New Nurse Manager - advice needed!

RNGriffin · Jan 29, 2014

Observe first & then make changes!

Do not address politics right away!

Take note of complaints, but investigate from the background before confronting!

Take a look at your staffing log( No calls, no shows, overtime etc.)

Look at the area of needs & develop learning modules based on needs/refreshers.

In your first month I would say work a night shift with each team. You want to have a general idea of each areas needs! Also, turn off your phone at a certain time. I would say, speak to your charge nurses and explain you are to be called in the event of dire emergencies or severe staffing shortages!

Good Luck!

psychRNmom2 · Jan 29, 2014

Expect a learning curve. I am new to management myself and have only been in this position for a month. I was promoted internally and now manage my peers. All of your feelings are normal. I feel the same way (excited and worried at the same time) and look at it as an adventure. What has been hard for me, is transitioning from being an expert as a clinician to a novice as a manager, not knowing all the answers is hard. My mentor has been vital in my transition so I suggest you find someone to help you along the way as well as develop relationships with your new peers in leadership. Listen. When staff are complaining ask them to engage in the problem solving. Try not to make any major changes right away. A book two of our hospital's top executives recommended to me was the "The First 90 Days."

I am still figuring out the work/life balance. As a clinician, I learned to leave it at work. It is harder as a leader. I have found running after work to help. I can work out the issues circling in my brain while I pound out a few miles. I come up with great ideas doing this, write them in my notebook and then force my attention on home life (2 kids, husband, grad school!) Expect a tornado of information to be swirling in your brain. I make lists, write things down etc to stay organized and leave it until I come back the next day. Someone here described it as a "brain dump" which is so appropriate. Good luck!!

jrt4 · Feb 14, 2014

Use caution. It doesn't have to be 50 hours/week. There are a lot of type A personalities in leadership so there are many "workaholics". There will be 50 hour work weeks some weeks but it should be rare. A lot of managers tend to have a mindset that they have to be overwhelmed and its just part of leadership. Yes, there are deadlines but many executive leaders are understanding and will extend deadlines. Some days you just have to shut your door, go home and fix the problems tomorrow. There is always more work to do. I read an article recently that discussed this. I cannot find it currently but it discussed that managers who are "overwhelmed" are often just ineffective. I used to work under a manager who would work 60+ hours a week and it got to the point as an assistant manager that I was taking over more and more work for her because it took her too long to get things done.\

The other piece to ensuring a 40 hour work week is to have qualified charge nurses that have the authority and confidence to make decisions while you are gone. Do not punish charge nurses for making bad decisions unless it is patient care related of course. Use terminology like "opportunity" instead of "issue or problem". If they feel like they are being punished for bad decisions they will stop making decisions all together. Having an empowered staff will save you a lot of time.

mommy2boysaz · Feb 17, 2014

I agree with the last poster! I've been doing nurse management for a year and a half and still definitely feel like a newbie, but I rarely put in more than 40 hours per week. And if I have a week that requires 50+ hours, I try to take a day off to make up for it the week after. It is possible to balance home/work with this position, if you require it of yourself. I do look forward to the day when I don't feel quite like such a novice again, though! Good Luck!