Really new and need some input

[Charis]

Hi,

I'm charis and new to this board. today I'm out sick and was browsing th web since my phone keeps ringing. I need some help and hopefully you guys can help.

I'm a new manager of an ICF/MR program. 1st of all my background and experience in nursing has been ICU nursing. Then I got into healthcare marketing then I did insurance for a year. Well, 6 months ago i landed this job in the discipline of caring for the mentally disabled. The demographic is that I'm responsible for the care of 72 individuals w/ the help of 22 LPNS who I manage. My direct supervisor is not a nurse. The other RNs around me (in the clinic and on a support team) are not very supportive. Its a great opportunity that if I can successfully manage it will be a boon to my career path. The work is very interesting as I didn't realize the complexities of these individuals.

I need a mentor that I can talk to to bounce stuff off of and hopefully be able to acheive my departmental goals by the end of my first year.

Dealing with the LPN is very difficult for me because I don't understand what drives them and I so far have been able to procure them 2 raises withing the last six months, and I have a program for continuing education as well as staff developement and heightened awareness of client care. I thought these were all good things but my staff really don't want to participate in anything and want everything handed to them. At my fullest complement of staff it would be 33 with all the positions filled. I don't have any "support staff at my disposal" but I will ask for that at the next budget time. So ......in the meantime...I'm not sure how to proceed. I know I will make mistakes but i don't want to make my boss's words come true: "When you finally get to the ocean, you may look around and find that you made it there with the peices of the dead bodies of your staff behind you." She is not a nurse...I'm concerned about the quality of client care....its not at a level that I'm used to experiencing.

could my boss be right????

am I driving change too hard??

will someone feel sorry for me and be a mentor??????

help me be a better boss!!!!!!!!

Hopeful charis

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Okay have you met with your team and asked them what they want out of their jobs? Maybe they have good suggestions. I have found an open meeting with no holds barred helps people feel like you really do listen and are trying to meet their needs but somehow are missing what drives them? Can you get them together or do a meeting per shift?

If they don't want to do that you could try a survey, make it so they do not have to put their name on it. See what type of input you get.

That comment from your super tells me something is really wrong. Maybe they are used to a leader with a different management style, maybe they are not used to being asked the questions you are asking.

Does any of this help?

renerian