Offered a supervisor's position

[RNinICU]

I have recently been offered a shift supervisor's position at my hospital. I would be working the same shift as I do now (11-7), and would be responsible for bed control, staffing issues, and handling any problems that arise. Since there is no IV team at night, I would also be doing IV sticks and hanging blood on the regular nursing units. Other duties include retrieving supplies from Central Supply and tube feedings from dietary. I would be expected to support policies that I don't agree with, and only say positive things about administration. I would also be the one to verbally counsel anyone who needed disciplined, and replace call offs. I would be responsible for doing the float pools schedules, and evaluating the 11-7 unit secretaries. For these responsibilities I have been offered a ten percent raise. However, as management, I would not get shift differential, so that cuts my raise to five percent. Supervisors do not get paid for overtime, and usually are there until 0830 every morning finifshing up paper work. So I would actually be losing money to take on these added responsibilities. Instead of being responsible for my two patients, i would be responsible for the entire patient census. So I guess what I really want to know is, why would anyone want to be a supervisor?

[jevans]

I have to say I'm a deputy ward manager. I take on all those roles and some. Yes some of my girls who work regular nights get more money than me BUT I do have some say in improved pt care, improved standards and at the end of the day pts benifit

also able to improve standards of work for colleagues

YES it's a headache Yes your stress levels go up BUT I just want to improve the service

Good luck you have a hard descission

j

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Management - been there; for me it wasn't worth it monetarily and definitely not stress-wise. All depends on what you like in your work. Thank goodness all nurses have different loves and strengths - someone has to do that (IMHO) crappy job! :)

Just out of curiosity, is this a rhetorical question, are you looking for a reason to take the job, or have you already laughed aloud and said "not only 'no' but HELL no!"

[LasVegasRN]

Been there, done that, not worth it... in my opinion.

Some will tell you to take the opportunity because it reflects growth and will look good on your resume.

I say, spending time with my family, enjoying my job and going home with a clear conscience is more valuable than anything else. You'll know when the right supervisory position that will positively enhance your growth comes along.

[sbic56, BSN, RN]

Just a huge headache in my experience, too. And you are going to lose money doing it?? I'd think long and hard, but you won't know unless you try it.

[RNinICU]

Originally posted by Nurse Ratched

Just out of curiosity, is this a rhetorical question, are you looking for a reason to take the job, or have you already laughed aloud and said "not only 'no' but HELL no!"

I turned the position down, with a very polite, "No, I don't want to give up patient care." I'm not looking for a reason to take the job, just an answer to the question of why anyone would want it.

[karmcq]

I, too, have done it.....learned a lot from it.......the hours are long and the responsibility is incredible.....i, personally, didn't like it and went back to the bedside......it was very hard for me to attend most admin meetings, knowing nurses were drowning out there on the floor....all i kept thinking was "I have work to do".... guess you can take a nurse away from the patients, but you can't take the patients away from the nurse.

I am glad I had the experience, but I am happier on the floor!

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Karmcq - that is the hardest part - knowing that you can't dive right in on the floor. It makes you appreciate the bedside experience again.

[fedupnurse]

I don't know why anyone would want that thankless job. I'm a big mouth so they have offered me mgmt. positions for years. I have always said no because they come at a price-you have to walk the walk and talk the talk of the suits and I just can't do that because I simply do not agree with what they believe in! I can't figure out why anyone would want to torture themselves like that.

Jevans, I'm glad you were actually able to have a positive impact in your position, but that doesn't happen in the hospitals around here. None of us have ever recovered from the dreaded Hunter Groups Re-Engineering nightmare of 95-96!

And they wonder why there is a shortage of nurses willing to work in a hospital!!

[bestblondRN]

Originally posted by RNinICU

So I would actually be losing money to take on these added responsibilities. Instead of being responsible for my two patients, i would be responsible for the entire patient census. So I guess what I really want to know is, why would anyone want to be a supervisor?

After doing it (along with unit management) off and on for 13 years, I finally got smart and left it all for the bedside. It's a thankless, "everything is your job" sort of position a lot of the time. I can't imagine why anyone would want to be a nursing supervisor, especially with all the responsibilities you listed!