Entering Management

theleader · Jan 15, 2000

I entered management 2 years ago, coming from a staff nurse position. First I managed our hospital based HHA then when HH was impacted by BBA and business fell off sharply took over management of our LTC. My benefits did not change, only my hourly wage. Most of the managers in our part of the country are not salaried but still get an hourly wage. Benefits that have changed in the two years are my education benefit. The hospital sends me to a lot of management educational opportunities and pays for them as well as lodging travel expenses and meals. You could well use some of these educational offerings especially if you are moving into a dept. where the previous manager has been released from her duties and will not be there for any type of orientation. I wish you well in you new position and good luck with upper management. My hospital board is a delight to work with as well as our hospital administrator. You've got to have the support of both of those entities to make your job easier. My administrator would also have weekly meetings with me to see how things were going and sort of brainstorm and head me in the right direction. She ahs beena tremendous help to me.

PathFinder · Jan 19, 2000

Sheela -- do yourself a favor, if you want to enter management, do it with your eyes open and LEADING your career decision, not just floating around into some management job. Think on these things:

1. Where can I learn about management? Take a course (Leading an Empowered Organization from CHcM is a good choice), read a number of leadership journals (JONA, Nursing Mgmt, Surgical Services Mgmt) and talk to other managers.

2. Where would be a good place for me to start? Find an organization that supports its managers. Do they offer management orientation? Do they have "leadership development" classes? Would you be in a mentorship of some sort?

3. Why do I want to be a manager? If you don't figure this out, you won't enjoy management, and then when it gets hard (and it will!) you'll want to quit or worse, you'll just "hang in" and be ineffective like many in management are!

You can do this well and wisely if you choose to. Good luck in your pursuit!

sam · Mar 29, 2000

Originally posted by shee1a:
I am looking for information. I am currently a staff nurse in a hospital and I desire to make the transition to management. I knew going into nursing that I would end up in management sometime.
I would appreciate any input in regards to:
qualifications, years of experience needed, responsibilities of various postitions ( I have seen it varies depending on the facility), money ( are all salaried), benefits I should ask for. Thanks.

I entered management about a year ago and although I feel overwelmed sometimes I love my new position. I am learning so much. I feel as though my greatest assett is the fact that I worked in a wide variety of settings before I went into management at my hospital.(med/surg, critical care, Bone marrow transplant..) The clinical experience really helped me as a manager because I understand how each unit functions "on the front lines" Nurses really need to feel that you undrstand where they are coming from. The hardest thing for me to deal with was being able to pull away clinically from a situation and trust that the nurses under me could take care of the situation. At first, whenever there was a crisis, I wanted to jump right in and take care of the situation myself. But I needed to learn to remind myself that my job now was to guide the RN's to handle the situation themselves with my guidance and to nuture their leadership skills. YOU CAN'T BE A CONTROL FREAK!! Trust in your RN's abilities is a major hurdle. Leadership is a difficult role but it can be very rewarding! Good Luck!