a fam practice office?

ScenicRoute · Oct 29, 2015

I think this just comes with the territory of working with people, honestly. It's not the family practice settling that makes your receptionist bossy. She's just a bossy person (I'm assuming.) All workplaces have office politics, and you just have to navigate them and the personalities involved. My manager is fairly "hands-off," but I have been floated to units in my same hospital who serve the exact same patient population my unit does, and dealt with managers who were terrible micromanagers. It really just depends on the people involved, not the specialty.

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 29, 2015

Just wanted to chime in that I said "micromanagement" like that scene in The Office.

Microgament.

Have no idea what anyone else has said but thank you for the giggle.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2015

Can you give an example of what types of things you are receiving feedback about, and what "scolding" looks like?

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 29, 2015

Like others have said, it depends on the culture of the specific unit or department and the management style of your direct supervisor, not on what discipline of nursing it is.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 29, 2015

I'm an APN in a large nephrology practice. I see/talk with my docs (all 20 of them) rarely. I am very independent. However, with this independence comes much responsibility too.

RNperdiem, RN · Oct 29, 2015

My managers are really great here in ICU.

Charting requirements can feel like micromanaging.

Sometimes I do feel micromanaged by the charting I need to do for restraints, proof that patients are turned Q2 hrs, fall risk scale, Braden score and other requirements that have to be done, are regularly audited, and take away from actual patient care.