Read this email my NM sent to all the nurses.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

"Nurses,

It has come to my attention that BREAKS are being taken at the BEGINNING of the shift DURING BUSY times on the unit. This is unacceptable and it is the responsibility of each staff member to come to work prepared to work and NOT shop online, take multiple breaks, and gossip. It is very unprofessional to be socializing LOUDLY at the nurse's station and I will not tolerate it. I need staff that are committed to making this the best unit and providing the BEST care. The charge nurse and myself do not have time to babysit and instruct you on how and when to do your job. The charge nurse is responsible for leading the team and if she feels at any time that a particular staff member is not performing standard care, she will not hesitate to take action and dismiss the staff member from work for the rest of shift without pay with instruction to follow up with me before returning. Please forgive me in advance to the staff dedicated and prepared to work full throttle each shift, this email is not directed to you."

...........

Really? This is the kind of work environment I have to deal with. Does this sound like something any manager should say? I had to laugh to myself reading this. Your thoughst?

Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

If I wasn't behaving in that manner I wouldn't be concerned about myself but I might be glad to note that the manager is sick of it.

Ouch GummibearsRN. Are you sure you want to post a work e-mail on the internet where everyone can read it?

Who's going to know it's me? There are plenty of people who work there.

It sounds histrionic and desperate. I would imagine this is a unit that has had ineffective leadership for a significant period of time.

RIGHT on the money. That about sums it up perfectly! lol

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I haven't read all of the comments yet, but I personally find nothing wrong with the

message at all.

I also have not read all the comments, however, there's a number of posts and threads on this site regarding the "I work my butt off while other nurses as shopping on the internet at the nurse's station". Meetings don't always reach everyone. I think that the email was direct, to the point, and gave what would happen should someone be found to be engaging in activity they should not be. At least this manager took it upon themselves to point out the the behavior was being noticed, it would not be tolerated, and it was being acted on.

Specializes in Pediatric Hem/Onc.

Perhaps the email could've been written in a more professional manner, but I'm perfectly fine with the message. We had a similar situation on my unit. We were sent an email stating that all work stations out on the floor were to be used for work only, and anyone found using social media, shopping, etc could face disciplinary action. I know several people that abused our former privileges, and I know at least two of them were called into the office and personally warned before this blanket warning went out to everyone. I saw it as management covering their bases so no one seemed to be singled out. You can't claim ignorance of the rules when you get an email laying them out.

I don't see the problem with it. Whenever I get warnings about stuff I don't do while on the clock, I delete it and move on.

Perhaps the email could've been written in a more professional manner, but I'm perfectly fine with the message. We had a similar situation on my unit. We were sent an email stating that all work stations out on the floor were to be used for work only, and anyone found using social media, shopping, etc could face disciplinary action. I know several people that abused our former privileges, and I know at least two of them were called into the office and personally warned before this blanket warning went out to everyone. I saw it as management covering their bases so no one seemed to be singled out. You can't claim ignorance of the rules when you get an email laying them out.

I don't see the problem with it. Whenever I get warnings about stuff I don't do while on the clock, I delete it and move on.

Yeah, it could've been worded more professionally, but obviously the manager is dealing with people who don't speak "professional." Maybe she's tried professional and fell back on the, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" approach.

The comments about the surfing the internet, breaks and loud talking were not what I really took aim at. They are the same problems in nurses stations everywhere.

Its more the part that I put in bold. The part where the NM thinks she can give power to the charge nurse (who doesn't take pt's on our floor) to suspend a nurse home for the day. THAT is the bigger picture I was trying to get you guys to comment on. The charge nurse only makes $1 more an hr than regular his/her regular pay. He/She is a "staff nurse" and I seriously doubt (would bet money on) that the charge nurse has no such power legally. Think about a co-worker suspending you without pay from your job. Cannot be legal.

But this person is not a co-worker, they are the charge nurse. Who plays a specific role if he/she doesn't take patients. It is a supervisory role, regardless of how much more money than you this person makes. They are working under the direction of your NM. It can be the start of progressive formal discipline, which is under the reponsiblities of a charge nurse role. Think about patient safety-- if your coworker is off on her break at 9am, (when you are trying to pass meds) and one of her patients falls due to no one to help them, and perhaps you are the one who said nurse gave the "run down" on the patient before she took her break. Yup, that means you took "report" and this patient was your responsibility. If I were one of the nurses who did not participate in such behaviors, then I would be red hot that I would be holding the bag for co-workers who apparently don't know how to be a professional, NOT that the charge nurse was given the OK to discipline. Often times we read on here that this type of stuff is going on, and the charge nurse knows and doesn't do anything. Not to mention if you have a group of co-workers on the internet for their shift, an email is really a great way of having them read it and hopefully, when it happens the first time--perhaps take it seriously. It continues to amaze me that these are grown butt people who are in the business of taking care of people's lives.....

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Got to agree. This is about setting a document trail in place. Your NM is aware of the situation and instead of singling people out to start with she is sending an email to everyone.

This may deter some people from habits that they have fallen into from working with other people. It also means that the people that persist have been given warning. Next step is the charge nurse (who mat only be a staff nurse, but is there as the NM delegate) a fall ba k to say to that person. Our NM has already comunicated to you about this issue. I am asking you to stop / leave work.

I had to speak to 3 nurses today about texting on their phones and answering cell phone calls today. Not good enough, and trust me none of the things were vital.

When I take this issue to my NUM I expect her to bring it up at shift change handovers, also highlight it at the next ward meeting and a group Email. As someone who has covered for my NUM for extended periods this is what I do.

So basically it is a paper trail that if someone complains a out unfair dismissal etc the NM can say well I sent an email, I spoke at meetings etc.

Ok, maybe it would have been better delivered in a staff meeting, however, I see absolutely nothing wrong with the email. I work with some of the most work-ethic challenged people I can imagine. It makes my job harder because I have to pull their weight. It makes me look like a harridan because I complain frequently in hopes that my wishy washy NM will actually sit someone down and say "tow the line or move on". But no. Staff members tell her how and when they will do their job. They tell her they have PTO days in the bank and they are going to take them on they days they choose and to heck with unit needs. They will not work the call they are scheduled. Staff members go off unit during shift and no one knows where they are...they are not on lunch or break. I would give anything for an email like that to be in my box on Monday morning because I am tired of my work ethic and my need/desire to give excellent patient care being taken for granted.

Also, why bold and underline and yell at the whole staff via written communication? Again, I don's have a problem with the contect, I do have a very big problem with her delivery. This wouldn't exactly make me respect her more as a leader.

I think the OP added the bold and underlining for emphasis, but my impression was that the email itself was cut and pasted.

What I take issue with is the use of all caps in some places. This is considered "yelling", the equivalent of raising one's voice. I don't think there is ever any reason for a leader to yell at staff, unless defending oneself against physical attack. A strong leader can say whatever they need to say without ever raising their voice.

The reference to "babysitting" is also unprofessional. There is no need to use such language to describe the problem being addressed and the consequences/follow through that is planned.

I think it's fine for the charge nurse to send staff home if s/he has determined that they arrived to the work place not ready to work. I take no issue with that part of things.

I think the problems described in the email are legitimate problems that need to be addressed.

Mass emails are tricky. They can be a great way to get information across to a large section of the staff, without having to speak to every single one face to face. It is a great time saver. I can even support a mass email that identifies a problem and outlines the solutions. It is a mass email in which the leader, someone who I am supposed to hold in high regard, yells and uses unprofessional language, sounding like someone who feels powerless, that I think is inappropriate and unprofessional.

I have never been a manager (other than some middle management stints), but I have worked for both effective, strong leaders, and ineffective, weak leaders. I have made a lot of observations about what makes a good leader. This email undermines this leader's own authority, making her/him sound weak and as I said before, desperate.

It does sound to me like there is a staff morale problem, but my guess is that it is nothing new, and that ineffective leadership is one of the root causes. Were I this NM's supervisor, I would be working with her/him to improve her/his leadership capabilities, or I'd be looking for a new NM.

Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I wish my manager WOULD say it.

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