The Unwritten Laws Nurse Managers Live By

[rntj]

1. Always believe the worst about your subordinates, no matter how glowing a reputation or history of competence they may have. Never give anybody the benefit of the doubt.

2. Never praise or give an "attaboy", and always discipline for any minor infractions. Floor nurses are not allowed to be human.

3. Always wield your power like the hammer of Thor.

4. Be as acerbic and abrasive as possible in all dealings with your subordinates.

5. The patient, er, customer is always right, no matter how confused or crazy or vindictive or evil they may be. Patient satisfaction scores are more important than the truth.

6. Clinical nurse leaders do not make mistakes. Only non-management nurses do.

7. Always make sure that your employees shudder in fear at the sight of you; smiling is not allowed.

8. Always be sure to forget what it was like to work on the floor with actual, you know, patients.

9. Always work your hardest to make your subordinates feel as bad as possible about themselves and their chosen career, no matter how much they pour their heart, soul, and mind into it.

Just a few tidbits I've learned from working at a world-famous magnet hospital that strives for "nursing excellence" and attracts "the best and the brightest."

My question is, Was it always this way? Why or why not? And does it always have to be this way?

[kayern]

If you are working in an institution that has that type of philosophy....hand in your notice and run away fast.

Everyone needs to be validated, praised and supported. When I make an error, I admit I've made an error, it proves to my staff that I'm as human as they are, and yes Managers do and can make mistakes. My staff knows that I don't expect them to do anything I wouldn't do myself. They also know that our patients come first and must be treated as if they were a member of my family. Yes, I still answer call bells, take patients on/off bedpans, medicate when needed and sometimes do AM/PM care,. I'll run to the pharmacy or the blood bank for the staff so they can stay with our patients. Provided they do the best they can, I'll support them and we'll learn from any mistake they may make. Jeeze we are all HUMANS and deserve respect.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

I doubt anyone has experienced ALL 9 of THESE as the same time. In general I would say a nurse manager may exhibit one or two but not all.

I had a manager like that! (And I could add a few more evil descriptions as well.) Luckily my manager now is great. She's just as frustrated by the bean counters as we are.

The managers aren't always the problem. Sometimes it's THEIR management that's the problem. And the manager is stuck in the middle. But there are a few truly evil people in this world working in management.

I think what bothers me about healthcare these days is the whole profession of "healthcare administration." They know NOTHING about actual healthcare, but they're the ones that are making the big decisions. They only know the spreadsheets. They only know that nurses cost money. It's not managers that have "forgotten" what it's like to be a nurse that worry me, it's their bosses that have never known what it's like to actually take care of a patient in any manner whatsoever.

[savoytruffle, BSN, RN]

Sounds as if the OP has never had the pressure of being a manger. The grass isn't always greener. I could write a similar list for staff nurses that would not look very flattering. Try to keep some perspective and not paint all managers with one broad brush. Generalizing the people in this difficult position is neither professional or fair. (But we have all experiences some real nasties in our time- learn what not to do and move on)

[IRF-Nurse]

Esme is right unfortunately... and when the numbers don't look good, the admins need someone to blame... and when the admins crunch down on staffing... the nurses need someone to blame...

Those statements by OP are obviously exaggerated, but sadly believed by many direct care staff.... Despite the manager doing things like...... oh I dunno, taking an injured employee to the ER him/herself and seeing about helping another employee find a place to stay in an emergency.....

THIS is the reason many managers return to bedside. :-)

[IRF-Nurse]

The managers aren't always the problem. Sometimes it's THEIR management that's the problem. And the manager is stuck in the middle. But there are a few truly evil people in this world working in management.

THIS!!

[PinkNBlue, BSN, RN]

So grateful my manager rocks. Everyone has their flaws but for the most part, she's amazing and we're very blessed. Sorry you've had such trouble. That makes a huge difference. :-(

[NCineas]

This list is all wrong. Saddened that you feel this way.

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

This is an interesting thread.

I remember when I was a student nurse and would come across a nurse who was rude, uncaring, sarcastic, had a gossipy/junior-high attitude and I thought, "I don't ever want to be like that."

Reading some posts here makes me think the same way. If I ever became a nurse manager, I don't want to be one with a huge horrible list. No thanks.

I have only had a few nurse managers and for the most part they were good, worked hard just like everyone else, would do anything we would do. My current nurse manager is awesome. She genuinely cares about her staff. She is not only a patient advocate, she is a nurse/staff advocate. I feel like she truly supports us when we need it. We have a good group that works really well together and I am staying right where I am.

When I encountered stress on the floor made by the "bean counters" I left. It was a year long process of adding more and more on the nurses plates to where it didn' seem safe to me. I have read here (paraphrased), "Let your feet do the walking/talking, that will show them." But I think we are taught not to burn our bridges so in the exit interview w"don't say "I can't work here anymore, I'm out of here....see ya....wouldn't want to be be ya." (again, I'm paraphrasing. )

We leave for a "greater opportunity" which can also be true. As these plate loading tasks were slowly added on to our duties I would voice an opinion about them, not just a complaint but a reasonable/logical discussion but what do we hear? "Oh, it will only take an extra minute or too."

With the current influx of new grads, when a nurse walks out the front door for the last time there are probably 40 new grads who will gladly take his/her place so does anything change? Unfortunately, no: the bean counters keep counting and nursing staff (and I bet some managers) become more burned out, angry and bitter.