First time nurse supervisor position??!?

nurse_flo_marie, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2018

First of all, Congratulations on your new role! Having a management position and honing your supervisory skills will open more doors for you as a nurse.

I definitely suggest obtaining your position's job description and list of responsibilities. Meet with your supervisor and discuss expectations, especially if there are a certain number of assessments that must be completed per week, per month, per quarter.

Also, ask why the last person left the role. Was there a challenge? Like you mentioned families, is there a better way of approaching them with news they may not want to hear.

knittygritty2850 · Apr 25, 2018

I believe this company decided a nurse was needed on second shift. Thanks for your advice!!

Neats, BSN · Apr 25, 2018

First so happy for you on your new position. Now here are some tips to help you succeed in a management position

1. Be yourself and have good boundaries

2. I would introduce your self to the staff. Learn about them over a period of time and let them learn about you. Do not make any changes for at least the first 30 days, just observe and intervene only when it clearly is something that needs to be corrected to keep the patient from harm or it is just against protocol.

3. Print out the top 10 policies/procedures used in your facility and just read them, carry them in your note book, get to know them inside and out. These policies could be direct patient care or even HR related, does not matter it is the top 10 in use.

4. Listen to staff and take notes in a format that works for you. I use Problem: XXX. Solution XXX, Discussion XXX(this is where I get the most feedback. I ask staff if they have any solutions to the problem.

5. Keep a journal of daily reminders (HIPAA approved of course) I put things like I spoke with S.T. around 1500 hrs-concerns over supplies in evening, I spoke with E.B regarding coming back from lunch late around 1220 hrs. Family member A.C shared concern over available staff around dinner...

6. Observe other supervisors that you like, if there really are none then always ask your boss questions until you learn, there is nothing wrong with this.

7. I would read the books how to win friends and influence people and everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten. Seriously these are wonderful books and timeless.

8. Do not share sensitive information with others. If you have a staff member who is going through a difficult time and they have confided in you it is NOT OK to stay in a meeting so and so has to go to the STD clinic and we need coverage...I just say Sue is unavailable today we need to ensure all is covered so here is the schedule area changes.

9. Learn to say no...I find it took me a long time to learn how to say no and in a way that was not hurtful. I would say sorry I am so tight with deadlines I am sure you all will work it out please follow up with me at the end of shift and let me know how it went.

10. It is easy to share your intended information, to distribute schedules/tasks. What is hard is to follow through. If things need to get done you need to go back and check on them to ensure those tasks are not lost in excuse land.

11. Never mess with someone's paycheck.

Being a manager is hard work and a mid manager is really hard because you are getting things thrown at you from the top and bottom. The Meetings, the reports and taking care of staff are priority. If these are met then patient care by default is met.